Curcumin loaded mixed micelles composed of Pluronic P123 and F68: Preparation, optimization and in vitro characterization

In this study, curcumin (Cur) loaded mixed micelles (Cur-PF), composed of Pluronic P123 (P123) and Pluronic F68 (F68), was prepared using the thin-film hydration method and evaluated in vitro. The preparation process was optimized with a central composite design (CCD). The average size of the mixed micelles was 68.2 nm, and the encapsulating efficiency for Cur was 86.93%, and 6.996% for drug-loading. Compared with the Cur propylene glycol solution, the in vitro release of Cur from Cur-PF presented the sustained-release property. The in vitro cytotoxicity assay showed that the IC50 values on MCF-7 cells for Cur-PF and free Cur in DMSO solution were 5.04 μg/mL and 8.35 μg/mL, while 2.52 μg/mL and 8.27 μg/mL on MCF-7/ADR cells. It could be concluded from the results that P123/F68 mixed micelles might serve as a potential nanocarrier to improve the solubility and biological activity of Cur.

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► Curcumin loaded mixed micelles was successfully prepared.
► A central composite design was used to optimize the process of preparing mixed micelles.
► The Cur-PF could improve the in vitro cytotoxicity on MCF-7 cells and MCF-7/ADR cells.