Hexosomes based on cholesterol and phosphatidylcholine: a new drug delivery system for curcumin release

The object of this study is to develop novel self-assembled lyotropic liquid crystalline nanoparticles (hexosomes) as a natural delivery system based exclusively on Phosphatidilcoline and Cholesterol. Hexosomes are produced without the presence of a stabilizer using a mixture 20mg of Cholesterol and 66mg of Phosphatidylcholine in 10 ml formulation. TEM analysis and Small angle X-ray (SAXS) diffraction profiles confirm the presence of the hexagonal phase only in the tested samples. Hexosomes loaded with 1% w/w curcumin (0.086 mg/ml formulation) are prepared and represent a very high concentration of loaded drug, when compared with the value of 0.015% w/w previously reported in the literature for cubosome lyotropic liquid crystalline systems. Release studies conducted at pH 1.2 demonstrated that the developed hexosomes are able to achieve a "sustained release". The developed new hexosomes suggest a potential application not only limited as drug carriers, but suitable also for food, dietary supplements and cosmetic formulations, being both cholesterol and phosphatidylcholine food ingredients.