The Bioavailability Enhancement of Curcumin Nano-Formulations in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review of the Current Evidence

Introduction: Curcumin, due to its large molecular weight, is poorly absorbed by the body, resulting in low blood concentrations. To address this challenge, researchers have developed a variety of nanoformulations to enhance its bioavailability. This review article examines the potential of these curcumin nano-formulations in the management of Inflam-matory Bowel Disease (IBD). While curcumin is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, its limited bioavailability restricts its therapeutic effectiveness. The current systematic re-view seeks to investigate the mechanisms and bioavailability of each curcumin nano-formu-lation to gain a comprehensive understanding of their potential to ameliorate IBD symptoms. Methods: A comprehensive search of scientific databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science, was conducted using the keywords "nano," "curcu-min," "inflammatory bowel diseases," and "colitis." This search encompassed the period from the inception date to July 2024. For analysis, only original articles published in English were included. Non-English articles, reviewed literature, conference proceedings, book chapters, or irrelevant material were systematically excluded from consideration. Results: From a total of 559 articles, only 69 were included. Based on the collected data, the different nano-formulations often divide into one of the following categories: Nanosuspen-sions, Microemulsions, Lipid-Based Systems, Polymeric Nanoparticles, Polymeric Mi-celles, Niosomes, Nanodispersions, Dendrimers, Phytosomes, Inorganic Nanocarriers, and Hybrid Nanocarriers. Discussion: Nano-curcumin is effective in reducing inflammatory factors such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, and in enhancing anti-inflammatory factors such as IL-4 and IL-10. While research on nano-curcumin for IBD is promising, more clinical studies are needed to estab-lish appropriate dosages and assess potential side effects. Conclusion: This systematic review highlights the main inflammatory pathways that can be suppressed by various curcumin nano-formulations and the need to explore the cost-effec-tiveness and safety of nano-curcumin in human trials.