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Review

Nanocarriers Containing Curcumin and Derivatives for Arthritis Treatment: Mapping the Evidence in a Scoping Review

by
Beatriz Yurie Sugisawa Sato
1,†,
Susan Iida Chong
1,†,
Nathalia Marçallo Peixoto Souza
2,
Raul Edison Luna Lazo
2,
Roberto Pontarolo
2,
Fabiane Gomes de Moraes Rego
2,
Luana Mota Ferreira
2,* and
Marcel Henrique Marcondes Sari
2,*
1
Curso de Biomedicina, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba 80210-170, Brazil
2
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba 80210-170, Brazil
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(8), 1022; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17081022
Submission received: 19 July 2025 / Revised: 1 August 2025 / Accepted: 4 August 2025 / Published: 6 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymer-Based Devices and Platforms for Pain Management)

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Curcumin (CUR) is well known for its therapeutic properties, particularly attributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in managing chronic diseases such as arthritis. While CUR application for biomedical purposes is well known, the phytochemical has several restrictions given its poor water solubility, physicochemical instability, and low bioavailability. These limitations have led to innovative formulations, with nanocarriers emerging as a promising alternative. For this reason, this study aimed to address the potential advantages of associating CUR with nanocarrier systems in managing arthritis through a scoping review. Methods: A systematic literature search of preclinical (in vivo) and clinical studies was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (December 2024). General inclusion criteria include using CUR or natural derivatives in nano-based formulations for arthritis treatment. These elements lead to the question: “What is the impact of the association of CUR or derivatives in nanocarriers in treating arthritis?”. Results: From an initial 536 articles, 34 were selected for further analysis (31 preclinical investigations and three randomized clinical trials). Most studies used pure CUR (25/34), associated with organic (30/34) nanocarrier systems. Remarkably, nanoparticles (16/34) and nanoemulsions (5/34) were emphasized. The formulations were primarily presented in liquid form (23/34) and were generally administered to animal models through intra-articular injection (11/31). Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA) was the most frequently utilized among the various models to induce arthritis-like joint damage. The findings indicate that associating CUR or its derivatives with nanocarrier systems enhances its pharmacological efficacy through controlled release and enhanced solubility, bioavailability, and stability. Moreover, the encapsulation of CUR showed better results in most cases than in its free form. Nonetheless, most studies were restricted to the preclinical model, not providing direct evidence in humans. Additionally, inadequate information and clarity presented considerable challenges for preclinical evidence, which was confirmed by SYRCLE’s bias detection tools. Conclusions: Hence, this scoping review highlights the anti-arthritic effects of CUR nanocarriers as a promising alternative for improved treatment.
Keywords: joint inflammation; nanostructures; curcuminoids; solubility joint inflammation; nanostructures; curcuminoids; solubility

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MDPI and ACS Style

Sato, B.Y.S.; Chong, S.I.; Souza, N.M.P.; Lazo, R.E.L.; Pontarolo, R.; Rego, F.G.d.M.; Ferreira, L.M.; Sari, M.H.M. Nanocarriers Containing Curcumin and Derivatives for Arthritis Treatment: Mapping the Evidence in a Scoping Review. Pharmaceutics 2025, 17, 1022. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17081022

AMA Style

Sato BYS, Chong SI, Souza NMP, Lazo REL, Pontarolo R, Rego FGdM, Ferreira LM, Sari MHM. Nanocarriers Containing Curcumin and Derivatives for Arthritis Treatment: Mapping the Evidence in a Scoping Review. Pharmaceutics. 2025; 17(8):1022. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17081022

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sato, Beatriz Yurie Sugisawa, Susan Iida Chong, Nathalia Marçallo Peixoto Souza, Raul Edison Luna Lazo, Roberto Pontarolo, Fabiane Gomes de Moraes Rego, Luana Mota Ferreira, and Marcel Henrique Marcondes Sari. 2025. "Nanocarriers Containing Curcumin and Derivatives for Arthritis Treatment: Mapping the Evidence in a Scoping Review" Pharmaceutics 17, no. 8: 1022. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17081022

APA Style

Sato, B. Y. S., Chong, S. I., Souza, N. M. P., Lazo, R. E. L., Pontarolo, R., Rego, F. G. d. M., Ferreira, L. M., & Sari, M. H. M. (2025). Nanocarriers Containing Curcumin and Derivatives for Arthritis Treatment: Mapping the Evidence in a Scoping Review. Pharmaceutics, 17(8), 1022. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17081022

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