Chandigarh: Panjab University (PU) has been granted a US patent for a technology developed by Prof Indu Pal Kaur and her research team to improve the solubility, stability and absorption of curcumin, a compound found in turmeric.US Patent No. 12,599,572, titled “Solid Lipid Nanoparticles of Curcumin”, covers the preparation and composition of solid lipid nanoparticles for delivering curcumin. The patent has been assigned to PU.The technology, being developed under the proposed name “CurcuAukhadh”, uses a solid lipid-based formulation to encapsulate curcumin and disperse it in water. Researchers said the approach is intended to address the compound’s poor water solubility, instability and limited absorption when taken orally.As part of an NRDC-supported project, Prof Kaur and research scholars Simrandeep Kaur and Jyoti Krishna Nayak developed a 20-ml oral curcumin nanoparticle formulation. According to experimental pharmacokinetic studies conducted by the team, the formulation showed more than 900-fold higher relative bioavailability than free curcumin powder under the conditions tested.A separate formulation, for which a patent application has been filed, was developed to increase the amount of curcumin loaded into the nanoparticles. Researchers said it enabled the production of water-dispersible sachet granules and showed an 890-fold increase in relative bioavailability in experimental studies.The team said the patented formulation can protect curcumin from degradation and provide controlled release. Its manufacturing process, which uses high-pressure homogenisation, could potentially be scaled up, they said.Prof Kaur has so far secured 25 patents, including three US patents, while 22 other patent applications are pending, according to the university.The research has also involved animal studies exploring possible applications in areas including inflammation, pain, arthritis, wound healing and oral health. The researchers, however, said these findings do not establish the formulation’s efficacy in treating or preventing these conditions in humans.The technology is now proposed to be taken forward for licensing and commercial development. Corresponding patent applications in Europe and Canada are under examination.
