Biomedicine

Abstract

Studies report the interaction of curcumin nano-formulations with proteins and erythrocytes. However, no studies are reported for the microscopic interaction of free curcumin on erythrocytes. The objective of this study was to examine the interaction of curcumin with human red blood cells. The interaction of free curcumin with human red blood ghost cells was observed under light microscope, scanning electron microscope and fluorescence microscope. The binding of free curcumin on to the red blood ghost cells was confirmed by the presence of yellow colour vesicles when observed under light microscope. Scanning electron microscopic studies clearly revealed the binding of cuboidal shaped crystalline structures on the membrane surface of red blood cells. Free curcumin in aqueous environment is non-fluorescent. However, when curcumin is surrounded or interacting in hydrophobic medium fluoresces. Curcumin on binding with membrane of red blood cells becomes fluorescent at excitation wavelength of 430 nm and emission wavelength at 510 nm. Free curcumin appear to be interacting with red blood cell membrane via hydrophobic interaction, which suggests their use using an appropriate vehicle. These findings advance our understanding of the characteristic of curcumin, which could be implanted when synthesising the curcumin nano-formulations for therapeutic use.