Curcumin Reimagined: Harnessing Ionic Liquid Salts for Enhanced Bioavailability and Therapeutic Potential

Abstract

Curcumin, the principal bioactive compound of Curcuma longa, has long been celebrated for its potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties. However, its clinical potential has been severely constrained by poor aqueous solubility, low chemical stability, and rapid systemic elimination, resulting in limited bioavailability. Recent advances in pharmaceutical chemistry have explored novel strategies to overcome these limitations, with ionic liquid salts (ILS) emerging as a promising platform. This review delves into the transformative potential of converting curcumin into ionic liquid salts—either through protonation, salt formation with organic or inorganic cations, or as part of dual-functionalized therapeutic ionic liquids. These modifications significantly enhance curcumin’s solubility, permeability, and stability, offering a new paradigm in drug delivery and formulation. The article systematically examines various synthetic approaches, physicochemical characteristics, and in vitro/in vivo studies that demonstrate the superior therapeutic efficacy of curcumin-ILS formulations. Additionally, it explores their potential applications across diverse biomedical domains, including cancer therapy, neuroprotection, antimicrobial coatings, and inflammation regulation. The biocompatibility and tunability of ILS-based systems also make them attractive for targeted and controlled release formulations. Despite promising developments, challenges related to toxicity, scalability, and regulatory approval remain. Future directions include designing task-specific ionic liquids to further tailor curcumin's pharmacokinetics and therapeutic profile.