Abstract
The main bioactive component of turmeric (Curcuma longa) is curcumin. Curcumin comprises different congeners which are grouped as curcuminoids. These congeners are named as curcumin (C), demethoxycurcumin (DC), and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDC). It has a wide range of bioactivities or therapeutic actions including anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, and anticancer properties. Curcumin research encompasses a broad array of disciplines including medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, therapeutics, clinical trials, and molecular biology. Curcumin has become a "model molecule" in the domains of pharmacology and molecular biology studies due to its multidimensional actions. In spite of the potential pharmacological activities, in vivo results are not so promising due to its inadequate water solubility. The problem can be addressed by designing appropriate nanoformulations or nanocomposites. Curcumin nanoformulation included several delivery systems such as nanoemulsion, nanosuspension, liposomes, polymeric micelles, polymeric nanocomposites, and inclusion complexes with cyclodextrins, dendrimers, mesoporous silver, gold, and solid lipid nanoparticles. Unique properties of nanocomposite materials such as small size, higher surface-area-to-volume ratio, and quantum size effects have undoubtedly led to the massive increase in their usage. This chapter discusses many types of nanocomposites of curcumin and their characterization techniques in order to improve bioavailability.