Curcumin-inspired analogues induce selective anti-cancer effects through particle aggregation
(11-03-2026) Curcumin, the main bioactive compound in the yellow spice turmeric, has long attracted scientific interest for its potential anti-cancer properties.
However, its clinical application remains limited due to unfavourable physicochemical characteristics.
In a recent study published in Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, researchers from our department investigated novel curcumin-based analogues designed to overcome these limitations. The compounds demonstrated stronger and more selective toxicity towards colon cancer cells, while healthy intestinal cells proved more resilient.
Strikingly, this selectivity was linked to the compounds’ ability to form microscopic particles in the cell medium. These particles were taken up by the cells, pointing to an unexpected, particle-driven mechanism of action. The findings open promising new perspectives for the development of more effective and selective anti-cancer therapies.