CURCUMIN - HYDROXYAPATITE SYSTEMS USED FOR BONE CANCER TREATMENT

The purpose of this study was to obtain and characterize curcumin-loaded hydroxyapatite materials for bone cancer treatment. The hydroxyapatite synthesis was performed under controlled conditions in order to obtain monodisperse, fine nanoparticles and to avoid later uncontrolled deposition of these nanoparticles, starting from Ca(OH)(2) and (NH4)(2)HPO4. The obtained dried precipitate was thermal treated, then suspended in curcumin - dichloromethane solution (where curcumin was added in order to represent 5%, 10% wt. from the amount of hydroxyapatite) and homogenized until solvent evaporation. Morphological and structural characterization, as well as in vitro characterization were performed. All samples were biologically tested and antitumor studies were performed.