Pluronic F127-liposome-encapsulated curcumin activates Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway to promote cell migration of HaCaT cells

Curcumin (CUR) is an extract of Curcuma longa Linn., which has various pharmacological activities. The instability, low water solubility and bioavailability of CUR greatly limit its clinical application. This work prepared Pluronic F127-liposome-encapsulated curcumin (CUR-LIP-F127) and explored its functional role in wound healing. Liposome-encapsulated curcumin (CUR-LIP) and CUR-LIP-F127 were prepared. Human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) was treated with CUR, Pluronic F127-liposome (LIP-F127) and CUR-LIP-F127, or combined with ML385 (Nrf2 inhibitor). The expression of mRNAs and proteins was detected by quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting. MTT and wound healing assays were performed to detect cell viability and migration. CUR, LIP-F127 and CUR-LIP-F127 all had no influence on cell viability of HaCaT cells. CUR-LIP-F127 treatment significantly accelerated cell migration and enhanced the expression of nuclear factor erythroid-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and kelch-like erythroid cell-derived protein 1 (Keap1) in HaCaT cells with respect to CUR or LIP-F127 treatment. ML385 treatment impaired CUR-LIP-F127-mediated promotion of migration and up-regulation of Nrf2 and Keap1 in HaCaT cells. This work demonstrated that CUR-LIP-F127 activated Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway to promote migration of HaCaT cells, suggesting that CUR-LIP-F127 may contribute to wound healing.