Novel delivery system of curcumin through transdermal route using sub-micronized particles composed of mesoporous silica and oleic acid

•The study prepared novel curcumin formulation using mesoporous silica and oleic acid.•The skin permeation, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects were investigated.•The formula enhanced skin penetration, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. This study prepared novel curcumin formulation using mesoporous silica particles (MPSPs) and investigated the in vitro penetration through the skin and in vivo antiinflammatory and analgesic effects. The loading of curcumin into MPSPs was very efficient (98.72%). An in vitro skin permeation study showed that MPSPs significantly enhanced curcumin penetration through the rabbit skin in a linear diffusion pattern. Anti-inflammatory study using formalin induced mouse oedema assay clearly showed that curcumin encapsulated into MPSPs had anti-inflammatory effect, while analgesic effect was carried out using the standard Eddy's hot plate assay. Curcumin formulation showed higher analgesic activity compared to the placebo as indicated by higher response time (licking forepaws) but this difference was statistically insignificant (p > 0.05).