Amino Acid Coordination Driven Self‐Assembly for Enhancing both the Biological Stability and Tumor Accumulation of Curcumin

Clinical translation of curcumin has been highly obstructed by the rapid degradation and poor tissue absorption of this agent. Herein, we report on the generation of supramolecular curcumin nanoagents through amino acid coordination driven self‐assembly to simultaneously increase the biological stability and tumor accumulation of curcumin. The biological stability of curcumin was significantly improved both through coordination and through molecular stacking. The sizes of these nanoagents can be readily manipulated to facilitate tumor accumulation. These favorable therapeutic features, together with high drug‐loading capacities and responses to pH and redox stimuli, substantially enhanced the antitumor activity of curcumin without discernible side effects. Hence, supramolecular curcumin nanoagents may hold promise in moving forward the clinical application of curcumin as an effective anticancer drug. Special agents on the job: Supramolecular curcumin nanoagents were fabricated by amino acid coordination driven self‐assembly (see picture). The biological stability of curcumin was significantly improved through both coordination and molecular stacking in the nanoagents, the size of which could be readily manipulated. These favorable therapeutic features substantially enhanced the antitumor activity of curcumin without discernible side effects.