Enhanced therapeutic intervention of curcumin loaded in exosomes derived from milk in alleviating retinal pigment epithelial cells damage

The macula, a small but highly important area in the retina, is crucial for healthy vision. Age-related macular degeneration is responsible for approximately 8.7 % of blindness worldwide, and affected individuals are burgeoning. The age-related macular degeneration is often triggered by oxidative stress and excessive inflammation that damage the retinal pigment epithelial cells in the macula. Curcumin, a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory carotenoid, is hampered by low compatibility and stability issues in food science. Innovatively, this study harnessed milk-derived exosomes as a novel delivery method yielding a curcumin-infused system (curcumin@exosome) to increase its biocompatibility and stability. This fusion not only curbed excessive reactive oxygen species but also neutralized H2O2-induced mitochondrial disruption in cellular models. It revitalized retinal pigment epithelial cells, reverting their function near to baseline in vitro. The curcumin@exosome outshined in subduing pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β induced by sodium iodate. This study illuminates that the curcumin@exosome is promise as a therapeutic intervention for retinal ailments marked by oxidative and inflammatory distress. •Nanovesicles combining curcumin and exosomes were developed by engineered assembly.•Milk-derived exosomes can improve the stability and bioavailability of curcumin.•Curcumin@exosome alleviated retinal pigment epithelial cells oxidative damage.