Curcumin/Gd Loaded Apoferritin: A Novel "Theranostic" Agent to Prevent Hepatocellular Damage in Models of Hepatic Injuries

Simonetta Geninatti¹, Juan Carlos Cutrin¹, Diana Burgelea¹, Dario Livio Longo¹, Walter Dastru¹, Silvio Aime¹

Curcumin/Gd loaded Apoferritin is herein proposed as a new theranostic agent able to deliver simultaneously therapeutic and imaging probes to the liver. The incapsulation of curcumin inside the apoferritin cavity increases significantly its stability and bioavailability by maintaining its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Curcumin/Gd loaded Apoferritin was able to protect hepatocytes by the thiocetamide toxic action generating acute hepatitis injury.