The next generation cell-penetrating peptide and carbon dot conjugated nano-liposome for transdermal delivery of curcumin.

To overcome the problems associated with conventional liposomes in transdermal drug delivery like limited penetration ability and poor stability, in this article we report a new generation of cell penetrating peptide polyarginine containing nano-liposomes conjugated with carbon dots. The newly synthesized, cost-effective liposomic precursors were used for the fabrication of liposomes. The resulting liposomes have a bilayer structure like that of conventional liposomes with much smaller size, higher stability, and high penetration ability. The nano-liposomes show high stability at room temperature for three months without any change in size or encapsulation efficiency. The incorporation of carbon dots also opens up their application in fluorescence cell imaging studies, which is very well supported by the fluorescence microscopic analysis of the liposome skin penetration. The as-prepared nano-liposomes do not show any cytotoxicity for MCF-7 cells, even at high concentrations; however, when drug loaded liposomes are applied, they can kill the cancer cells with a high rate. The synthesized nano-liposomes have the potential to be used as an efficient, stable, biocompatible nanocarrier for transdermal drug delivery.