Conjugates of curcumin to two differently sized poly(ethylene glycol) molecules were synthesized in anattempt to overcome the low aqueous solubility of this natural product with cytotoxic activity against somehuman cancer cell lines. The soluble conjugates exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity as compared to that of theparent drug. Synthesis, analyses of the rate of drug release, and cytotoxicity studies are herein reported. Thewater-soluble conjugates may provide information useful for the development of injectable curcuminconjugates.
