Abstract: Curcumin possesses extensive biological activities and a favorable safety profile. However, its low solubility in water and poor stability limit its application in the delivery of bioactive substances. As a medicinal and nutritionally valuable food component, curcumin is an optional raw material for functional foods. It enhances human immunity, accelerates metabolic processes, and exhibits a variety of biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-cancer effects. Therefore, in recent years, nanoparticle carriers prepared using nanotechnology have been extensively studied for their potential to improve the stability and bioavailability of curcumin. This review summarizes the preparation methods of inorganic selenium nanoparticle carriers, lipid nanoparticles, protein-based nanoparticle carriers, and polysaccharide-based nanoparticle carriers, as well as recent progress in their application for curcumin delivery. It also examines the functional properties and therapeutic effects of curcumin-loaded nanoparticles against cancer, inflammation, and other diseases. The review further discusses the underlying mechanisms of action of various nanoparticle delivery systems and related signaling pathways, and summarizes recent advances and applications of these systems in functional food development.

Key words: curcumin; nanoparticle carrier; biological activity; application status; delivery system