Physicochemical characterization and antioxidant activity of quercetin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science Vol. 107; no. 2; pp. 891 - 897
• Main Authors: Zhang, Yuying, Yang, Yan, Tang, Kai, Hu, Xing, Zou, Guolin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 15.01.2008; Wiley
• Subjects: antioxidant; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; characterization; chitosan; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; General pharmacology; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; nanoparticles; Pharmaceutical technology. Pharmaceutical industry; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Polymer industry, paints, wood; quercetin; Technology of polymers; Encapsulation; Nanoparticle; Control release polymer; Gelation; Drug carrier; Antioxidant; Experimental study; Flavonoid; In vitro; Biological activity; Polyphenol; nanoparticles; Morphology; Quercetin; Oside polymer; Chitosan; characterization
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.26402

Quercetin is an abundant flavonoid in food plants with numerous biological activities and widely used as a potent antioxidant. Being sparingly soluble in water and subject to degradation in aqueous intestinal fluids, the absorption of quercetin is limited upon oral administration. In the present study, chitosan nanoparticles and quercetin-loaded nanoparticles were prepared based on the ionic gelation of chitosan with tripolyphosphate anions. The encapsulation of quercetin in the chitosan nanoparticles were confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray powder diffractometry, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectrum, and fluorescence spectrum. The morphology of the nanoparticles was characterized by atomic force microscopy. The antioxidant activity of the quercetin-nanoparticles was also evaluated in vitro by two different methods (free radical scavenging activity test and reducing power test), which indicates that inclusion of quercetin in chitosan nanopaticles may be useful in improving the bioavailabilty of quercetin. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2008