Fabrication and Characterization of Physicochemical Niosomal NanoCarriers Containing Quercetin Flavonoids for Therapeutic Purposes

Abstract

Introduction: Quercetin is a flavonoid compound in most plants that due to its pre-apoptotic and anticancer properties can increase the toxicity of drugs such as chemotherapy drugs. The study aimed to fabricate and characterize the niosomal system containing quercetin to increase its therapeutic properties.

Methods: In this in vitro study, with thin-film hydration, niosomal carriers containing quercetin were prepared and after sonication and size reduction, filtration and free drug separation were performed. Subsequently, the amount of quercetin was loaded and the process of quercetin release from the niosomal nanosystem was investigated. The nanoparticles were also evaluated for size, zeta potential, particle morphology, and chemical interactions between the niosomal system and quercetin.

Results: The encapsulation efficiency of quercetin in the niosomal carriers was 64.49±2.3%, the size and zeta potential of the nanocarrier before quercetin loading was 153.8 nm and -9.5 mV respectively, and after quercetin loading was 170 nm and -1.6 mV, respectively. The pattern of drug release indicates that overall quercetin release was slow and 95% of quercetin was released from the niosome within 72 hours. Electron microscopy images and FT-IR results also show that the niosomal system was formed and that no chemical interaction was observed between the niosomal system and quercetin.

Conclusion: The results of the present study show that nano-carriers containing quercetin have appropriate physicochemical properties. Therefore, this niosomal system can be a suitable carrier for quercetin delivery.