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Physicochemical characterization and antioxidant activity of quercetin‐loaded chitosan nanoparticles
Author(s) -
Zhang Yuying,
Yang Yan,
Tang Kai,
Hu Xing,
Zou Guolin
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.26402
Subject(s) - quercetin , chitosan , nanoparticle , antioxidant , nuclear chemistry , chemistry , flavonoid , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , differential scanning calorimetry , aqueous solution , materials science , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , nanotechnology , physics , engineering , thermodynamics
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