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Facile Synthesis of Multifunctional Germanium Nanoparticles as a Carrier of Quercetin to Achieve Enhanced Biological Activity
Author(s) -
Guo YanJie,
Yang Fen,
Zhang Lu,
Pi Jiang,
Cai JiYe,
Yang PeiHui
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
chemistry – an asian journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.18
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1861-471X
pISSN - 1861-4728
DOI - 10.1002/asia.201402227
Subject(s) - quercetin , antioxidant , germanium , nanoparticle , in vitro , apoptosis , cancer cell , chemistry , absorption (acoustics) , mcf 7 , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , nuclear chemistry , materials science , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , biochemistry , cancer , organic chemistry , silicon , biology , human breast , engineering , composite material , genetics
A simple method for preparing quercetin surface‐functionalized germanium nanoparticles (Qu‐GeNPs) with enhanced antioxidant and anticancer activity is reported. Spherical germanium nanoparticles (GeNPs) were capped by quercetin (Qu) with a mean particle size of approximately 33 nm and were characterized by TEM, AFM, UV‐visible absorption spectroscopy, FTIR, and XRD measurements. The in vitro drug release of Qu from the Qu‐GeNPs indicated that Qu could principally be distributed around tumor tissues rather than in the normal section and Qu‐GeNPs were internalized by MCF‐7 cells. Their biological activity test results indicated that these Qu‐GeNPs possessed stronger hydroxyl‐scavenging effects and proliferative inhibition effect on MCF‐7 cancer cells than quercetin, thus suggesting that the strategy to use GeNPs as a carrier of Qu could be an efficient way to achieve enhanced antioxidant and anticancer activity. In addition, Qu‐GeNPs possessed a high apoptotic induction effect in cancer cells, especially in high dosages, and could arrest MCF‐7 cells in the S phase.