Research Article

Quercetin nanocrystals prepared by a novel technique improve the dissolution rate and antifibrotic activity of quercetin

Department of Pharmaceutics & Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

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Shahram Rabbani

Research Center for Advanced Technologies in Cardiovascular Medicine, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

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Azadeh Haeri

*Author for correspondence: Tel.: +98 218 820 0212;

E-mail Address: a_haeri@sbmu.ac.ir

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2234-9222

Department of Pharmaceutics & Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Protein Technology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

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Published Online:12 Apr 2023https://doi.org/10.2217/nnm-2022-0032

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Abstract

Aim: To develop quercetin nanocrystals by a simple approach and to evaluate their in vivo antifibrotic efficacy. Materials & methods: Nanosuspensions were fabricated by a thin-film hydration technique and ultrasonication. The influence of process variables on the average diameter of quercetin nanoparticles was investigated. Moreover, in vivo efficacy was investigated in an established murine CCl₄-induced fibrosis model. Results: Nanocrystals showed a particle size of <400 nm. The optimized formulations showed an increase in dissolution rate and solubility. Quercetin nanocrystals markedly prevented fibrotic changes in the liver, as evidenced by mitigated histopathological changes and diminished aminotransferase levels and collagen accumulation. Conclusion: The findings reflect the promising potential of quercetin nanocrystals for liver fibrosis prevention.

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Vol. 18, No. 2

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History

Received 21 January 2022

Accepted 4 January 2023

Published online 12 April 2023

Published in print January 2023

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Supplementary data

To view the supplementary data that accompany this paper please visit the journal website at: www.futuremedicine.com/doi/suppl/10.2217/nnm-2022-0032

Author contributions

Methodology, investigation, experiments, analysis, original draft: P Cheshmenoor. Project administration, experiments, analysis, review and editing: S Rabbani. Conceptualization, project administration, supervision, analysis, funding acquisition, resources, review and editing: A Haeri.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported by Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (Tehran, Iran). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

All procedures were approved by the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (Tehran, Iran) ethics committee on animal research (protocol codes IR.SBMU.PHARMACY.REC.1398.064 and IR.SBMU.PHARMACY.REC.1399.274). The authors have followed the principles outlined in Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, Eighth Edition (2011).

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