Preparation of a chemically stable quercetin formulation using nanosuspension technology

In the present study the evaporative precipitation into aqueous solution (EPAS) process and the high homogenization press (HPH) process were compared to evaluate their feasibility to form a chemically stable quercetin nanosuspension. The particle size and Zeta potential of the EPAS nanosuspension were similar to those of the HPH nanosuspension. Differences in results of differential scanning calorimetery and X-ray measures were observed between the two processes. The crystalline-to-amorphous phase transition was shown in the profile of EPAS dried powder. On the contrary the initial crystalline state of drug was maintained throughout the HPH process. Dissolution test results indicated that the EPAS process showed a higher improvement in the drug solubility and dissolution rate than the HPH process. At last the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis proved the superiority of both nanosuspensions over QCT solution formulation for the chemical and photo-stability. As a result, it can be concluded that the EPAS and HPH techniques were feasible to prepare a chemically stable QCT nanosuspension with significantly enhanced dissolution rate.