Quercetin nanocomposite as novel anticancer therapeutic: improved efficiency and reduced toxicity
Giuseppe Cirillo1, Orazio Vittorio, Silke Hampel
1Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutrition Sciences, University of Calabria, I-87036 Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy. giuseppe.cirillo@unical.it
Abstract:
A three-functional nanocomposite was prepared by radical polymerization of methacrylic acid around carbon nanotubes in the presence of Quercetin as biologically active molecule and proposed as new anticancer therapeutic. The so-obtained hybrid material was characterized by FT-IR, Raman, SEM, TEM analyses, while the functionalization degree of 2.33 mg of Quercetin per g of composite was assessed by Folin-Ciocalteu test. Antioxidant test (DPPH and ABTS) showed that the covalent coupling did not interfere with the antioxidant properties of the flavonoid, while the anticancer activity was greatly enhanced with a recorded IC50 value much lower than free Quercetin. Cell viability tests on healthy cells demonstrated no-toxicity of the conjugate.
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