A Novel Quercetin Encapsulated Glucose Modified Liposome and Its Brain-Target Antioxidative Neuroprotection Effects

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are mainly induced by oxidative stress which produces excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS). Quercetin (QU) is a potent antioxidant with some effects on NDDs. This study prepared and characterized a novel glucose-modified QU liposome (QU-Glu-Lip), aiming not only to overcome QU's poor water solubility and bioavailability but also to deliver more QU to brain tissue to enhance its neuroprotective effect. QU-Glu-Lip possessed encapsulation efficiency (EE) of 89.9%, homogenous particle sizes (116-124 nm), small PDI value (<0.3), zeta value -1.363 ± 0.437 mV, proper pH and salt stability, and proper cytotoxicity. The glucose-modified liposome penetrated the blood-brain barrier (BBB) mediated via the glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) and was taken by neuronal cells more efficiently than liposome without glucose, according to bEnd.3 and PC12 cell tests. QU-Glu-Lip attenuated H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage to PC12 with higher cell viability (88.42%) and lower intracellular ROS compared to that of QU. QU-Glu-Lip had higher brain target ability and delivered more QU to neuronal cells, effectively exerting the antioxidative neuroprotection effect. There is potential for the QU-Glu-Lip application for more effective treatment of NDDs.