Quercetin-Loaded Ginkgo Starch Nanoparticles: A Promising Strategy to Improve Bioactive Delivery and Cellular...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Quercetin (Qc) possesses potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
• Poor water solubility of Qc limits its bioavailability and therapeutic applications.
• Starch nanoparticles (SNPs) offer a promising delivery system for natural compounds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a quercetin-loaded ginkgo-derived starch nanoparticle (SNPs/Qc) system.
• To assess the biocompatibility, cellular effects, and anti-tumor efficacy of SNPs/Qc.
• To investigate the potential of SNPs/Qc as a functional food ingredient.

Main Methods:

• Quercetin encapsulation within ginkgo-derived starch nanoparticles.
• In vitro evaluation of SNPs/Qc on 3LL cancer cells (apoptosis, cell cycle analysis).
• In vivo studies in mice to assess biocompatibility, tumor inhibition, and survival rates.

Main Results:

• SNPs/Qc exhibited excellent biocompatibility with no observed toxicity in mice.
• SNPs/Qc induced significant apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in 3LL cells.
• The SNPs/Qc system demonstrated enhanced tumor penetration, reduced tumor volume by 49.4%, and increased mouse survival by 20%.

Conclusions:

• The SNPs/Qc system effectively enhances quercetin bioavailability and anti-tumor activity.
• Ginkgo-derived starch nanoparticles represent a viable platform for delivering bioactive compounds.
• SNPs/Qc holds potential for health promotion and functional food applications due to its biocompatibility and efficacy.