Novel targeted delivery of quercetin for human hepatocellular carcinoma using starch/polyvinyl alcohol nanocarriers based hydrogel containing FeO nanoparticles.

The common adverse effects of chemotherapy are the reason for the use of effective, natural drugs and targeted administration to specific areas. On the one hand, Quercetin (QC) has positive effects as a natural anticancer agent. On the other hand, FeO, as nanoparticles (NP) with clinical properties and high porosity, can be a suitable carrier for drug loading and controlled release. In this study, QC was encapsulated in a synthesized FeO/Starch/Polyvinyl alcohol nanocarrier (FeO/S/PVA NC). Characterization of the NC was done by Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), zeta potential and Dynamic light scattering (DLS). The percentage of drug loading (DLE) and encapsulation efficiency (EE) of QC in the NC containing FeO nanoparticles was 47 % and 86.50 %, respectively, while it was 36 % and 73 % in the NC without FeO. QC profile release in acidic and natural mediums showed controlled release and pH dependency of the NC. Viability of L929 and HepG2 treated cells with the FeO/S/PVA/QC was demonstrated by MTT staining which was in agreement with flow cytometry. The results show that FeO/S/PVA is a suitable NC for the targeted delivery of QC as a drug against HepG2 cancer cells.