DOI: 10.36347/sajp.2020.v09i02.002

Pages: 58-67

Quercetin nanoparticles were developed in order to accomplish poor aqueous solubility of quercetin and enhancement of drug absorption rate to nasal mucosa by increasing drug retention time using single emulsion technique. For this purpose, Eudragit® RS 100 was chosen as mucoadhesive polymer and used at different drug/polymer ratios in the nanoparticles formulations. The lyophilized nanoparticles were evaluated with respect to the drug loading, entrapment efficiency, solubility analysis, particle size, mucoadhesive property, in vitro drug release, in vitro drug diffusion, ex vivo permeation study and histopathological study, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and powder X- ray diffraction study (P-XRD) showed molecular dispersion and conversion of the drug into amorphous form. Size and surface morphology of nanoparticles was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and found to be spherical in shape with smooth surface. The solubility studies of QCT NPs (61.27 ± 0.89µg/ml) were found to be increased than pure QCT (2.55 ± 0.76 µg/ml). Nanoparticles showed adequate mucoadhesion, the mucoadhesive potential of optimized QCT NPs showed a higher percentage of mucoadhesion (73.45 ± 1.16%) and do not have any destructive effect on nasal mucosa. Hence, QCT NPs based on a Eudragit RS 100 may be a promising nasal delivery system improved permeation profile for longer period of time and thereby increasing the patience compliance.