Anti-cancer molecule quercetin nanoparticles for theranostics

Abstract

Chemotherapy is a conventional treatment available for cancer. Mostly all chemotherapy drugs have some side effects due to non-targeted drug delivery. In this work, we studied for the possible therapeutic effects of a natural compound on cancer followed by the nano-encapsulation. Epidemiologic studies suggest that many of the plant-derived natural food products have potent protective activity against various diseases. In recent years many experiments have demonstrated the anti-cancer properties of flavonoids. Quercetin is a flavonoid, which is known for its anti-cancer activity and antioxidant properties. This molecule has shown its potential for treating cancer as a naturally occurring drug. However, one of the significant drawbacks of quercetin is its low bioavailability in the body due to its hydrophobic nature. In this work, we have encapsulated the quercetin in the polymeric nanoparticles to increase its bioavailability and application.