Improving quercetin dissolution and bioaccessibility with reduced crystallite sizes through media milling technique

- QC nanocrystals were prepared by media milling and spray/freeze-drying processes.
- HMS was added as a stabilizer to prevent the agglomeration of QC particles.
- The combined processing methods have reduced the QC crystallite sizes.
- The TIM-1 model was used to simulate the digestive processes in the upper GI tract.
- Formulated QC has enhanced solubility, dissolution and bioaccessibility.

Quercetin (QC) is a common bioflavonoid with low water solubility, which limits its oral bioavailability and in vivo beneficial functions. To enhance QC bioaccessibility, QC nanoparticles were produced using the media milling technology. Hydrophobically modified starch (HMS) was added with the ratio of 1:1 to QC as a stabilizer to prevent the agglomeration of QC particles. The QC nanodispersions were either spray-dried or freeze-dried after media milling process. Physicochemical characteristics of dried QC powders were measured through dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier Transform-Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dissolution test and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The detailed crystallite structures were carefully analyzed. The TNO dynamic gastro-intestinal model-1 (TIM-1) was utilized to study the in vitro QC bioaccessibility by simulation of the digestive processes in the upper GI tract. This study suggests that media milling technique combined with spray/freeze-drying treatment is an efficient processing method for the development of crystalline nutraceuticals-based functional food products with reduced crystallite sizes and enhanced metastable equilibrium solubility, dissolution and bioaccessibility.

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