Antioxidative and antiinflammatory activities of quercetin-loaded silica nanoparticles

• Quercetin-loaded silica nanoparticles were synthesized by a microemulsion method.
• The quercetin-loaded silica nanoparticles were spherical and highly monodispersed.
• Superoxide radical scavenging effects were found for the nanoparticles.
• The nanoparticles showed cell viability comparable to that of the controls.
• Inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine production was found for the nanoparticles.

Utilizing the biological activities of compounds by encapsulating natural components in stable nanoparticles is an important strategy for a variety of biomedical and healthcare applications. In this study, quercetin-loaded silica nanoparticles were synthesized using an oil-in-water microemulsion method, which is a suitable system for producing functional nanoparticles of controlled size and shape. The resulting quercetin-loaded silica nanoparticles were spherical, highly monodispersed, and stable in an aqueous system. Superoxide radical scavenging effects were found for the quercetin-loaded silica nanoparticles as well as free quercetin. The quercetin-loaded silica nanoparticles showed cell viability comparable to that of the controls. The amounts of proinflammatory cytokines produced by macrophages, such as interleukin 1 beta, interleukin 6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha, were reduced significantly for the quercetin-loaded silica nanoparticles. These results suggest that the antioxidative and antiinflammatory activities of quercetin are maintained after encapsulation in silica. Silica nanoparticles can be used for the effective and stable incorporation of biologically active natural components into composite biomaterials.

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