Quercetin lipid nanoparticles functionalized with transferrin for Alzheimer's disease

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2020

Authors

R. G. R. Pinheiro (Author) Other; Andreia Granja (Author) Other; Joana A. Loureiro (Author) FEUP; Maria do Carmo Pereira (Author) FEUP; Marina Pinheiro (Author) Other; Ana Rute Neves (Author) Other; Salette Reis (Author) Other

Journal

Title: European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Vol. 148

Pages: 1-11

ISSN: 0928-0987

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 17 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00S-1MB

DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2020.105314

Abstract (EN): Quercetin was encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles (SLN and NLC) to take advantage of its neuroprotective properties in Alzheimer's disease. The nanoparticles were functionalized with transferrin to facilitate the passage across the blood-brain barrier through the transferrin receptors overexpressed in brain endothelial cells. NMR and FTIR confirmed the functionalization of the nanoparticles with transferrin. TEM results showed all nanoparticles presented spherical morphology. Nanoparticles exhibited size around 200 nm and zeta potential values higher than -30 mV. Quercetin entrapment efficiency was around 80-90%. LDH cytotoxicity assays in hCMEC/D3 cell line demonstrated that even for the highest concentration (30 mu M) nanoparticles did not reveal cytotoxicity after 4 h of incubation. Permeability studies across hCMEC/D3 cell monolayers showed NLC permeate more the blood-brain barrier, while amyloid-beta studies demonstrated NLC-transferrin have the capacity to inhibit fibril formation. Nanoparticles seem to be suitable for brain applications, mainly for Alzheimer's disease due to inhibition of amyloid-beta aggregation.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11