Preparation, Physico-chemical Characterization and Biocompatibility Evaluation of Quercetin Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles and Its Novel Potential to Ameliorate Monocrotophos Induced Toxicity

Quercetin is a bioflavonoid, used to treat several diseases. The aim of the present work was to estimate the effect of quercetin loaded chitosan nanoparticles (QUER-CHIT) against monocrotophos induced toxicity in rat erythrocytes in vitro. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), x-ray diffraction (XRD) and fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) characterization and biocompatibility studies like cell viability assay and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay were done for the synthesized nanoparticles. The effect of QUER-CHIT nanoparticles against monocrotophos induced toxicity in rat erythrocytes was investigated. Encapsulation efficiency of QUER-CHIT nanoparticles (1:1 ratio) was 92% with particle size of 232.4 ± 23 nm. In vitro drug release at pH 7.4 was found to be 70% at 12 h time period. Cell viability studies in RAW 264.7 cells resulted in inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 21 μg/ml for QUER-CHIT nanoparticles and 131.2 μg/ml for pure quercetin (QUER). LDH level decreased in QUER-CHIT nanoparticles treated groups compared to QUER. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were increased after incubation of monocrotophos treated erythrocytes with QUER-CHIT nanoparticles. This study demonstrates that QUER-CHIT nanoparticles enhance their bioavailability to scavenge the free radicals generated by monocrotophos via an oxidative stress mechanism.