Research article Rapports De Pharmacie Vol.

3 (2), 2017, 384-394

ISSN: 2455-0507
DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF QUERCETIN NANOGELS BY USING
SIMPLEX-LATTICE MIXTURE DESIGN
Shirley Wong Jing Wen, Jaya Raja Kumar
1Research student, Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST)
University, Bedong 08100, Kedah, Malaysia
2Unit of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Asian Institute of Medicine,
Science and Technology (AIMST) University, Bedong 08100, Kedah, Malaysia
ABSTRACT
Quercetin is a flavonoid with antioxidant/anti-inflammatory properties, quercetin nanogels are
developed as one of the most promising carriers for topical drug delivery. In this study, quercetin
loaded poloxamer based nanogels were utilized as a potential drug carrier for topical delivery.
Fourteen runs of nanogels were composed of water, oleic acid and poloxamer 407. A simplex-lattice
mixture design was used to optimize the process parameters including water phase (A), oil phase (B)
and surfactant: Co-surfactant ratio (C). Seven dependent variables globule size, pH, refractive index,
viscosity, gel strength, spreadability and bioadhesive force was measured as responses. The particle
size of nanogels was found to be 223.6-247.7nm. Gel strength was found to be in the range of 40.31-
299.52 seconds, and viscosity of formulations found to be in the range of 3939-25500 cps.
Keywords: Quercetin Nanogels, HPLC, Poloxamer 407, Simplex-lattice mixture design
INTRODUCTION
Quercetin (3,30,40,5,7-pentahydroxyflavone) is exposure. Anticancer activity of quercetin is not
a flavonoid present in a large number of edible preferable clinically due to low absorption when
vegetables and fruits [1,2]. This molecule has administered orally. To achieve targeted
many health-promoting effects, including therapeutic level of quercetin in systemic
improvement of cardiovascular health, reducing circulation, high dose is required which is
risk for cancer, and coping with inflammatory practically not beneficial [6]. So that we
disorders, mainly related to its strong prepared topical preparation of drug to avoid
antioxidant action, by which it upregulates the first pass metabolism and thereby improving the
endogenous free radical defenses [3,4]. permeation rate of formulation. Various
However, quercetin is extremely lipophilic in nanotechnological approaches have been used to
nature, so there is need to enhance the solubility enhance its solubility, dissolution rate, and
of Quercetin [5]. The main purpose of this hence, bioavailability, including solid
present work was to expand the application of dispersions, nanosuspensions, microemulsions,
mixed solvency technique to influence the solid lipid nanoparticles and prodrugs [7–11].
solubility of quercetin. In this present Therefore, a critical need exists to develop
investigation, we have objective that design and alternative formulative strategies to overcome
develop new suitable formulation with the shortcomings of quercetin nanogels and
increasing solubility and bioavailability. enhance its penetrability.
Quercetin containing topical preparation has MATERIALS AND METHODS
ability to inhabit oxidative stress and Materials:
inflammation which is induced due to UVB Quercetin and poloxamer 407 were obtained
Address for correspondence: from Sigma-Aldrich. Oleic acid and tween 80
Shirley Wong Jing Wen, was procured from R&M marketing, Essex, UK
Research student, and the other chemicals were used in the
AIMST University, experiment are analytical grade.
Bedong- Semeling, Kedah, Methods:
Malaysia 08100 Formulation of quercetin nanogels:

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 Shirley Wong Jing Wen,: Quercetin nanogels by using simplex-lattice mixture design
The preparation of nanogels as shown in (figure
1)
Determination of pH:
The pH of the nanogels was determined by
using a calibrated PH meter (HANNA INS
PH211). Measurements were considered after
reaching equilibrium. The reading of all runs
was noted.
Viscosity studies:
The viscosities of the various formulations were
determined by using Brookfield programmable
DVII +Model pro II type (USA). The viscosity
was noted in Centipoise [12].
Determination of mucoadhesive force:
The mucoadhesive force has been derived from
a previously published method [13,14]. A
section of sheep nasal mucosa was cut from the
slaughter house and instantly fixed with
mucosal side out onto each glass vial using
rubber band. The vial with nasal mucosa was
connected to the balance in inverted position
while first vial was placed on a height adjustable
pan. The formulations were added onto the
mucosa of first vial. Then the height of second
vial was so adjusted that the mucosal surfaces of
both vials come in intimate contact. Two
minutes time of contact was given to the vials.
Then, the switch of the infusion apparatus was
opened to make the water drop into the glass
vial with a constant flow rate of 5 mL/min. The
weight of the water in the glass vial kept
increasing until the gel and the mucosal tissue
were detached. Mucoadhesive force, the
detachment stress (dyne/cm2), was determined
from the minimal weights that detached the gel.
The sheep nasal mucosa pieces were changed
for each measurement.
Determination of gel strength:
Gel strength was measured by placing 50 g of
formulation in a 100 ml graduated cylinder and
gelled at 37°C using thermostat. A piston of
weight 27 g was placed onto the gelled solution
and allowed to penetrate 5 cm in the gel. Time
taken by weight to sink 5 cm was measured
[15].
Spreadability:
For the determination of spreadability, excess of
sample was applied in between two glass slides
and was compressed to uniform thickness by
placing 1000g weight for 5 min. weight (50 g)
was added to the pan. The time in which the
upper glass slide moves over to the lower plate
was taken as measure of spreadability [16].
S= ML/T
Where, M = weight tide to upper slide (g)
L = length moved on the glass slide (cm)
T = time taken (sec)
In-vitro drug release:
Quercetin loaded nanogels (0.05 g) were
dispersed in flasks containing 100 mL
phosphate buffer solution (PBS) (pH 7.4). The
dissolution medium was kept under stirring at
100 rpm min−1and at 37◦C. At predetermined
time intervals, 2 mL release medium was taken
out from flask and replaced with 2 mL fresh
PBS to keep the volume constant [17]. The
concentration of drug in the medium was deter-
mined by using HPLC method.
The solution was determined by RP HPLC
method. RP HPLC chromatographic separation
was performed on a Shimadzu liquid
chromatographic system equipped with a LC-
20AD solvent delivery system (pump), SPD-
20A photo diode array detector, and SIL-
20ACHT injector with 50μL loop volume. The
LC solution version 1.25 was used for data
collecting and processing (Shimadzu, Japan).
The HPLC was carried out at a flow rate of 1.0
ml/min using a mobile that is phase constituted
of acetonitrile, 20mm AA: 20mm ACN (pH 5.5)
(20:80, v/v), and detection was made at 354nm.
The mobile phase was prepared daily, filtered
through a 0.45μm membrane filter (Millipore)
and sonicated before use. A Thermo C18
column (25cm × 4.6mm i.d., 5μ) was used for
the separation.
Optimization data analysis and validation of
optimization model
For the studied design, the simplex lattice
design type was applied to fit full mixture
component in terms of L_Pseudo equation with
added interaction terms to correlate the studied
responses with the examined variables using
Design Expert software version 10 (Stat-Ease,
Minneapolis, MN). A simplex-lattice mixture
design of degree m consists of m+1 points of
385
 Shirley Wong Jing Wen,: Quercetin nanogels by using simplex-lattice mixture design
equally spaced values between 0 and 1 for each
component. If m = 2 then possible fractions are
0, 1/2, 1. For m = 3 the possible values are 0,
1/3, 2/3, 1. The points include the pure
components and enough points between them to
estimate an equation of degree m. This design
differs from a simplex-centroid design by
having enough points to estimate a full cubic
model.
These equations represent the quantitative effect
of water phase (A), oil phase (B) and surfactant:
Co-surfactant ratio (C) and their interaction on
globule size (R1), pH (R2), Refractive Index
(R3), Viscosity (R4), Gel Strength (R5),
Spreadability (R6) and Bioadhesive Force (R7).
The values of the coefficient A, B and C are
related to the effect of these variables on the
responses R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7.
Coefficients with more than one factor term and
those with higher order terms represent
interaction terms and quadratic relationship
respectively. A positive sign represents a
synergistic effect, while a negative sign
indicates an antagonistic effect. A backward
elimination procedure was adopted to fit the
Figure 1: Preparation of quercetin nanogels
data to the quadratic model. Both the
polynomial equations were found to be
statistically significant (P<0.01), as determined
using ANOVA, as per the provision of Design
Expert software (DX10).
During the quecertin nanogels development, a
three-level 14 full factorial experimental design
was used to identify and estimate the main and
interaction effects of three different formulation
factors water phase (A), oil phase (B), and
surfactant: Co-surfactant ratio (1:3) (C) on
critical quality attributes of the developed
nanogels. Based on the experimental design, the
factor combinations yielded different responses
as presented in Table 1. These results clearly
indicate that all the dependent variables are
strongly dependent on the selected independent
variables as they show a wide variation among
the 14 batches. Mathematical relationship
generated in terms of L. pseudo components
analysis for the studied variables are expressed.
Mathematical relationship generated using
multiple linear regression analysis for the
studied variables are expressed as shown in
Table 3.
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 Shirley Wong Jing Wen,: Quercetin nanogels by using simplex-lattice mixture design

Table-1: Factorial design of quercetin nanogels

C:P 188
Refract Gel Bioadhesive
A:Water B:OA :Tween Size Viscosity Spreadability
Run pH ive Strength Force
w/w w/w 80 nm cps gm.cm/sec.
Index seconds Dynes/cm2
(1:3)
1 6 1 2 240.1 3.56 1.378 18755 200.11 10.32 20989.3
2 4.6 1.6 2.6 225.4 3.9 1.394 6800 60.21 3.73 21324.3
3 5.3 1.3 2.3 229.3 3.95 1.386 4500 51.44 126.37 30250.3
4 5 2 2 231.6 3.58 1.401 17216 135.27 173.87 23904.5
5 5 1 3 229.6 4.18 1.395 10900 80.46 9.73 21894.9
6 4 1 4 224.8 4.07 1.414 25500 299.52 148.81 22626.8
7 4 3 2 247.7 3.89 1.419 3939 40.31 58.84 17019.7
8 4 3 2 246.7 3.87 1.419 3945 42.22 56.72 17009.1
9 5 2 2 232.4 3.59 1.401 17220 136.56 170.22 23900.3
10 6 1 2 242.3 3.59 1.378 18740 199.12 10.36 20985.1
11 4 2 3 227.4 3.56 1.408 23000 253.28 5.56 15890.1
12 4.3 2.3 2.3 223.6 3.46 1.402 7659 65.33 59.85 18359.4
13 4 1 4 224.2 4.06 1.414 25510 298.31 142.33 22620.3
14 4.3 1.3 3.3 226.5 4.13 1.407 3239 39.15 50.41 18359.4

Table 2: Multiple linear regression analysis

Size = +241.09A +247.09B +224.39C -49.23AB -14.29AC-35.09BC +9.61A2BC +9.61A2BC -742.79AB2C +481.75
ABC2
pH = +3.57 A +3.88 B +4.06 C -0.57 AB +1.44 AC -1.65 BC +16.89 A2BC-24.69 AB2C+19.60 ABC2
Refractive Index = +1.38A +1.42 B +1.41C +0.010 AB -3.850 AC -0.034 BC -0.34 A2BC -0.56 AB2C +0.38 ABC2
Viscosity = +18450.14 A +3644.64 B +25207.64 C +22303.55 AB -48473.35 AC +29537.65 BC-3.542 A2BC
+84369.73 AB2C -9.204 ABC2
Gel Strength = +196.91 A +38.56 B +296.21 C +51.07 AB -707.70 AC +300.28 BC -754.85 A2BC +224.35 AB2C
Spreadability = +12.33 A +59.77 B +147.56 C +559.90 AB -249.02 AC -360.58 BC +4561.09 A2BC -4180.79 AB2C -
2660.66 ABC2
Bioadhesive = +21051.78 A +17078.98 B +22688.13 C +19864.71AB +1133.04 AC -14940.56 BC +7.031A2BC -2.220
AB2C

Experimental design results revealed that the
mean glouble size of quecertin nanogels was
significantly affected by water phase (A), oil
phase (B) and surfactant: Co-surfactant ratio
(1:3) (C). Globule size analysis of quecertin
nanogels was found to be in the range of 223.6 –
247.7 nm as shown in Table 1 and Figure 3a.
The Model F-value of 44.95 implies the model
is significant. There is only a 0.03% chance that
an F-value this large could occur due to noise.
Values of “Prob > F" less than 0.0500 indicate
model terms are significant. In this case A, B, C,
AB, BC, AB2C, ABC2 are significant model
terms. The "Lack of Fit F-value" of 10.84
implies the lack of fit is significant. There is
only a 3.02% chance that a "Lack of Fit F-
value" this large could occur due to noise. All
the three variables having the positive effect on

387
 Shirley Wong Jing Wen,: Quercetin nanogels by using simplex-lattice mixture design
the globule size, which means these factors, are Figure-4: Response 2D contour plot
directly proportional to the response. The presenting the interaction between the water
influence of the main and interactive effects of phase, oil phase and surfactant: Co-
independent variables on the globule size was surfactant ratio affecting the globule size
further elucidated using the trace graph (piepel),
2D contour, 2D real contour and 3D response
surface plots are shown in Figure 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Figure-5: Response 2D real contour plot

presenting the interaction between the water
Figure-3a: Size distribution of nanogel phase, oil phase and surfactant: Co-
surfactant ratio affecting the globule size

Figure-3: Trace graph (piepel) showing the

main effect of water phase (A), oil phase (B)
and surfactant: Co-surfactant ratio (C) on
globule size
Figure-6: 3D surface plot presenting the
interaction between the water phase, oil
phase and surfactant: Co-surfactant ratio
affecting the globule size
Rheological behavior of quecertin nanogels was
found to be in the range of 3239-25510 cps as
shown in Table 1.The factorial equation for
viscosity exhibited a good correlation
coefficient (1.000) and the Model F value of
7.44 which implies the model is significant.
Values of "Prob> F" less than 0.0500 indicate
model terms are significant. In this case A, C,
AC are significant model. All the three variables
having the positive effect on the viscosity,
388
 Shirley Wong Jing Wen,: Quercetin nanogels by using simplex-lattice mixture design
which means these factors, are directly
proportional to the response. The influence of
the main and interactive effects of independent
variables on the viscosity was further elucidated
using the perturbation and 3D response surface
plots. It is found that all the variables are having
interactive effects for the response (viscosity).
The trace graph (piepel), 2D contour, 2D real
contour and 3D response surface of the response
(viscosity) are shown in figure 7, 8, 9 & 10 to
depict the interactive effects of independent
variables on viscosity.
Figure-7: Trace graph (piepel) showing the
main effect of water phase (A), oil phase (B)
and surfactant: Co-surfactant ratio (C) on
viscosity
Figure-8: Response 2D contour plot
presenting the interaction between the water
phase, oil phase and surfactant: Co-
surfactant ratio affecting the viscosity
Figure-9: Response 2D real contour plot
presenting the interaction between the water
phase, oil phase and surfactant: Co-
surfactant ratio affecting the viscosity
Figure-10: 3D surface plot presenting the
interaction between the water phase, oil
phase and surfactant: Co-surfactant ratio
affecting the viscosity
Gel strength of quecertin nanogels was found to
be in the range of 39.15- 299.52 seconds as
shown in Table 1. The factorial equation for gel
strength exhibited a good correlation coefficient
(1.000) and the Model F value of 12.47 which
implies the model is significant. Values of
"Prob> F" less than 0.0500 indicate model terms
are significant. In this case A, C, AC, ABC2 are
significant model. All the three variables having
the positive effect on the gel strength, which
means these factors, are directly proportional to
the response. The influence of the main and
interactive effects of independent variables on
the gel strength was further elucidated using the
perturbation and 3D response surface plots. The
individual main effects of A, B and C on gel
strength are as shown in Figure 1. It is found
that all the variables are having interactive
effects for the response (gel strength) The trace
graph (piepel), 2D contour, 2D real contour and
3D response surface of the response (viscosity)
are shown in figure 11, 12, 13 & 14 to depict the
389
 Shirley Wong Jing Wen,: Quercetin nanogels by using simplex-lattice mixture design
interactive effects of independent variables on
gel strength.
Figure-11: Trace graph (piepel) showing the
main effect of water phase (A), oil phase (B)
and surfactant: Co-surfactant ratio (C) on gel
strength
Figure-12: Response 2D contour plot
presenting the interaction between the water
phase, oil phase and surfactant: Co-
surfactant ratio affecting the gel strength
Figure-13: Response 2D real contour plot
presenting the interaction between the water
phase, oil phase and surfactant: Co-
surfactant ratio affecting the gel strength
Figure-14: 3D surface plot presenting the
interaction between the water phase, oil
phase and surfactant: Co-surfactant ratio
affecting the gel strength
The spreadability was found to be significant
with F-value of 10.17 implies the model is
significant. There is only a 1.03 % chance that
an F value this large could occur due to noise.
Values of "Prob > F" less than 0.0500 indicate
model terms are significant. In this case B, C,
AB, BC are significant model terms. The
influence of the main and interactive effects of
independent variables on the spreadability was
further elucidated using the trace graph (piepel),
2D contour, 2D real contour and 3D response
surface of the response shown in figure 15, 16,
17 and 18.
Figure-15: Trace graph (piepel) showing the
main effect of water phase (A), oil phase (B)
and surfactant: Co-surfactant ratio (C) on
spreadability
390
 Shirley Wong Jing Wen,: Quercetin nanogels by using simplex-lattice mixture design
Figure-16: Response 2D contour plot
presenting the interaction between the water
phase, oil phase and surfactant: Co-
surfactant ratio affecting the spreadability
Figure-17: Response 2D real contour plot
presenting the interaction between the water
phase, oil phase and surfactant: Co-
surfactant ratio affecting the spreadability
Figure-18: 3D surface plot presenting the
interaction between the water phase, oil
phase and surfactant: Co-surfactant ratio
affecting the spreadability
The mathematical model generated for
biodhesive force was found to be significant
with F-value of 33.07 implies the model is
significant. There is only a 0.06% chance that an
F-value this large could occur due to noise.
Values of "Prob > F" less than 0.0500 indicate
model terms are significant. In this case A, B, C,
AB, BC, A2BC, AB2C, ABC2 are significant
model terms. The relationship between the
dependent and independent variables was
further elucidated using trace graph (piepel), 2D
contour, 2D real contour and 3D response
surface of the response shown in figure 19, 20,
21 and 22.
Figure-19: Trace graph (piepel) showing the
main effect of water phase (A), oil phase (B)
and surfactant: Co-surfactant ratio (C) on
biodhesive force
Figure-20: Response 2D contour plot
presenting the interaction between the water
phase, oil phase and surfactant: Co-
surfactant ratio affecting the spreadability
391
 Shirley Wong Jing Wen,: Quercetin nanogels by using simplex-lattice mixture design
144.2
140

130

120

110

100

90
5904.23

80
5761.21
5774.11 5330.19
5812.95 5310.99
6006.19 5536.18
5724.05
5694.10
5715.80
5749.10
5797.02
6257.435916.34 5398.25
5381.46
70 6630.38
6640.19 5806.33 5355.61
5885.39
5925.83
5939.78
6770.09 6040.92 5596.895236.40
5252.58
6166.34
6030.71 5277.58
5839.37 5413.01 5025.22
6459.50
6348.03 5284.82
6558.52 6105.21 5169.93
4855.89 4344.54
6081.06
%T 60 5853.34 4293.06
4255.88
4268.44
4752.94 4241.80
5044.94 4136.43
6094.22 4022.62
3987.18
4034.56
4553.01 4060.43
6071.03 5084.87 962.70
50 914.05 564.07
571.92
3677.04 904.23
3712.43 2279.14
2347.38
6944.09 3837.51 2122.79
2310.76
2150.20
2333.94
2173.99
2374.26
3737.21 1049.63
40 945.04
6704.58
1031.11
994.02
6853.08
1112.84
1103.71
30 7051.40
9104.17 1094.81 590.13
7308.68
865.81
1013.39
20 7801.24 7224.67
7836.33
7779.79 683.84
669.56
9837.30 3572.85
8344.31 1424.02
10
7960.51 7483.24 2717.72
2739.88
7976.31 2810.86 1171.93 734.05
615.83
721.76
7613.12 3379.03
3560.65 2763.67 1439.07
1387.69 836.93
3024.04 1412.17
9768.72
0 3391.00
3275.77
3319.12
1397.63 1200.15
9518.14 2951.89 1189.73
3348.71
3446.20
3328.83
3055.00 1258.45
9930.00
9659.00
9445.00
9259.50
9155.50
8950.00
8691.50
8422.00
8283.50
8210.50
8089.00
7921.50
7719.50
7418.00
7156.00 3540.00
3525.00
3514.00
3429.00
3362.02
3311.00
3295.00
3169.00 1660.00
1520.50 622.00
602.00
-10

-20.0
10000.0 9000 8000 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1500 1000 370.0
cm-1

Figure-24: FTIR spectra of quercetin

429.0

400

Figure-21: Response 2D real contour plot 350

300

presenting the interaction between the water 250

200

phase, oil phase and surfactant: Co- 150

5407.06
5352.81
5305.55
5287.99
5285.69

surfactant ratio affecting the spreadability 100

50
5293.23 5270.31 5048.50
5395.93
0 5311.12
5095.26 5023.44 4944.88
%T 5089.42
5343.74 5315.88 4950.01
5416.99 5125.73
5297.02 5123.41 5105.57 5061.93 5027.86
-50 5239.21 5130.45 5068.79
5374.78 5181.94 5039.05
5361.72 5189.43 5102.19 5043.16 4984.95 4968.31
5250.94 5217.99 5197.97 5117.88 4996.42
5366.65 4980.90
5019.07
-100 5332.05 5144.95
5154.51 5001.76
5338.78 5213.98 5114.03
5348.54 5321.24 5260.67 5169.96 5149.89
5223.49 5172.95
5401.51
-150 5413.02 5083.80
5245.89
5387.99 5014.16
5009.99

5276.41
-200 4955.78
5178.79
5265.60 5234.80
5427.01 5327.06 5226.73 5209.98
5204.01 5159.12
5165.24 5138.00 5078.14 5031.86 4989.16
5054.50 4961.21
-250 5422.50 5357.50 4975.50
5382.50

-300

-350

-400

-428.3
5432.1 5400 5300 5200 5100 5000 4937.9
cm-1

200.0
Figure-25: FTIR spectra of poloxamer 407
190

180

170

160

150

140

130

120

110

100

90

80

70
6282.57
60 6362.65
6768.51
6655.04
6862.86 6086.10
5663.55
6491.60 6053.56
%T 50 6432.46
6468.81 6110.28
6345.25
5435.94
5468.66
5458.06
5406.69
6943.75 6448.87 5523.91
5724.60 5306.36
5325.88
5540.16
5556.99
5875.37
40 5975.22
6186.78
5963.12
7003.63 6321.35
4546.01
4613.28
4492.26
4512.38
30 5110.74
5076.36
5134.81
5169.23
5156.38
4346.36
20 3751.01
8762.00 7900.00 7120.83 3984.66
3736.41
7875.53 7356.34
10 418.69
7713.87 2397.82

Figure-22: 3D surface plot presenting the

2043.24
2008.69
09936.08
9911.86
9959.59
9863.87
9883.86 1706.86
9662.17 3658.77 961.56
9800.07 8837.34 8236.99 3108.19 2602.46
2558.61 1162.271013.77
-10 8260.33 3491.33 3125.44
3224.982921.10 1344.64 1132.79 953.59
939.29
994.26
908.89
793.30
8887.74 3619.873309.593024.90
3089.53 2585.83 1509.22 1045.83
1178.981038.04
1021.09
1108.20
2977.04
3206.87 2772.59 1152.32
1075.82
3061.81
-20 9733.00
9551.50
9463.00
9320.50
9121.50 8678.00
8483.00
8314.00
8291.00
8119.50
8005.00 7566.00
7466.00 3568.00
3559.91
3465.50
3452.00
3432.85
3438.08
3424.50
3406.50
3400.50
3188.50
3174.50
3391.50 3002.50
2988.03
2900.50
2876.50 1648.00
1609.501440.00
1325.00
1311.00
1212.00
1189.00
1091.00
1065.50
1054.50
984.00
972.00
892.00
768.50
754.00
733.50
618.00
520.00

interaction between the water phase, oil -30

-40

-50

phase and surfactant: Co-surfactant ratio -60

-70

-80

affecting the spreadability -93.4

10000.0 9000 8000 7000 6000 5000
cm-1
4000 3000 2000 1500 1000 370.0

mAU
Figure-26: FTIR spectra of quercetin and
QUERCETIN/4.119

3000
poloxamer 407
2500
FT-IR analysis was performed to ensure that no
2000 chemical interaction between the drug and the
1500
polymer had occurred. FT-IR spectra of
quercetin, poloxamer 407, quercetin and
1000
poloxamer 407 are shown in Fig.24, 25 &26.
500 CONCLUSION:
0
In the future, topical drug delivery will be used
extensively to impart better patient compliance.
0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 min Since nanogels is helpful in enhancing
Figure-23: Typical chromatogram of spreadability, adhesion and viscosity, this novel
quecertin drug delivery become popular. Moreover, they
392
 Shirley Wong Jing Wen,: Quercetin nanogels by using simplex-lattice mixture design
will become a solution for loading hydrophobic
drugs in water soluble gel bases for the long
term stability. Similarly in the study, topical
nanogels of quercetin were formulated and
subjected to physicochemical studies i.e.
rheological studies, spreading coefficient
studies, gel strength and bioadhesion strength.
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