Design of nanoparticles composed by epicatechin and quercetin to modify bioavailability.

Abstract

Flavonoids are valuable compounds present in natures with many health benefits such as anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic, and anti-carcinogenic. Among the flavonoids, epicatechin and quercetin gained particular attention for their potential therapeutic activities in noncommunicable chronic diseases (NCDs). Unfortunately, these flavonoids show lack long-term stability, sensitive to light, present low water solubility and poor bioavailability. In recent decades, Nanotechnology has been a promising strategy to enhance flavonoids' benefits through on the compound’s delivery to various sites within the body due to its size. The following thesis has as aims to design a novel inulin-soy protein nanoparticles (NEQs), which simultaneously loaded epicatechin and quercetin, to improve their stability, bioavailability, and prevention of NCDs. Process optimization, nanoparticle characterization, in vitro release, in vitro gastrointestinal digestion, and cytotoxicity effect of NEQs were investigated. Results showed that NEQs are average size of 280.17 ± 13.42 nm and a zeta potential of -18.267 ± 0.83 mV in organic phase. Entrapment efficiency of epicatechin and quercetin reached 97.04 ± 0.01 and 92.05 ± 1.95 %, respectively. The used of soy protein improve the stability in gastrointestinal conditions. Also, NEQs presented effects of inhibition in Caco-2, but not in HepG-2 and HDFa cells. These results contribute basis to the design and fabrication of inulin-soy protein nanoparticles as a delivery system for multiple bioactive compounds with beneficial properties.