title: Design and characterization of protein-quercetin bioactive nanoparticles.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The synthesis of bioactive nanoparticles with precise molecular level control is a major challenge in bionanotechnology. Understanding the nature of the interactions between the active components and transport biomaterials is thus essential for the rational formulation of bio-nanocarriers. The current study presents a single molecule of bovine serum albumin (BSA), lysozyme (Lys), or myoglobin (Mb) used to load hydrophobic drugs such as quercetin (Q) and other flavonoids.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Induced by dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), BSA, Lys, and Mb formed spherical nanocarriers with sizes less than 70 nm. After loading Q, the size was further reduced by 30%. The adsorption of Q on protein is mainly hydrophobic, and is related to the synergy of Trp residues with the molecular environment of the proteins. Seven Q molecules could be entrapped by one Lys molecule, 9 by one Mb, and 11 by one BSA. The controlled releasing measurements indicate that these bioactive nanoparticles have long-term antioxidant protection effects on the activity of Q in both acidic and neutral conditions. The antioxidant activity evaluation indicates that the activity of Q is not hindered by the formation of protein nanoparticles. Other flavonoids, such as kaempferol and rutin, were also investigated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BSA exhibits the most remarkable abilities of loading, controlled release, and antioxidant protection of active drugs, indicating that such type of bionanoparticles is very promising in the field of bionanotechnology.
authors.affiliation: CAU and ACC Joint Laboratory of Space Food, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China.
authors.forename: Ru
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: Guanghua
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stoll
authors.forename: Fazheng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiaojing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Leng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000737:chemistry; D004339:Drug Compounding; D044949:Kaempferols / Q000737:chemistry; D009113:Muramidase / Q000737:chemistry; D009211:Myoglobin / Q000737:chemistry; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011794:Quercetin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D012431:Rutin / Q000737:chemistry; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D044949:Kaempferols; D009211:Myoglobin; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D012431:Rutin; C006552:kaempferol; D011794:Quercetin; D009113:Muramidase; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide