title: Preparation and evaluation of quercetin-loaded lecithin-chitosan nanoparticles for topical delivery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to investigate lecithin-chitosan nanoparticles as a topical delivery system for quercetin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tocopheryl propylene glycol succinate was chosen to be the surfactant for the nanosystem. The mean particle size of the nanoparticles was 95.3 nm, and the entrapment efficiency and drug loading for quercetin were 48.5% and 2.45%, respectively. Topical delivery in vitro and in vivo of the quercetin-loaded nanoparticles was evaluated using quercetin propylene glycol solution as the control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with quercetin solution, the quercetin-loaded nanoparticles showed higher permeation ability, and significantly increased accumulation of quercetin in the skin, especially in the epidermis. Microstructure observation of the skin surface after administration indicated that the interaction between ingredients of the nanoparticles and the skin surface markedly changed the morphology of the stratum corneum and disrupted the corneocyte layers, thus facilitating the permeation and accumulation of quercetin in skin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lecithin-chitosan nanoparticles are a promising carrier for topical delivery of quercetin.
authors: Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China.
authors: Qi
authors: Q
authors: Tan
authors: Weidong
authors: W
authors: Liu
authors: Chenyu
authors: C
authors: Guo
authors: Guangxi
authors: G
authors: Zhai
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D048271:Chitosan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D020405:Dermis / Q000378:metabolism; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D054709:Lecithins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D019946:Propylene Glycol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D011794:Quercetin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D012869:Skin Absorption; D019802:Succinic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D054709:Lecithins; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D019946:Propylene Glycol; D048271:Chitosan; D011794:Quercetin; D019802:Succinic Acid