title: Quercetin nanocomposite as novel anticancer therapeutic: improved efficiency and reduced toxicity.
abstract: A three-functional nanocomposite was prepared by radical polymerization of methacrylic acid around carbon nanotubes in the presence of Quercetin as biologically active molecule and proposed as new anticancer therapeutic. The so-obtained hybrid material was characterized by FT-IR, Raman, SEM, TEM analyses, while the functionalization degree of 2.33 mg of Quercetin per g of composite was assessed by Folin-Ciocalteu test. Antioxidant test (DPPH and ABTS) showed that the covalent coupling did not interfere with the antioxidant properties of the flavonoid, while the anticancer activity was greatly enhanced with a recorded IC50 value much lower than free Quercetin. Cell viability tests on healthy cells demonstrated no-toxicity of the conjugate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutrition Sciences, University of Calabria, I-87036 Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy. giuseppe.cirillo@unical.it
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cirillo
authors.forename: Orazio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vittorio
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hampel
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iemma
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parchi
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cecchini
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Puoci
authors.forename: Nevio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Picci
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D011794:Quercetin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D011794:Quercetin