title: Pharmacokinetics of quercetin-loaded nanodroplets with ultrasound activation and their use for bioimaging.
abstract: Bubble formulations have both diagnostic and therapeutic applications. However, research on nanobubbles/nanodroplets remains in the initial stages. In this study, a nanodroplet formulation was prepared and loaded with a novel class of chemotherapeutic drug, ie, quercetin, to observe its pharmacokinetic properties and ultrasonic bioimaging of specific sites, namely the abdominal vein and bladder. Four parallel groups were designed to investigate the effects of ultrasound and nanodroplets on the pharmacokinetics of quercetin. These groups were quercetin alone, quercetin triggered with ultrasound, quercetin-encapsulated in nanodroplets, and quercetin encapsulated in nanodroplets triggered with ultrasound. Spherical vesicles with a mean diameter of 280 nm were formed, and quercetin was completely encapsulated within. In vivo ultrasonic imaging confirmed that the nanodroplets could be treated by ultrasound. The results indicate that the initial 5-minute serum concentration, area under the concentration-time curve, elimination half-life, and clearance of quercetin were significantly enhanced by nanodroplets with or without ultrasound.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Traditional Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Li-Wen
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Traditional Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mei-Ling
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shuo-Hui
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.affiliation: National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Lie-Chwen
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Traditional Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan ; Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan ; School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan ; Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tung-Hu
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D011794:Quercetin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D000069453:Ultrasonic Waves
chemical_list: D011794:Quercetin
keywords: nanodroplets; quercetin; ultrasonic imaging; ultrasonic pharmacokinetics; ultrasound