Nanoformulations of quercetin: a potential phytochemical for the treatment of uv radiation induced skin damages

Abstract

The continuous prolonged exposures of sun light especially the ultra violet (UV) radiation present in it, cause not only the risk of skin cancer but also it may cause premature skin aging, photodermatoses and actinic keratoses. Flavonoids (including Flavane, Flavanone, Flavone, Flavonol, Isoflavone, Neoflavone etc.) having potent antioxidant activity, used as topical applications for protection against UV induced skin damages as well as for skin care. Most commonly used flavonoid is quercetin (Flavonol), which is present in fruits, vegetables, and herbs. We aim to review the research focused on development of different novel formulations to treat UV radiations induced skin diseases. In this review, several formulations of flavonoid quercetin were discussed and their outcomes were compiled and compared in context to solubility, stability and efficiency of application. On the basis this comparative analysis we have concluded that three formulations, namely glycerosomes, nanostructured lipid carriers and deformable liposomes hold good applications for future aspects for topical delivery of quercetin. These formulations showed enhanced stability, increased quercetin accumulation in different skin layers, facilitated drug permeation in skin and long-lasting drug release.

KEYWORDS: Photodermatoses; Keratoses; Flavonoids; Quercetin and reactive oxygen species

ABBREVIATIONS
• ROS  Reactive oxygen species
• UV radiations  Ultraviolet radiations
• AP-1  Activator Protein-1
• NFkB  Nuclear Factor Kappa B
• DNA  Deoxyribonucleic acid
• REF  Radiations exposure
• µg  Microgram
• mL  Milliliter
• mg  Milligram
• log P  Partition coefficient
• NLCs  Nanostructured lipid carriers
• SLNs  Solid lipid nanoparticles
• TEM  Transmission electron microscopy
• QT-NLCs  Quercetin-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers
• MSNs  Mesoporous silica nanoparticles
• pH  Potential of hydrogen
• poly-NIPAM  Poly-N-isopropylacrylamide
• HaCaT  Human keratinocytes
• DPPH  2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl
• SCF  Supercritical fluid
• EPAS  Evaporative precipitation into aqueous solution
• HPH  High press homogenization
• MCM-41  Mobil Composition of Matter No. 41
• TGA  Thermo gravimetric analysis
• XRD  X-ray diffraction
• HRTEM  High-resolution transmission electron microscopy
• FT-IR Spectroscopy  Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy
• DSC  Differential scanning calorimetry
• EE  Eudragit^® E
• PVA  Polyvinyl alcohol
• 1H NMR  1H nuclear magnetic resonance
• MDA  Malondialdehyde

INTRODUCTION

Sun emits radiation in the form of visible light and ultraviolet radiation (UV radiations) which reaches the Earth surface. UV radiations consists of three regions of wavelength named as UV-A (315-400 nm), UV-B (280- 315 nm) and UV-C (100-280 nm) with share of 90%, 5% and 5%, respectively. The shortwave UV radiation (UV-C) has potential to cause the maximum risk. However, the UV-C does not reach to the earth surface because it gets absorbed by the earth’s atmosphere. The medium wave UV-B has much more damaging effect on skin. The continuous prolonged exposures cause the risk of skin cancer (Manca et al., 2014a). Being the largest human organ, skin performs an important barrier function that allows the body to be protected against harmful environmental effects (Casagrande et al., 2006). Skin is exposed continuously to a combination of environmental agents including visible radiation, UV radiation and high oxygen concentration, which constantly threatens the integrity of cellular oxidizable structures of the skin (Vicentini et al., 2011). Exposure of human cells to UV radiation gives rise to two major changes that lead to harmful outcomes: chemical modifications to DNA, and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (Wu et al., 2008). These generated ROS; include singlet oxygen, superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical, and hydrogen peroxide. These ROS have a causal relationship with oxidative stress and are capable of damaging cutaneous tissues. These also may activate transcription factors, such as AP-1 (Activator Protein-1) and NFkB (Nuclear Factor Kappa B), which may contribute to cell proliferation and/or apoptotic cell death. These enormous changes in skin lead to many acute and chronic effects on the skin. Out of them sunburn (erythema) is the best-known acute effect of excessive UV radiation exposure. Over the longer exposure, UV radiation not only induces degenerative changes in cells of the skin but also induces same type of changes in cells of fibrous tissue and blood vessels leading to premature skin aging, photodermatoses and actinic keratoses. In the most serious cases, skin cancers can occur (Ichihashi et al., 2003).

Mechanism of UV radiation induced skin damages

UV radiations mainly act on the epidermal basal layer of the skin. It leads to several direct and indirect adverse biological effects, including formation of pyrimidine photoproducts, isomerization of trans- to cis-uronic acid, induction of ornithine decarboxylase activity, stimulation of DNA synthesis, free radical production in skin, arrest of cell cycle growth, photocarcinogenesis, and photoaging. All these effects lead to reduction in antioxidant’s concentration in skin which further causes reduction of skin’s ability to protect itself against the free radicals generated by exposure to sunlight. This is responsible for inducing skin cancer due to damage in DNA and it also lowers the skin’s efficiency system (Heim, Tagliaferro, Bobilya, 2002).

The exposure of UV radiations for about 2 hrs to the epidermal skin causes damages that can be indicated by decrease in keratinosomes, which result in formation of dyskerotic cells. After 16-18 hrs of exposure intracellular edema can be seen, this is followed by intercellular edema around keratinocytes after 30-48 hrs of UV radiations exposure (Spiclin et al., 2003).

Sunburn is a classic example of apoptosis. UV radiations induced apoptotic cells are phagocytized by macrophages and their number increases dramatically after UV radiations exposure.

Chemotherapy for UV radiations induced skin damages

The homeostasis between ROS and antioxidant concentration is a major mechanism in preventing damage by oxidative stress. In recent years, naturally occurring compounds such as Vitamins (e.g. vitamin A, C, and E), Polyphenolic compounds (e.g. flavonoids), Carotenoids (e.g. β-carotene), Coenzyme Q10, Alpha- lipoic acid [(R)-5-(1,2-dithiolan-3-yl) pentanoic acid], have gained considerable attention as antioxidants. These substances can be used in diet or added to preparation for topical application. In this review, we have discussed only flavonoids, especially quercetin as potential antioxidant to improve the antioxidant machinery in skin system to cope with UV radiation induced skin damages (Ichihashi et al., 2003).

Flavanoids

Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds with potent antioxidant activity and commonly used for topical applications for protection against skin damages viz. sunburn, photoaging, skin cancer as well as for skin care (Manca et al., 2014a). Flavonoids are derived from plant kingdom and are widely present in the human diet in the form of edible fruits and vegetables Table I (Ichihashi et al., 2003). Chemically, flavonoids are benzo-γ-pyrone derivatives consisting of phenolic and pyran ring Figure 1 (Heim, Tagliaferro, Bobilya, 2002).

TABLE I
Classification of flavonoids, their chemical constituents and sources (Panche et al. 2016); (Ugazio et al. 2016)

Generic structure	Flavonoid	Dietary Source	Applications
Flavane
	(+)-catechin		Anioxidant and antimicrobial agent
	(-)-epicatechin
	Epigallocatechin gallate
Flavanone
	Narigin	Citrus, grapefruit	Antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and cholesterollowering effect
	Narigenin
	Taxifolin
	Eriodictyol	Lemons
	Hesperidin	Oranges
Flavone
	Chrysin	Fruit skins	Gout and kidney stones treatment as xanthine oxidase modulators
	Apigenin	Parsley, celery
	Luteolin	Red wine, buckwheat
	Luteolin glucosides	Citrus, tomato skin,
	Diosmetin	Red pepper
Flavonol	Kaempferol
		Leek, broccoli, endives
	Rutin	grapefruit, black tea
		Onion, lettuce, broccoli,	Antioxidant potential,
		tomato, tea, red wine,	lower dementia
	Quercetin	apples, Ginkgo biloba	and reduced risk of
		Berries, olive oil, apple skin	vascular disease
	Myricetin	Cranberry grapes, red wine
	Tamarixetin
Isoflavone
	Genistin
	Genistein
	Daidzin	Soyabean	Estrogenic activity,
	Daidzein		metabolic diseases
Neoflavone
	Calophyllolide	Calophyllum inophyllum seeds	Estrogen-like activity

FIGURE 1
General structure of flavonoid.

Mechanism of action of flavonoids

The general mechanism of the antioxidant activity of flavonoids involves their reactivity with the ROS and chelation of transition metal ions responsible for oxygen activation via redox reaction (Ichihashi et al., 2003). Besides being exogenous efficient free radical scavengers, these can also improve the endogenous antioxidant system, suppress oxidative and nitrosative stress, decrease macrophage oxidative stress by inhibiting cellular oxygenase enzyme as well as by interfering with various signal transduction pathways (Ugazio et al., 2016). Figure 2.

FIGURE 2
General mechanism of action of flavonoids.

Most of the flavonoids are generally administered orally, but they can also be applied topically in the form of creams, lotions, gels etc. The topical use of flavonoids is very useful because it allows a synergic combination of three important advantages: the hydration of the affected skin area, the massage action that takes place during the application, the active compound release (Njeri et al., 2014). Likewise, flavonoids extract also having antioxidant properties, UV protection, and anti- inflammatory properties which can enrich skin care products, adding valuable benefits to the formulations (Ugazio et al., 2016).

However topical applications of flavonoids are limited because of their poor solubility, low stability and slow release after application. Moreover, chemical changes in flavonoids due to degradation may decrease the effectiveness and safety of skin care products (Miyake et al., 2000). Thus, to ensure that topically administered antioxidants are effective upon skin application, an important point in the product formulation is their stabilization. Under this point of view, antioxidants are very unstable and may be converted to inactive forms before reaching the target. On the other hand, to exert the desired effect antioxidants must be properly absorbed into the skin, reach their target tissue in the active form and remain at the site of action for long period of time (Ugazio et al., 2016). Table I.

Quercetin

Quercetin is a well-known flavonoid present in fruits, vegetables, and herbs (Table I) which contains flavanol nucleus (Wu et al., 2008). Among flavonols, quercetin reveals a strong antioxidant activity because it can chelate transition metals, scavenge oxygen free radicals, inhibition of lipid peroxidation and in vitro inhibits xanthine oxidase. In addition, quercetin is also able to counteract UV-induced oxidative skin damages following topical application to the skin. In addition, its safety and natural origin make the molecule an attractive candidate for incorporation into skin care formulations (Lopez et al., 2001).

Quercetin is able to reduce redness, itching, and inflammation of damaged skin; it may also help restore skin barrier function, increasing hydration, and reducing water loss. (Maramaldi et al., 2016).

The high antioxidant activity shown by quercetin has been credited to the presence of three active functional groups in its structure the ortho-dihydroxy (catechol) moiety in the B ring, the C2 - C3 double bond in conjunction with a 4-oxo function, and the hydroxyl substitution at positions 3, 5 and 7, Figure 3 (Ichihashi et al., 2003). The various physicochemical properties of quercetin are shown in the Table II.

FIGURE 3
Structure of quercetin.

TABLE II
Physicochemical properties of quercetin (Kumar et al. 2014)

Quercetin physicochemical properties	Values
Chemical formula	C15H10O7
Chemical name (IUPAC)	2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5,7-trihydroxychromen-4-one
Solubility in MilliQ water	0.48 ± 0.1 μg/mL
Solubility in PBS1 pH 3	0.44 ± 0.1 μg/m
Solubility in DMSO2	30 mg/mL
Solubility in ethanol	2 mg/mL
Partition coefficient (log P)	1.82 ± 0.3
Polymorphism	Three polymorphic forms

• ¹ Phosphate buffered saline; ² Di-methyl sulphoxide

Besides these promising activities, quercetin suffers from poor water solubility and inability to penetrate skin. Quercetin shows water solubility less than 0.5µg/mL but has higher solubility in polar organic solvents (2 mg/ mL in ethanol). Due to the presence of nonpolar groups in its structure, quercetin has a partition coefficient of 1.82 ± 0.32. But despite this log P value, polar hydroxyl groups in quercetin hinder its skin penetration capacity (Kumar, Kushwaha, Sharma, 2014).

The extremely low hydrophilicity and solubility of quercetin combined with its extensive metabolism by the gut microflora result in minimal absorption from the gastrointestinal tract (Ichihashi et al., 2003) and a very low bioavailability (less than 17% in rats and even 1% in human) with no measurable plasma concentration following its oral administration. Due to these limitations the beneficial effects of quercetin observed in in vitro studies can’t be directly transferred to the in vivo or clinical level with an oral delivery approach. In addition, quercetin is chemolabile and thermolabile and rapidly degraded and discolored when exposed to alkaline media, light and warm temperature, due to its parent skeleton of flavonoids. Therefore, the quercetin solution formulation containing solubilizer or co-solvent may undergo degradation during the production and storage (Gao et al., 2011). Hence, topical application of quercetin can be a very attractive formulation approach, considering the fact that topical application of quercetin has been shown to result in potent inhibition of UV- induced oxidative skin damages (Ichihashi et al., 2003).

Novel formulations of quercetin

Various approaches have been tried to improve the penetrability and enhance the bioavailability of quercetin are discussed here. These are:

1. Lipid based nanosystems (NLCs and SLNs) (Ichihashi et al., 2003; Guo et al., 2012)

2. Nanovesicles (Manca et al., 2014a)

3. Thermoresponsive mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Ugazio et al., 2016)

4. Nanosuspension (Gao et al., 2011)

5. Aminopropyl functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticle (NH2-MSN) (Sapino et al., 2015)

6. Ceramide liposome-in-hydrogel complex system (Park et al., 2013)

7. Polymeric nanoparticles (Wu et al., 2008)

8. Deformable liposomes (Kim et al., 2015)

1. Lipid based nano-systems

Lipid based nano-systems such as solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) have been earlier show enhanced and improved delivery of several agents like glucocorticoids, Vitamin A and betamethasone (Maia, Mehnert, Schäfer- Korting, 2000 and Jenning, Thünemann, Gohla, 2000) to the specific skin layers. This formulation approach has also been used to prepare solid lipid based nano- systems of quercetin and check their practicability for topical delivery.

As compared to the control formulation with particle size in the micrometer range, the optimized SLN formulation showed better topical delivery of quercetin with statistically significant differences. However, the samples placed on stability at 2-8 ºC showed an increase in the particle size after 8 weeks. This increase in particle size could be credited to lipid transformation of the solid lipid (glyceryl dibehenate) used in these nanoparticles over time, which leads to the formation of a highly ordered lipid structure resulting in drug discharge from the SLN system. The morphology of the nanoparticles visualized using TEM and X-ray diffraction patterns confirmed the lipid transformation. In order to minimize the rigidity, ordered structure of the lipid matrix and insert imperfections in the matrix to reduce drug expulsion upon storage, nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) were prepared. These are second generation lipid- based nanoparticles and are prepared by substituting the solid lipid used in the SLN formulation with a liquid lipid (Muller, Radtke, Wissing, 2002).

Based on solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) were developed which are second generation lipid-based nanoparticles (Muller, Radtke, Wissing, 2002). Liquid lipid introduced into NLCs can disturb the highly regular lattice structure, form an imperfect matrix structure and further increase the space for accommodating drugs (Saupe, Gordon, Rades, 2006). Thus, it overcomes the drawbacks of SLN including relatively low drug payloads and potential drug expulsion. For the unique properties of NLCs many studies focused on their topical application in recent years (Pardeike, Schwabe, Müller, 2010; Mitri et al., 2011; and Nikolić et al., 2011). Moreover, NLCs can increase the apparent solubility of incorporated drugs that can form high concentration gradient on skin to facilitate drug permeation (Castangia et al., 2015).

The nano-sized particles can firmly stick to the surface of skin and transport the drugs in a more controlled manner. The NLCs can improve skin hydration and promote drug penetration by exerting their occlusive effect. Further, the components of NLCs like lipid and surfactants can act as permeation enhancers and loses the lipid bilayers of stratum corneum (Ruktanonchai et al., 2009). NLC has been also considered as a safe and novel carrier for skin application of antioxidant (Jia et al., 2010). The aim of the study was to design and characterize Quercetin-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (QT-NLCs). Evaluation of in vitro drug permeation through mouse skin and in vivo drug distribution in epidermis and dermis of mice was done. Based on the observation under light microscope, the effect of application of quercetin NLCs on the skin surface was also discussed. In addition, the potential use of NLCs for topical delivery of quercetin for anti-oxidant effects was investigated. In the study, the quercetin, a poorly soluble drug was successfully incorporated, into NLCs by an emulsion evaporation solidification method at low temperature. The results obtained confirmed the potential of NLCs as carriers for topical administration. In vitro and in vivo skin permeation studies displayed that quercetin NLCs could enhance the amount of drug retention in epidermis and dermis as compared to quercetin propylene glycol solution. Studies on effect of quercetin NLCs on skin surface confirmed that quercetin NLCs could facilitate drug permeation in skin by weakening the barrier function of stratum corneum. This study also provides additional evidences that NLCs have a targeting and prolonged release effect with better potentials in dermal delivery (Li et al., 2009).

The formulations belong to NLCs can provide sustained release of quercetin also provide stability for a longer period of time. But formulations containing SLNs were not stable for longer period of time and having problems of increase particle size and drug discharge on storage.

2. Nanovesicles

In this study, to improve the antioxidant activity of quercetin against skin damages, it was entrapped in glycerosomes (new phospholipid-glycerol vesicles) (Santoso et al., 2002). The physico-chemical study showed that with increase in glycerol concentration, there is a strong, dose-dependent, interaction of glycerol with the polar portions of the phospholipid molecules, with enhanced vesicle stability as the glycerol concentration increased. Furthermore, glycerosomes were able to promote the accumulation of quercetin in the different skin layers. The vesicles with the highest glycerol concentration increased quercetin deposition in the deeper skin layers. 30-50% glycerosomes, which have been studied, displayed the best potential features as cutaneous delivery system of quercetin. All quercetin loaded vesicles showed a marked free radical-scavenging ability and protected human keratinocytes in vitro from damage due to oxidative stress. In addition, 40-50% glycerosomes were rapidly internalized in these cells. Therefore, results demonstrate that quercetin-loaded 40- 50% glycerosomes are the most promising carriers for the treatment of skin problems associated with oxidative damage (Castangia et al., 2015).

Nanovesicles can provide an improved technique to deliver quercetin as topical application because these formulations having long time period stability as well as better antioxidant activity.

3. Thermoresponsive mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN)

Currently, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have been proposed as carriers of active ingredients in the dermo cosmetic field (Hudson et al., 2006; Berlier et al., 2013a; Sapino et al., 2015). They are denoted by an ordered mesoporous structure and high biocompatibility. Moreover, it is possible to regulate the delivery of a bioactive agent in response to different stimuli including light, temperature, pH, electric fields, or chemicals (e.g. enzymes) by grafting functional moieties on their surface. Functional moieties used for this purpose are usually smart polymers which can protect the drug until it reaches the site of action and can then regulate its release to obtain the desired release profile (Doadrio et al., 2015). Smart polymers are materials that respond in a fast and considerable way to very slight changes in the environment. An example of such polymer is Poly-(N-isopropylacrylamide) (poly-NIPAM) which is a temperature-responsive polymer that was first synthesized in 1950s. Usually, for potential in vivo applications, carriers must retain active molecules tightly before usage, but should release them in the application site as per individual requirements. Recently, variable stimuli-responsive systems based on MSNs have been designed for drug delivery. This technique can be very useful in order to retain the effectiveness of antioxidants in skin care products during shelf-life and the period-after-opening. In this study, MSNs functionalized with a thermoresponsive co-polymer of NIPAM were developed and used for delivery of flavonoid quercetin which is characterized by poor water solubility, low stability and a short half- life, effectively to skin (Gloria et al., 2013). MSNs have often been proposed to control the release of drugs and active compounds, but to our knowledge their use in cutaneous preparations has not been much documented so far. This work aims to realize an innovative delivery system able to preserve the physico-chemical and biological properties of labile active ingredients of dermo cosmetic interest until their release in the skin, and to trigger the release according to the temperature condition of the application site (Zarzyka, Lorenzo, Pyda, 2014). The antioxidant quercetin has been chosen as a model molecule, while copolymer- grafted MSNs with two different mesoporous sizes have been successfully prepared: both these systems displayed biocompatibility with immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT), particularly within 24 h. In vitro release profiles of quercetin /copoly-MSNs complexes demonstrated that thermoresponsive properties, more evident in the case of larger pores, could be further improved by optimizing the size of the grafted chains. DPPH and Fe²⁺-ferrozine assays demonstrated that the antioxidant efficacy of quercetin was maintained upon immobilization in the siliceous nanoparticles and it was likely improved by the intrinsic radical scavenging capability of the carrier. Finally, ex vivo studies of quercetin accumulation and permeation through the skin from a hydrogel formulation underlined a certain role of the copolymer in hindering quercetin release and its interaction with the skin barrier. The research presented here obviously needs further studies, especially as for the relationship between surface properties of the copolymer-grafted MSNs and the physico-chemical characteristics of the overall formulation. However, based on these preliminary results, this innovative system can be considered as a promising and strategic approach to control the skin delivery of antioxidants and could be implemented to increase the efficacy of other active compounds (Manca et al., 2014b).

The data shown that MSN big having particle size in the range of 295-361 nm, 32.4% loading for quercetin and more than 53% antioxidant activity. The MSN small formulation having particle size in the range of 181-219 nm, 33.5% loading for quercetin and more than 72% antioxidant activity. Hence, the formulation containing small MSN having better antioxidant efficiency as compared to the formulation containing big MSN.

4. Nanosuspension

Currently, to tackle the formulation issue of the poorly soluble drugs, the nanosuspension technology has been successfully applied. Nanosuspension is a carrier-free colloid drug delivery system containing only minimum stabilizers and pure drug particles with a mean particle size in the nanometer range, typically between 10 and 1000 nm (Keck, Muller, 2006). The nanosuspension offer various advantages like enhanced drug solubility, high dispersity and homogenization, intravenously injectable, simple production process, universal adaptivity that enable its applications in the formulation of poorly soluble compounds. Moreover, the formation of suspensions is one of effective approaches for the stabilization of chemolabile molecules that are insoluble in aqueous solution (Moschwitzer et al., 2004). Generally, according to the differences of the production principle, the nanosuspension techniques are classified as bottom up processes and top down processes (Keck, Muller, 2006).

In the bottom up processes, the poorly water- soluble drug is first dissolved in an organic solvent and then precipitated through addition of a non-solvent in the presence of stabilizers, as in supercritical fluid (SCF) technology, evaporative precipitation into aqueous solution (EPAS), spray-freezing into liquid process, and emulsion-solvent evaporation (Rabinow, 2004). These processes were simple and cost effective without any high energy input. However, the following prerequisites should be met: (i) the drug should be soluble at least in one solvent and (ii) the solvent should be miscible with a non-solvent (Junyaprasert, Morakul, 2015).

The top down processes involve the mechanical comminution processes of larger drug particles, as in media milling, micro fluidization and high press homogenization (HPH). These methods don’t require harsh solvents but involve high energy input and low power efficiency (Gutierrez-Villanueva et al., 2009). Since there is generation of heat during comminution process so, some additional measures are required to minimize the degradation of heat sensitive drugs.

This study aimed at comparing the EPAS process (bottom-up) and the HPH process (top-down) for the preparation of quercetin nanosuspension. The characterization of quercetin nanosuspension was done in terms of particle size, size distribution, thermal properties and X-ray powder diffraction. The comparison of solubility and dissolution behavior of quercetin before and after EPAS and HPH process was also done. At last, the chemical stability and photostability of nanosuspension were determined.

The nanosuspension formulations developed by both the methods that is EPAS and HPH were not provided good results for antioxidant activity although these having appropriate particle size for topical formulations.

5. Aminopropyl functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles

Mesoporous silica is expected to have relatively good biocompatibility and stability, even if its fate in physiological fluids and the actual effect on cells remains the object of many investigations, especially when nanoparticles are employed (Fontecave, 2012).

The immobilization of quercetin in aminopropyl- functionalized MCM-41 mesoporous silica nanoparticles were also reported. By spectrophotometry or thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), the quercetin-loading capacity was determined (Berlier et al., 2013b). A particular attention was devoted to the physico- chemical properties of the inclusion complex. Therefore, to characterize the nanoparticles before and after complexation, several analytical techniques (XRD, HRTEM, N₂ adsorption analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, zeta potential measurements and DSC) were employed. The quercetin diffusion through a cellulose membrane was studied, and the photostability of the included molecule was analyzed upon UV radiation. With a view to a possible use of quercetin in topical formulations, an ex vivo study using Franz diffusion cells was performed to investigate the influence of the inclusion in silica nanoparticles on the skin uptake of quercetin. Further, in order to determine the chemoprevention potential of this innovative nanosized complex compared to that of free quercetin, an in vitro cytotoxicity on JR8 human melanoma cells was tested (Doadrio et al., 2015; Jadhav et al., 2017).

The percent drug loading by this method was very less. Hence, it is not suitable to formulate the Aminopropyl functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles for the quercetin.

6. Ceramide liposome-in-hydrogel complex system

Hydrogels are three-dimensional networks which are composed of hydrophilic polymers that retain a large amount of water without dissolving by swelling in aqueous solution. Currently, the development of cellulose-based hydrogels has been actively explored. Hydrogels based on cellulose have high permeation of active constituents, good biodegradable properties, high degree of swelling, and no irritation or toxicity is associated with them. Hydrogels are extensively used in the pharmaceutical and medical fields as drug delivery vehicles due to their high biocompatibility (Peppas et al., 2000).

Liposomes have a phospholipid composition which resembles the lipid bilayer of cell membranes in the body. Moreover, within the internal space of liposomes both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs can be loaded. They are also associated with low toxicity and high biocompatibility. Due to these reasons, liposomes are extensively used as a drug delivery system (El Maghraby, Barry, Williams, 2008). Quercetin is reported to act as strong antioxidant (Tusevski et al., 2014). It has been widely used as antioxidant in cosmetics, but due to poor aqueous solubility their use is limited. Thus, investigation has been done to improve their solubility in water (Kreilgaard, 2002). Another study includes designing of a two-step delivery system containing ceramide liposomes composed of biocompatible membranes and porous cellulose hydrogel to enhance transdermal permeation of quercetin (Fry, White, Goldman, 1978). The entrapment efficiency from this formulation was 41.5% but the antioxidant activity was not reported.

7. Polymeric nanoparticles

Due to poor solubility of quercetin, the clinical studies investigating different programs of its administration have been limited. For the drug delivery of water-insoluble compounds, nanoparticles are particularly useful. Therefore, using a simple nanoprecipitation technology with Eudragit^® E (EE) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as carriers, the novel quercetin nanoparticles system was prepared The quercetin nanoparticles were evaluated for physico-chemical characterization by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), and dissolution study (Rabinow 2004; Moschwitzer et al., 2004) Also, the antioxidant effects of pure quercetin and of its nanoparticles were also evaluated by free radical scavenging, anti- superoxide formation (Ugazio et al., 2016), anti-lipid peroxidation, and scavenging superoxide studies (Sahil et al., 2011). The results obtained from this formulation were good as entrapment efficiency was about 99% and particle size is about 82nm. But the antioxidant activity was not reported.

8. Deformable liposomes

As drug carriers, liposomes have several advantages like high solubility, better stability and enhancement of cellular uptake. For the last decades, topical delivery of drugs by liposomal formulations has evoked a considerable interest. But contrary to the previous findings, it became evident that classic liposomes are of either little or no value as carriers for transdermal drug delivery as they do not deeply penetrate skin and remain confined to upper layers of the stratum corneum. Confocal microscopy studies showed that intact liposomes were not able to penetrate into the granular layers of the epidermis (Junyaprasert, Morakul, 2015).

Current approaches in modulating drug delivery through skin have resulted in the design of deformable liposomes. They consist of phospholipids and an edge activator. An edge activator is generally a single chain surfactant that destabilizes lipid bilayers of the vesicles and enhances deformability of the bilayers. sodium cholate, span 80, tween 80, dipotassium glycyrrhizinate were employed as edge activators. Deformable liposomes are able to improve the skin delivery of a variety of chemical agents as compared to conventional liposomes. They are also able to penetrate intact skin, in vivo, transferring therapeutic amounts of drugs, with efficiency comparable with that of subcutaneous administration (El Maghraby et al., 2008; Rakesh, Anoop, 2012). It was suggested that deformable liposomes could respond to external stress by rapid shape transformations requiring low energy (Gangwar et al., 2012). Currently, they are used as a carrier for protein, peptides (Kulkarni et al., 2011) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (Cagdas, Sezer, Bucak, 2014). But, very few studies have been performed to show that deformable liposomes with a flavonoid antioxidant can protect against UV- radiation damages (Dong et al., 2016).

This study was carried out to investigate the potential application of deformable liposomes for delivery of quercetin for treating UV radiation-induced cellular damages. Here, the preparative method and physico-chemical properties of quercetin deformable liposomes were discussed. In addition, the protective effects of deformable quercetin liposomes against UV (280-320 nm)-induced reactive oxygen species- generation, the malondialdehyde (MDA) level, and cell death in human skin keratinocyte HaCaT were investigated. Finally, it’s in vivo effect was observed using mice exposed to UV-radiation (Pignatello et al., 2006).

The formulation as deformable liposomes containing quercetin is very effective for the treatment of UV radiation-induced skin disorders, this having proof of pre-clinical studies. These finding further required to evaluation under clinical trials.

CONCLUSION

Quercetin, a well-known and extensively studied flavonoid which present in fruits, vegetable, and herbs, and has been reported as benchmark discovery in treatment of UV- induced skin damages. Our skin is in continuous exposure to UV radiations which induce harmful modifications in skin such as chemical modification of DNA, and generation of ROS. These ROS are capable of damaging cutaneous tissues. Quercetin structure has ortho-dihydroxy (catechol) moiety, the C2-C3 double bond in conjunction with a 4-oxo function, and the hydroxyl substitution at positions 3, 5 and 7 which has imparted high antioxidant property to quercetin. Beside these promising activities, quercetin has poor water solubility (< 0.5µg/ mL) and inability to penetrate skin which was a major problem in delivering the drug to the skin. To combat this problem extensive research was done by various research groups to develop a preparation which has effective delivery to the skin.

In this report several formulations of quercetin were discussed and their outcomes were compiled to find a suitable formulations Table III. From this study, it can be suggested that three formulations, namely nanovesicles, nanostructured lipid carriers and deformable liposomes holds good applications for the future for topical delivery of quercetin.

TABLE III
Comparative study of different formulations of Quercetin for topical application (Ichihashi et al. 2003); (Guo et al. 2012); (Manca et al. 2014a); (Ugazio et al. 2016); (Gao et al. 2011); (Sapino et al. 2015); (Park et al. 2013); (Wu et al. 2008) and (Yuri et al. 2015)

Formulation	Preparation technique	Excipients	Particle size (nm)	PDI	Surface charge (mV)	Entrapment Efficiency (%)	Antioxidant activity (%)
Lipid based nanosystems	Probe Ultra Sonication	Compritol 888, Glyceryl dibehenate, Olic acid	281.9 ± 2.9	0.31 ± 0.1	-36.57 ± 2.67	NS	NS
Nanovesicles Glycerosomes	Thin film hydration method	Lecithin, Glycerol	80 ± 3.0	0.26 ± 0.2	-67.0 ± 3.0	81.0 ± 1.0	95 ± 1.0
Liposomes			102 ± 3.0	0.32 ± 0.1	-78.0 ± 2.0	88.0 ± 3.0	87 ± 2.0
Thermoresponsive mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN)	Q/copoly-MSN Big	CTAB, TEOS, NaOH TMB	328 ± 33.0	NS	-20.6 ± 0.7	32.4 (Q-loading)	53 ± 4.0
	Q/copoly-MSN small		200 ± 19.0	NS	-21.3 ± 0.5	33.5 (Q-loading)	72 ± 2.0
Nanosuspension	EPAS	Ethanol, Pluronic F68, Lecithin	251.56 ± 24.6	0.23 ± 0.1	-21.12 ± 2.7	NS	NS
	HPH		192.47 ± 31.8	0.21 ± 0.1	-22.48 ± 4.6	NS	NS
Aminopropyl functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (NH2-MSN)	Sol-gel method	N-cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, Tetraethyl orthosilicate	250 ± 50.0	NS	+13.6 ± 0.2	8 (drug loading %)	NS
Ceramide liposomes-inhydrogel complex system	Thin film hydration method	Egg PC, Ceramide, Cholesterol, Oleic acid	NS	NS	NS	41.5	NS
Polymeric nanoparticle	Nanoprecipitation technique	PVA, Eudragit-E	82 ± 5.0	0.22 ± 0.1	NS	99.9 ± 0.6	NS
Deformable liposomes	Ethanol injection method	Lecithin, Cholesterol, Tween-80	132 ± 14.0	NS	21.1 ± 8.0	80.4 ± 4.2	NS

The glycerosomes and liposomes showed enhanced stability, increased quercetin accumulation and deposition in different skin layers. The vesicles showed a marked free radical-scavenging activity and protection against oxidative stress induced damages having antioxidant activity of 95%.

Nanostructures lipid carriers enhanced the drug retention in epidermis and dermis, facilitated drug permeation in skin by weakening the barrier function of stratum corneum, and also had a targeting and prolonged release effect with better potentials in dermal delivery. Its encapsulation efficiency (EE) was found to be 89.95%.

Deformable liposomes showed high EE about 80.4%, small particle size around 132 nm, negative charge, and long-lasting drug release. The deformable liposomes also suppressed the levels of ROS and MDA induced by UV-radiation. It enhanced the flux of quercetin in the skin and also protected the skin from photo damage caused by UV-radiation.

The formulations containing SLNs were not stable for longer period of time and having problems of increase particle size and drug discharge on storage. Similarly, thermoresponsive mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) as big size having particle size in the range of 295-361nm, 32.4% loading for quercetin and more than 53% antioxidant activity. The smaller size formulation having particle size in the range of 181-219nm, 33.5% loading for quercetin and more than 72% antioxidant activity. Hence, the formulation containing small MSN having better antioxidant efficiency as compared to the formulation containing big MSN. But stability is the main issue with these types of formulations. The nanosuspension formulations developed by both the methods that is EPAS and HPH were not provided good results for antioxidant activity although these having appropriate particle size for topical formulations.

Aminopropyl functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles has very less drug loading. The ceramide liposome-in-hydrogel complex system and polymeric nanoparticles had good entrapment efficiency but the antioxidant activity was not reported for these formulations.

Despite achieving extremely small particle size with nano-dosage forms, still the lipid content and the type of lipid seem to be the main determinant for the extent of quercetin present in the depth of skin layers. Therefore, advance studies should be performed to get detail understanding about the exact depth that a quercetin formulation can achieve. At the same time, more research should be made to investigate other possible applications for quercetin in other skin disorders such as psoriasis or atopic dermatitis.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  22 Apr 2022
• Date of issue
  2022

History

• Received
  06 June 2018
• Accepted
  15 Feb 2019