Advancing Liposomal Coating Approaches for Improved Anticancer Drug Delivery

Quercetin, a natural flavonoid with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties, faces limitations in clinical application due to its poor solubility and bioavailability. This study presents a novel delivery system utilizing a combination of polyoxyethylene (100) stearyl ether and folic acid to enhance quercetin's effectiveness. We developed folate-conjugated polyoxyethylene (100) stearyl ether-coated liposomes (FA-Brij-LPs) to leverage the unique properties of polyoxyethylene (100) stearyl ether in conjunction with folic acid for targeted delivery. The FA-Brij-LPs were prepared using the thin-film hydration method and characterized for their physicochemical properties, including size, zeta potential, and drug loading capacity. The optimized FA-Brij-LPs exhibited a mean particle size of 147.57 nm, a zeta potential of 32.20 mV, and a drug loading capacity of 9.33 %. In vitro studies demonstrated sustained quercetin release and significantly enhanced cellular uptake compared to free quercetin. The Resazurin cell viability assay further revealed superior anticancer efficacy of FA-Brij-LPs. This innovative approach underscores the effectiveness of combining polyoxyethylene (100) stearyl ether with folic acid in enhancing quercetin delivery and its potential applications in cancer therapy.