Bioavailability Enhancement of Abiraterone Acetate Through Quercetin-Loaded Nanoparticles

Background: Abiraterone acetate, a BCS Class IV biopharmaceutical drug with cytotoxic potential against cancer cells, faces limitations in its clinical use due to a short half-life and poor bioavailability. This work set out to employ nanoparticle technology to increase the bioavailability of abiraterone acetate by means of quercetin, a bioenhancer. Using the Eudragit RS-100 polymer and the emulsion solvent evaporation process, nanoparticles (NPs) were created, with a targeted particle size range of 236.8 to 389.22 nm. Results: The produced nanoparticles demonstrated favourable in vitro characteristics, and the percentage of medicine discharged from all batches fell within acceptable thresholds. Notably, A549 cells exhibited a more positive response to a specific formulation (NP_2) with a higher bioenhancer loading. This unexpected finding suggested that the inclusion of abiraterone acetate into NPs contributed to maintaining the formulations' release profiles. This observation holds potential for reducing the dosage frequency of abiraterone acetate, thereby improving its clinical utility. Conclusion: In conclusion, the study indicates that the bioavailability of abiraterone acetate can be significantly improved through its encapsulation in nanoparticles, especially when combined with an herbal bioenhancer. The enhanced release profile observed, particularly in the case of NP_2, suggests a promising avenue for optimizing the proliferative effect of this anticancer medication.