Synthesis of quercetin-loaded carboxymethyl cellulose nanogel: morphological structure and in vitro release

To improve the bioavailability and bioabsorbability of the drug, a new nanocarrier based on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) has been designed. This study aimed to develop multi-featured nanogel to be applied as a drug delivery system. The CMC nanogel is characterized by its simplicity, biocompatibility, and cost-efficiency, where it is prepared by applying one natural polymer (CMC) via a facile precipitation technique without using toxic materials that may reduce the drug efficiency and induce side effects. Also, the CMC nanogel is characterized by its porosity that sustains the drug-releasing efficiency. The CMC nanogel is loaded with various concentrations of quercetin (Q) as a model drug against breast and hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines (MCF-7 and HepG2). The different formulations of nanogels were examined using SEM, TEM, CLSM, FTIR, TGA, zeta potential, and particle size. The findings demonstrated the formation of spherical porous nanomaterials with average dynamic size and zeta potential varying between 93 to 591 nm and - 41 to - 25 mV, respectively. The variation in the values of particle size and zeta potential affirmed they are drug dose-dependent. Releasing profile of Q-2/CMC exhibited sustained release of drug molecules within 7 h. The inhibitory effect towards MCF-7 and HepG2 was demonstrated through cytotoxicity assessment and flow cytometry. The results reveal that the nanogels induce early and late apoptosis with effective cytotoxicity towards both examined cancer cells. The cytotoxicity of Q-1/CMC, Q-2/CMC, and Q-3/CMC that measured at 100 mu g was 56.6%, 56.6%, and 26.5% towards MCF-7, but recorded as 68.64%, 70%, and 60% towards HepG2. The findings recommended the high potential of the designed CMC nanogel as a PH-responsive nanocarrier for cancer thereby.