Quercetin-Entrapped Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Enhance Glucose Metabolism and Insulin Secretion in Diabetic Rats

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Biotechnology and Life Sciences Department, Faculty of Postgraduate Studies for Advanced Sciences (PSAS), Beni-Suef University, 62511 Beni-Suef, Egypt

2 Biotechnology and Life Sciences Department, Faculty of Postgraduate studies for Advanced Sciences, Beni-Suef University, Egypt.

3 Biochemistry Department, Institute of Biotechnology Research, National research center, Egypt.

4 Materials Science and Nanotechnology Department, Faculty of Postgraduate Studies for Advanced Sciences (PSAS), Beni-Suef University, 62511 Beni-Suef, Egypt, (postal code 62521)

5 Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Helwan University

6 Materials Science and Nanotechnology Department, Faculty of Postgraduate Studies for Advanced Sciences (PSAS), Beni-Suef University, 62511 Beni-Suef, Egypt

7 Molecular Physiology Division, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, 62511 Beni-Suef, Egypt

Abstract

Quercetin (Q), a poorly non-toxic; water-soluble flavonol, has several potent medicinal therapeutic applications. As a natural bioactive compound, Q has hydrophobicity and crystallinity state that reduces its solubility in aqueous media (˂0.55 μM), bioaccessibility, permeability, bioavailability, intrinsic biological activities, and its medicinal therapeutic characteristics as well as accelerates its clearance rate from the body. In the current study, as an emulsified formulation, the Q-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (QSLNs) were synthesized to improve the oral solubility and the cellular bioavailability of Q. As physicochemical characteristics, the DLS measurements, FT-IR, XRD, and TEM surface morphological properties as well as the QEE (%), QLC (%), and the cumulative releasing profiles% of the entrapped Q were also determined. As in vivo biochemical evaluation, the antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of QSLNs were clearly estimated in diabetic rats. The oral administration with Q, QSLNs, and Gliclazide potentially attenuated diabetic features in male rats, which restored the levels of FBG, blood insulin, ALT, AST, urea, and creatinine as well as the levels and activities of pancreatic NO, GSH, GPx, SOD, CAT, and GR compared with diabetic rats. Furthermore, the oral administration with Q, QSLNs, and Gliclazide improved the histopathological changes, which increased the relative mRNA expression levels of pancreatic Glut2 and Tcf7l2 and the insulin sensitivity features compared with diabetic rats. In diabetic rats, the oral administration with QSLNs highly induced antidiabetic and antioxidant characteristics compared with the Q and Gliclazide administration. Finally, the emulsified formula with Q clearly improved the intrinsic biochemical features, antidiabetic and antioxidant activities, pancreatic β-cells functional mass as well as the abnormal histopathological alternations in diabetic rats compared to the oral administration with Q and Gliclazide.

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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 13 May 2025
  • Receive Date: 27 February 2025
  • Revise Date: 25 April 2025
  • Accept Date: 13 May 2025