Preparation and Characterization of Quercetin Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for Ocular Drug Delivery

Abstract

Nanostructured
lipid carriers ( hav e gained considerable attention as advanced lipid
based drug delivery systems owing to their ability to enhance the solubility, stability, and
bioavailability of poorly water soluble drugs. Quercetin, a naturally occurring flavonoid with
potent antioxidant and pharmacological properties, exhibits limited therapeutic application
due to its poor aqueous solubility and low bioavailability. The present study aims to develop
quercetin loaded nanostructured lipid carriers to improve its delivery through a lipid b ased
nanosystem. The NLCs were prepared using a homogenization assisted ultrasonication
technique employing suitable solid and liquid lipids along with surfactants. The prepared
formulations were characterized for their physicochemical properties, includin g particle size,
polydispersity index, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, drug loading, and surface
morphology. In addition, in vitro drug release and stability studies were carried out to assess
the performance of the developed nanosystem. The charact erization of NLCs provides
valuable information regarding their suitability as a lipid based carrier for enhancing the
delivery of hydrophobic bioactive compounds.The study highlights the potential of
nanostructured lipid carriers as an effective platform for improving the pharmaceutical
performance of natural compounds. The findings are expected to contribute to the
development of advanced lipid based drug delivery systems and provide a basis for further
investigation of their therapeutic applications.