Enhancing quercetin bioavailability by super paramagnetic starch-based hydrogel grafted with fumaric acid: An in vitro and in vivo study

Application of Quercetin (Quer) as a natural flavonoid is confined because of limited solubility in water and stability in the body. Herein, we prepared a biodegradable super paramagnetic starch-based hydrogel grafted onto fumaric acid for increasing Quer bioavailability and controlling its release. The molecular structure of starch was modified by using fumaric acid to increase hydrophilicity of hydrogel, and iron oxide nanoparticles is used to strengthen its physical and mechanical properties. The structural, morphological and magnetic properties of the optimized hydrogel were characterized. Application of the synthesized hydrogel was assessed in the in vitro and in vivo studies. In vitro release curve was nicely fitted to the Higuchi model. Stability and bioavailability of Quer were significantly increased at the plasma and liver of rats which received 100 mg kg(-1) Quer-loaded on synthetic hydrogel compared with 100 mg kg(-1) free Quer (p < 0.05).