Funct. Mater. 2025; 32 (4): 672-684.
Determination of the effect of the solid dispersion carrier on quercetin solubility
1National University of Pharmacy, Kharkiv, Pushkinska Street, 53, 61002 Ukraine
2Visiting Scholar in Pharmaceutical Engineering Group, School of Pharmacy Queen′s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
3Bukovinian State Medical University, Teatralna square, 2, 58002 Chernivtsi, Ukraine
4Institute for Scintillation Materials, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 60 Nauky Ave, 61072 Kharkiv, Ukraine
The results of studying solid dispersions of quercetin aimed at improving its biopharmaceutical properties are presented. Quercetin belongs to Class IV of the Biopharmaceutics Classification System and is characterized by low solubility and permeability, which limits its bioavailability. To enhance its therapeutic effectiveness, solid dispersions were prepared with various polymeric carriers such as polyethylene glycol (PEG-4000), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), mannitol, polyvinylpyrrolidone K30 (PVP K30), and cetostearyl alcohol in 1:1 ratio. The physicochemical properties of the obtained samples were evaluated using spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction analysis, thermal analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that the use of polymeric carriers promotes the amorphization of quercetin and improves its solubility. The highest degree of amorphization was achieved in the sample with PVP K30, as confirmed by both X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis. PEG-4000 and mannitol demonstrated moderate effectiveness, whereas cetostearyl alcohol proved unsuitable due to thermal instability and the formation of dense agglomerates, which slow down the release of the active substance. Biopharmaceutical studies demonstrated a significant increase in solubility and a reduction in the dose number in solid dispersions compared to the native substance. The most promising solid dispersions turned out to be those in which PVP K30 was used as a carrier for the gastric environment and mannitol for the intestinal environment. The obtained results indicate that the development of solid dispersions is an effective strategy for enhancing the bioavailability of poorly soluble compounds, particularly quercetin, and may be applied in the design of new oral dosage forms.
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