Development of quercetin loaded biosynthesized chitosan grafted iron oxide nanoformulation and their antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-cancer properties

Abstract

In this study, we report the development and characterization of a novel nanoformulation composed of quercetin-loaded biosynthesized chitosan-grafted iron oxide nanoparticles (CH-Fe3O4 NCs). The synthesis of chitosan-grafted iron oxide nanoparticles was achieved through a green synthesis approach, utilizing chitosan derived from crustacean shells and biosynthesized iron oxide nanoparticles. Quercetin, a natural flavonoid with known antibacterial, anti-cancer, and antioxidant properties, was loaded onto the nanoparticles through physical adsorption. The optical property, crystal structure, morphology, chemical composition and surface charge were thoroughly characterized using various analytical techniques including UV–visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometer, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and zeta potential analyzer. The antibacterial activity of the nanoformulation was evaluated against a panel of bacterial strains using standard microbiological assays, revealing promising inhibitory effects against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The antibacterial activity of CH-Fe3O4 NCs was evaluated against E. coli and S. aureus bacterial species. CH-Fe3O4 NCs have a greater ability to inhibit the E.coli than S. aureus. Furthermore, the CH-Fe3O4 NCs demonstrated dose-dependent cytotoxicity and caused apoptotic cell death in the H522 cell line. Additionally, the antioxidant properties of the nanoformulation were evaluated through scavenging assays, highlighting its ability to effectively neutralize free radicals. Overall, our results suggest that the quercetin-loaded biosynthesized chitosan-grafted iron oxide nanoformulation exhibits potent antibacterial, anti-cancer, and antioxidant properties, making it a promising candidate for further development as a multifunctional therapeutic agent.