Abstract

Quercetin, a naturally occurring flavonoid, exhibits potent anticancer properties but suffers from poor bioavailability due to its low water solubility and rapid metabolism. This study aimed to develop a novel nano-encapsulation strategy using chitosan-alginate nanoparticles (CS-Alg NPs) to enhance the bioavailability and targeted delivery of quercetin to colorectal cancer cells. CS-Alg NPs were synthesized via ionic gelation and characterized for particle size, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, and drug release profile. In vitro studies were conducted to evaluate the cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, and anticancer activity of quercetin-loaded CS-Alg NPs (Q-CS-Alg NPs) in colorectal cancer cell lines (HCT116 and HT29). The results demonstrated that Q-CS-Alg NPs exhibited significantly enhanced cytotoxicity and cellular uptake compared to free quercetin. Moreover, Q-CS-Alg NPs showed a sustained release profile, protecting quercetin from premature degradation and enabling targeted delivery to cancer cells. This novel nano-encapsulation approach holds promising potential for improving the therapeutic efficacy of quercetin in colorectal cancer treatment.