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. 2025 Apr;22(4):e202402495.
doi: 10.1002/cbdv.202402495. Epub 2024 Nov 30.

Solid State Synthesis of Hyaluronic Acid-Quercetin Conjugate: Sustainable Protocol to Improve the Biological Activity of Quercetin

Valentina Verdoliva  1 , Giuliana Muzio  2 , Riccardo Autelli  2 , Stefania De Luca  3
Affiliations

Solid State Synthesis of Hyaluronic Acid-Quercetin Conjugate: Sustainable Protocol to Improve the Biological Activity of Quercetin

Valentina Verdoliva et al. Chem Biodivers. 2025 Apr.

Abstract

Herein, a sustainable solid-state procedure is employed for the synthesis of a water-soluble molecule obtained by linking hyaluronic acid to the hydrophobic quercetin (HA-QCT). The micellar self-aggregation of the developed conjugate suggested its employment as a drug delivery nano-system, considering the numerous biological activities of QCT. Indeed, the spectroscopic characterization (ultraviolet-visible and Fourier transform infrared) ensured that the QCT maintained its chemical integrity. In addition, a cytotoxicity test revealed that HA-QCT can be employed as a biocompatible drug vehicle for pharmacological purposes. A preliminary colorimetric test also confirmed that QCT retained its anti-oxidant activity.

Keywords: anti‐oxidant activity of quercetin; hyaluronan−quercetin conjugate; nano‐carrier of quercetin; pharmacological activity of quercetin; solvent‐free protocol.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Natural source of quercetin.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Activities of quercetin.
SCHEME 1
SCHEME 1
Synthetic one‐pot solid‐state strategy of HA‐QCT conjugate.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Fourier transform infrared normalized spectra of HA (blue) and HA‐QCT conjugates (light green) (A); expansion of FT‐IR spectra (B).
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Ultraviolet−visible spectra normalized of QCT (40% EtOH in water) (orange) and HA‐QUER (40% EtOH in water) (light green).
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Viability of the human fibroblast cell line HFF‐1 exposed to HA‐QCT conjugates.
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
Antioxidant test of HA‐QCT conjugate.
FIGURE 7
FIGURE 7
Size distribution for HA‐QCT conjugate.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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