Cancer is one of the dreadful diseases in the world, with poor prognosis. Numerous investigations have shown that both tissue and cell distribution profiles of anticancer drugs can be controlled by their entrapment in submicronic colloidal systems (nanoparticles). The rationale behind this approach is to increase antitumor efficacy, while reducing systemic side-effects. These nanoparticles are well known to show theranostic activity which further increases the therapeutic index. In this study we are developing antioxidant quercetin for anti-tumor effect. The quercetin nanoparticles are prepared using nanoprecipitation method with poly caprolactone as polymer in which the nanoparticles are recovered. These nanoparticles are further optimized for the drug loading, characterized the ­morphology using SEM and drug-polymer interactions by FT-IR, DSC. This lipophilic drug has shown a maximum entrapment efficiency of 81% and the SEM images showed nanoparticles of different shapes. There showed no interactions indicating the stability of quercetin loaded poly caprolactone nanoparticles.

Key words: cancer, nanoparticles, theranostic, tumor cells, quercetin dihydrate.