Smart Liposomes Boost Quercetin’s Cancer-Fighting Powers

Scientists have found a clever way to make quercetin, a naturally occurring compound, more effective against triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). They created special liposomes, tiny fat particles, that can target and release quercetin more precisely. These liposomes are coated with a material called NGR-poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-cholesteryl methyl carbonate, or NPC for short. NPC makes the liposomes sensitive to pH changes. This means they release quercetin more easily in the acidic environment of a tumor than in the rest of the body. Tests showed that NPC-coated liposomes loaded with quercetin (NPC-QUE-L) were better at slowing down tumor growth compared to plain quercetin or regular liposomes. More quercetin stayed in the bloodstream with the NPC-QUE-L, and it was taken up by cancer cells more efficiently. The special liposomes also helped reduce the expression of proteins linked to tumor growth and fibrosis. All this makes NPC-QUE-L a promising tool for improving the effectiveness of quercetin and other similar natural compounds against cancer.