Crosslinked Polyphosphazene Nanospheres with Anticancer Quercetin: Synthesis, Spectroscopic, Thermal Properties, and Controlled Drug Release

Abstract

In this study, novel cross-linked inorganic-organic hybrid polyphosphazene nanospheres were synthesized via self-assembly precipitation polymerization between hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene (HCCP) as a crosslinker molecule and anticancer featured quercetin (QCT). The technique used for synthesizing QCT nanospheres is quite simple and rapid, and has some advantages like using just ultrasonic power. Furthermore, it does not require any surfactant or stabilizer. Growth of nanospheres and reaction time effect on the formation of QCT nanospheres were investigated. Quercetin and 4',7-dihydroxyflavone were compared for the formation of nanospheres. The particle size of the spheres was determined to be approximately 434 nm by DLS (dynamic light scattering) measurements in 3 hours reaction time. The structure and morphology of synthesized QCT nanospheres were investigated by SEM-EDX (scanning electron microscope) and XRD (X-ray diffractometer). The spectroscopic and thermal properties of cyclomatrix polyphosphazene QCT nanospheres were investigated by FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), UV-vis (ultraviolet-visible), fluorescence, and TGA (thermogravimetric analysis). Moreover, QCT nanospheres were used for controlled release of acriflavine which had been chosen as a model drug.