We are not able to completely dissolve the lecithin crude form (P5638 Sigma , L-α-Phosphatidylcholine from soybean, Type II-S, 14-29% choline basis) in ethanol for the preparation of nanoformulation of quercetin for topical use on skin. We have also tried other solvents like acetone, methanol, DMSO etc without getting any success in dissolving available lecithin. Even on overnight mixing of our lecithin in the ethanol on magnetic stirrer (speed 1000-1200 rpm), there is formation of suspension which settle down after few minutes. Please guide/advise me how to prepare the nanoparticles of lecithin from the lecithin available to us for synthesizing the nanoformulation of quercetin. Presently we are following the method of prepartion of quercetin formulation as menthioned in the paper " Preparation and evaluation of quercetin-loaded lecithin-chitosan nanoparticles for topical delivery. Authored by Tan Q, Liu W, Guo C, Zhai G. published in Int J Nanomedicine. 2011;6:1621-30. doi: 10.2147/IJN.S22411. Epub 2011 Aug 10."
Article Preparation and evaluation of quercetin-loaded lecithin-chit...