Priscilla Vanessa Finotelli

Microcapsules of alginate/chitosan containing magnetic nanoparticles for controlled release of insulin

The challenge of this work was to investigate the potential of alginate/chitosan beads containing magnetite nanoparticles as a drug delivery system. The insulin beads were prepared by dripping a solution of sodium alginate containing insulin into a CaCl(2) solution. Magnetite nanoparticles of 5 nm mean size were synthesized inside the alginate egg-box structure by co-precipitation of Fe(III) and Fe(II) in the presence of NH(4)OH. Quantitative analysis revealed that insulin encapsulation depends on the initial protein content and 35% of insulin was entrapped by alginate beads for a protein concentration of 10 wt%. It was verified that approximately 50% of the insulin was released to Milli-Q water in 800 h release experiments. The application of oscillating magnetic field increased three fold the insulin release. The results suggest that the alginate/chitosan system containing magnetite nanoparticles is a promising system for clinical applications of controlled release of insulin in the presence of an oscillating magnetic field in a subcutaneous implant approach.

Ca alginate as scaffold for iron oxide nanoparticles synthesis

Recently, nanotechnology has developed to a stage that makes it possible to process magnetic nanoparticles for the site-specific delivery of drugs. To this end, it has been proposed as biomaterial for drug delivery system in which the drug release rates would be activated by a magnetic external stimuli. Alginate has been used extensively in the food, pharmaceutical and biomedical industries for their gel forming properties in the presence of multivalent cations. In this study, we produced iron oxide nanoparticles by coprecipitation of Fe(III) and Fe(II). The nanoparticles were entrapped in Ca alginate beads before and after alginate gelation. XRD analysis showed that particles should be associated to magnetite or maghemite with crystal size of 9.5 and 4.3 nm, respectively. Studies using Mossbauer spectroscopy corroborate the superparamagnetic behavior. The combination of magnetic properties and the biocompatibility of alginate suggest that this biomaterial may be used as biomimetic system.

Starch, inulin and maltodextrin as encapsulating agents affect the quality and stability of jussara pulp microparticles.

The influence of encapsulating carbohydrates (EC) with varying properties on the technological and functional properties of jussara pulp microparticles produced by spray drying were evaluated using experimental design. Microparticles produced with sodium octenyl succinate (OSA) starch at 0.5 core to EC ratio and with mixtures of inulin and maltodextrin at 1.0 and 2.0 core to EC ratio showed darker color, and higher anthocyanins contents and antioxidant activity. Seven microparticles showing high water solubility and desirable surface morphology. Hygroscopicity (10.7% and 11.5%) and wettability (41s and 43s) were improved when OSA starch and mixtures of inulin and maltodextrin were used. The anthocyanins contents and color of the microparticles did not change when exposed to light at 50°C for 38days. Finally, microparticles produced at 1.0 core to EC ratio with 2/3 OSA starch, 1/6 inulin and 1/6 maltodextrin were selected. These microparticles may be applied as colorant in numerous foods, whilst adding prebiotic fiber and anthocyanins.

Synthesis and characterization of the antitubercular phenazine lapazine and development of PLGA and PCL nanoparticles for its entrapment.

The aim of this work was to develop and characterize nanoparticles as carriers of lapazine, a phenazine derived from β-lapachone; its antimycobacterial activity is described for the first time as a potential treatment for tuberculosis. The lapazine was synthesized, and by using gas chromatography coupled to a flame ionization detector, it was possible to evaluate its purity degree of almost 100%. For better elucidation of the molecular structure, mass spectroscopy and 1H NMR were carried out and compared to the literature values. Lapazine was assayed in vitro against H37Rv Mycobacterium tuberculosis and a rifampicin-resistant strain, with minimum inhibitory concentration values of 3.00 and 1.56 μg mL(-1), respectively. The nanoparticles showed a polydispersity index of 0.16,mean diameter of 188.5 ± 1.7 mm, zeta potential of -15.03 mV, and drug loading of 54.71 mg g(-1) for poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) nanoparticles and a polydispersity index of 0.318,mean diameter of 197.4 ± 2.7 mm, zeta potential of -13.43 mV and drug loading of 137.07 mg g(-1) for poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles. These results indicate that both polymeric formulations have good characteristics as potential lapazine carriers in the treatment of tuberculosis.

Immunobiologic and Antiinflammatory Properties of a Bark Extract from Ampelozizyphus amazonicus Ducke

Ampelozizyphus amazonicus is used in the treatment and prevention of malaria. The effect of an aqueous extract from this plant (SART) on the immune response was investigated by measuring immunoglobulin production induced by immunization with the antigen TNP-Ficoll in Plasmodium chabaudi-infected mice. SART treatment increased antigen-specific IgM and IgG levels in TNP-Ficoll-immunized mice. The B cell response during malarial infection was also modified by SART. There was an increase in total serum IgM and IgG and a decrease in the percentage of splenic plasma cells (CD138+ cells) in P. chabaudi-infected, SART-treated animals. SART (1, 3 or 10 mg/kg, p.o.) and the reference drug dexamethasone (5 mg/kg) were also tested in carrageenan-induced leukocyte migration to the subcutaneous air pouch (SAP). All SART doses significantly reduced leukocyte migration into the SAP. The protein concentration resulting from extravasation into the peritoneum was also significantly reduced. Our data indicate that SART possesses immunomodulatory properties, inducing an in vivo modification of the B lymphocyte response and anti-inflammatory properties, which are partly due to a reduction in cell migration and are most likely due to an inhibition of the production of inflammatory mediators. Preliminary HPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of SART shows a complex saponin profile with deprotonated molecule [M-H]− ions in the range of m/z 800–1000.

Spray-dried extract from the Amazonian adaptogenic plant Ampelozizyphus amazonicus Ducke (Saracura-mirá): Chemical composition and immunomodulatory properties

Ampelozizyphus amazonicus Ducke is a medicinal plant used in the Amazon region to prepare a drink with tonic, immunomodulatory and adaptogenic properties. Due to the growing interest in dietary supplements with these properties and, to provide a new functional ingredient, barks from A. amazonicus were extracted. The extract was spray dried without drying adjuvants, resulting in a powder (SARF), which was characterized by its physico-chemical properties and proximate, mineral and saponin contents. The SARF saponins were characterized by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/high resolution accurate mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMSn) analysis. The SARF particles tended to have a spherical shape and a unimodal size distribution. The particles also had good rehydration characteristics and high saponin content (33%). The effect of SARF on antibody production was investigated, and we found that SARF increased the basal levels of anti-ovalbumin, anti-LPS and anti-dextran IgM antibodies, and the anti-dextran IgG antibodies in unimmunized mice. No increase in antibody titers was observed after SARF treatment in immunized mice. These results suggest that SARF could be an interesting new functional ingredient for food applications or pharmaceutical products.

Linhaça marrom e dourada: propriedades químicas e funcionais das sementes e dos óleos prensados a frio

The aim of the study was to compare the chemical composition and antioxidant capacity of the brown and golden flaxseed and their cold-pressed oils, and evaluate the oxidative stability of oils. We determined the chemical composition, total antioxidant capacity and total phenolic compounds of the seeds. In the oils we determined acid and peroxide value, unsaponifiable matter, composition of fatty acids and tocopherols, phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity and oxidative stability in four storage conditions up to one year. There were no significant differences between the flaxseed types in the analyzed properties and between the oils in terms of yield after pressing, composition of unsaturated fatty acids, acid value, unsaponifiables and phenolic compounds. The oxidative stability of both oils decreased with storage time, however the brown flaxseed oil and the oils stored under refrigeration were more stable. The peroxide value was higher in the golden flaxseed oil. The total tocopherol content and antioxidant capacity were higher in brown flaxseed oil. It was observed equality between the brown and golden flaxseed and a superiority of brown flaxseed oil.

Nanostructured magnetic alginate composites for biomedical applications

This is a study of the preparation and characterization of polymeric-magnetic nanoparticles. The nanoparticles used were magnetite (Fe3O4) and the chosen polymers were alginate and chitosan. Two types of samples were prepared: uncoated magnetic nanoparticles and magnetic nanoparticles encapsulated in polymeric matrix. The samples were analyzed by XRD, light scattering techniques, TEM, and magnetic SQUID. The XRD patterns identified magnetite (Fe3O4) as the only crystalline phase. TEM analyses showed particle sizes between 10 and 20nm for magnetite, and 15 and 30nm for the encapsulated magnetite. The values of magnetization ranged from 75 to 100emu/g for magnetite nanoparticles, and 8 to 12emu/g for coated with chitosan, at different temperatures of 20K and 300K. The saturation of both samples was in the range of 49 to 50KOe. Variations of results between the two kinds of samples were attributed to the encapsulation of magnetic nanoparticles by the polymers.