Multi-User Equipment approved in grant 17/17844-8: SAXS detector system upgrade with sample holder and window

• Grant number: 19/07007-7
• Support type: Multi-user Equipment Program
• Duration: May 01, 2019 - April 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Applied Immunology
• Principal researcher: Marcia Carvalho de Abreu Fantini
• Grantee: Marcia Carvalho de Abreu Fantini
• Home Institution: Instituto de Física (IF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/17844-8 - Nanostructured silica as a protective vehicle for vaccines and biomolecules, AP.TEM
• EMU web page: http://web.if.usp.br/cristal/node/103
• Type of equipment: Processos Físicos; Processos Biológicos; Caracterização de Materiais
• Manufacturer: Bruker
• Model: Nanostar

Abstract

Research work on vaccines, specially administer by oral route, has been successfully developed through cooperation among Butantan Institute and Institute of Physics of the University of São Paulo, and a national pharmaceutical industry, the Cristália Laboratory. This partnership is a project of public-private responsibility, due to the characteristics of its open joint research processes and the assignment of a patent for national use, without burden to Brazil. Pioneer previous studies gave rise to an innovative scientific and technological approach, which needs to be expanded for use in poly-vaccines and new biomolecules. These studies are based on the use of nanostructured silica as adjuvant /vehicle to be made available to the society, aiming higher effectiveness to the existing products on the market and lower cost. The present multidisciplinary project purposes to synthesize, characterize and determine the efficacy of distinct nanostructured silicas with different pore structures and morphologies for the development of Diphtheria, Tetanus (DT) and Hepatitis B vaccines for oral and / or parenteral administration and also to decrease the toxicity of venoms and toxins, as already verified in preliminary studies. Vaccine product analyzes contemplate the possibility of decreased protein concentrations, reduction in the number of doses, and reevaluations over dose intervals in correlation with the induction of effective immunological memory. Preliminary studies indicate that SBA-15 makes it possible to reduce the toxicity of bacterial exotoxins and here this characteristic will be studied including venoms and toxins from snakes and spiders. In addition, silicas will be used as a protective vehicle in order to favor the effect of Crotoxin (CTX) on the control of chronic pain, its interference on the immune and inflammatory responses induced by Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE), and neuropathy models as Peripheral nerve injury (PSNL). (AU)