Asclepius - development of a formulation and a drug delivery platform for topical administration in treatment of localized pain, soreness, and inflammation

• Grant number: 20/01463-8
• Support type: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Duration: July 01, 2020 - June 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Biomedical Engineering - Bioengineering
• Cooperation agreement: National Research Council of Canada
• Principal researcher: Eduardo Carità
• Grantee: Eduardo Carità
• Company: Funcional Mikron Indústria, Comércio e Serviços de Produtos Alimentícios Ltda
• CNAE: Fabricação de produtos alimentícios não especificados anteriormente
• City: Valinhos
• Pesquisadores principais: Maria Isabel Ribeiro Lopez de Heredia ; Mariana Alejandra Echalar Barrientos
• Assoc. researchers: Fabiana Regina Nonato ; Guilherme Gigliotti Leoneli

Abstract

Pain is a general term that describes uncomfortable sensations in the body. The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defines pain as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage". Indeed, pain is not just a physical sensation. It is influenced by attitudes, beliefs, personality and social factors, and can affect emotional and mental wellbeing. In view of this scenario, as pain is one of the main symptoms that affect the human population, so developing more effective therapies for the treatment of localized pain, soreness, and inflammation pain is of relevance to global health. Added to this, plants like Cannabis are considered an important source of biologically active natural products, many of which serve as structural models for the synthesis of a large number of drugs. Properties of cannabinoids that might be of therapeutic use include analgesia, muscle relaxation, immunosuppression, anti-inflammation, anti-allergic effects, sedation, improvement of mood, stimulation of appetite, anti-emesis, lowering of intraocular pressure, bronchodilation, neuroprotection and antineoplastic effects. In line with this health problem, the present consortium seeks to develop a topical delivery platform to advance cannabinoids in effective treatment of localized pain, soreness, and inflammation. In contrast to existing pharmaceutical topical delivery platforms, the intended technology will be optimized to work with active pharmaceutical ingredients found in the Cannabis plant. This technology will advance therapeutic potential of topical cannabinoid based treatments by increasing bioavailability at the site of action and providing extended release properties. As a part of this project the consortium will develop a cannabinoid formulation along with preliminary data to support its effectiveness when used with the delivery platform. (AU)