Synthesis of pseudoboehmite and its use in obtaining nanocomposites and drug delivery system

• Grant number: 22/13908-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2023
• End date: September 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Antonio Hortencio Munhoz Junior
• Grantee: Antonio Hortencio Munhoz Junior
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia (EE). Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie (UPM). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: São Paulo
• Associated researchers: Ayrton Bernussi ; Bruno Filipe Carmelino Cardoso Sarmento ; Caroline Valadão Pacheco ; Isabella Tereza Ferro Barbosa ; Jose Augusto Pereira Brito ; Juliano Martins Barbosa ; Miroslawa Pawlyta ; Patrícia Candioto Migliari ; Renato Meneghetti Peres

Abstract

Pseudoboehmite is an aluminium oxyhydroxide with a structure similar to that of boehmite, having particles of nanometric dimensions. Studies have shown that pseudoboehmite is non-toxic, and published works show its potential for use in the controlled release of drugs and the production of nanocomposites. Therefore, this project will verify the feasibility of using pseudoboehmite in both applications. I - Considering the need to develop materials with mechanical and thermal properties more suitable for the different uses of High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS), it is proposed in this work the development of different nanocomposites of HIPS and pseudoboehmite nanofiller, namely, with the use of disaggregation agents for Triton X-114 nanoparticles and sodium polyacrylate, with the use of Octadecylamine coupling agent, and irradiation of the nanocomposites with gamma radiation. The composites obtained will be characterized by tensile, compression, three-point bending, Izod Impact, Shore D hardness, differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetry, determination of Vicat softening temperature and thermal deflection temperature. II - Another application will be pseudoboehmite treated with sodium polyacrylate to release metformin. During toxicity tests, it was observed that the blood glucose content of Wistar rats that took pseudoboehmite by gavage was reduced. Therefore, to trace a profile of the influence of the physicochemical properties of a molecule in the process of interaction with pseudoboehmite, a drug with recognized pharmacological activity was chosen, metformin, which is expected to present a synergistic effect with pseudoboehmite to reduce glucose in the blood. (AU)