Development of nanotechnological premix of nanoencapsulated curcumin and marapuama for application in nutraceutical supplements in order to prevent Alzheimer's disease

• Grant number: 23/09731-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: April 01, 2024
• End date: December 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Biomedical Engineering - Bioengineering
• Principal Investigator: Eduardo Carità
• Grantee: Eduardo Carità
• Company: Funcional Mikron Indústria, Comércio e Serviços de Produtos Alimentícios Ltda
• CNAE: Fabricação de produtos alimentícios não especificados anteriormente ; Pesquisa e desenvolvimento experimental em ciências físicas e naturais

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that, with a high mortality rate, usually affects individuals over 60 years of age. The pathology, with inconclusive etiology, presumes that the significant loss of brain composition, could be due to the deposition of TAU proteins in the neuron's microtubules, beta amyloid and the occurrence of peroxidation that leads to exacerbation of apoptosis in the nervous system. Among the main damages of Alzheimer's disease are the progressive loss of memory and impairment of multiple functions of the body, worsening with the aggravation of neurodegeneration. With a rising worldwide incidence of the disease, the methods for diagnosing Alzheimer's have increased significantly, however, the disease remains without proposals for prevention, reduction or cure, since the application of certain therapies is hampered by the impermeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Thus, the present work amins to develop an oral premix nanocarried curcumin (Curcuma longa) and marapuama (Ptychopetalum olacoides), to be incorporated in the future into nutraceutical supplements, to block neuronal oxidation and death and stimulate the production of neurons noninvasively, in order to prevent severe Alzheimer's disease, providing greater quality of life to patients and those at risk. For this, it will be necessary to characterize the composition of the extract of turmeric and marapuama, previously obtained, to validate a nanoencapsulation method with lipid and synthetic carriers, for the development of a premix for future incorporation in a nutraceutical product, with high antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neurogenic content, without toxic side effects, capable of being mixed in milk and vegetable drinks for daily consume. In this study, to obtain the initial prototype, in vitro assays will be performed to evaluate the toxicity of the nanoparticles, the concentration of A² peptides, the quantification of TAU proteins, the rate of apoptosis and cell viability, the reactive oxygen species, the brain distribution of the nanoparticles and levels of cytokine expression. Subsequently, in vivo studies will be performed to analyze whether the nanoparticles go beyond the blood-brain barrier. With the success of this project, Funcional Mikron intend to continue to Phase 2, in view of the need for in vivo tests with transgenic mice with Alzheimer's disease and future clinical trials with the support of the pharmaceutical industry that will enhance the manufacture of the product on an industrial scale and it's distribution. (AU)