Study of the therapeutic potential of drugs and synthetic compounds, free or loaded into nanoliposomes: in vitro and experimental approach

• Grant number: 11/23703-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: May 01, 2012
• End date: January 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Protozoology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: André Gustavo Tempone Cardoso
• Grantee: Érika Gracielle Pinto
• Host Institution: Instituto Adolfo Lutz (IAL). Coordenadoria de Controle de Doenças (CCD). Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 14/10843-8 - Therapeutic potential of drugs entrapped into phosphatidylserine-liposomes: an experimental approach, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease, which includes a spectrum of diseases of varying degrees of severity, resulting from a skin lesion to a progressive fatal visceral infection. The development of new therapies for leishmaniasis is essential due to the limited therapeutic options and the high toxicity of drugs. This project aims to study the in vitro and in experimental model of hamster infected with L. (L.) infantum chagasi, new therapies for visceral leishmaniasis, using three approaches: I) the repositioning of drugs (drug repurposing), by evaluating anti-Leishmania activity in vitro and in vivo of drugs already available in other clinical conditions such as nitazoxanide, among others, II) in vitro screening of new synthetic analogues of naphthoquinones, and new synthetic analogues of thiazilidinones as potential anti-Leishmania, which will be studied in partnership with Kings College London (FAPESP 2011/50577-7), III) encapsulation of drugs in controlled release systems of drugs like nanoliposomos. Nanotechnology in the pharmaceutical area can help in several processes, such as through carriers formulations of drugs, allowing a strong reduction of the adverse effects of drugs through a sustained release and targeted to the target cell. Thus, antiparasitic effectiveness studies in vitro and in vivo will be conducted with the compounds, free or encapsulated in liposomes as well as their pharmacokinetic parameters are determined in an animal model. The project's primary objective to obtain a new candidate drug, free or encapsulated in nanolipossomos, contributing to possible new therapies for visceral leishmaniasis.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

PINTO, ERIKA G.; SANTOS, ISABELA O.; SCHMIDT, THOMAS J.; BORBOREMA, SAMANTA E. T.; FERREIRA, VITOR F.; ROCHA, DAVID R.; TEMPONE, ANDRE G.. Potential of 2-Hydroxy-3-Phenylsulfanylmethyl-[1,4]-Naphthoquinones against Leishmania (L.) infantum: Biological Activity and Structure-Activity Relationships. PLoS One, v. 9, n. 8, AUG 29 2014. (11/23703-1, 12/18756-1)

PINTO, ERIKA G.; DA COSTA-SILVA, THAIS A.; TEMPONE, ANDRE GUSTAVO. Histamine H1-receptor antagonists against Leishmania (L.) infantum: an in vitro and in vivo evaluation using phosphatidylserine-liposomes. Acta Tropica, v. 137, p. 206-210, SEP 2014. (11/23703-1, 12/18756-1)

MARTINS, LIGIA F.; MESQUITA, JULIANA T.; PINTO, ERIKA G.; COSTA-SILVA, THAIS A.; BORBOREMA, SAMANTA E. T.; GALISTEO JUNIOR, ANDRES J.; NEVES, BRUNO J.; ANDRADE, CAROLINA H.; AL SHUHAIB, ZAINAB; BENNETT, ELLIOT L.; et al. Analogues of Marine Guanidine Alkaloids Are in Vitro Effective against Trypanosoma cruzi and Selectively Eliminate Leishmania (L.) infantum Intracellular Amastigotes. Journal of Natural Products, v. 79, n. 9, p. 2202-2210, SEP 2016. (12/18756-1, 11/23703-1, 13/07275-5, 13/50228-8)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

PINTO, Érika Gracielle. Studies towards the therapeutic potential of drugs and synthetic compounds free or loaded into liposomes: an in vitro and experimental approach against visceral leishmaniasis. 2016. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo (IMT) São Paulo.