Arrabidade chica Verlot: nanoparticles, films and sponges production and caracterization

• Grant number: 12/12890-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: September 24, 2012
• End date: December 23, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Mary Ann Foglio
• Grantee: Leila Servat Medina
• Supervisor: Julio San Roman del Barrio
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba (FOP). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Spain
• Associated to the scholarship: 09/16484-1 - Arrabidaea chica Verlot: Controled release formulations with aplications for ulcer lesions., BP.DR

Abstract

The Arrabidaea chica (Humb. & Bonpl.) Verlot is a native tropical American vine popularly used for skin diseases. The healing effect of the A. chica extract on fibroblast proliferation and stimulation of collagen production have been proven in studies conducted in CPQBA-Unicamp, showing this specie as a promising alternative for skin and mucosa wounds treatment. The use of micro and nanoparticles encapsulating bioactive compounds, whose biological action in the free form is well known, has brought great benefits for therapy. Encapsulation allows not only preserving the bioactive activity through its protection against the aggressions of the external environment and their own biological environment, but also produces its gradual or sustained release. The aim of this project is the production and characterization of nanoparticulate systems containing A. chica extract. Chitosan nanoparticles are produced by reticulation technique, using different crosslinking agents. Sponges will be prepared by lyophilization of the nanoparticles solution and polyvinyl alcohol films will be produced for inclusion of the nanoparticles. Nanoparticle systems will be characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), DLS (dynamic light scattering) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to get a monodisperse and stable size distribution. A. chica encapsulation and release will be evaluated by UV-visible spectroscopy. The biological activity of the systems will be tested by in vitro cell proliferation and migration assays, using fibroblasts and keratinocytes. (AU)