Investigation of the effect of enzymes on the structure of liquid crystalline dispersed systems

• Grant number: 13/13153-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: September 01, 2013
• End date: November 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Watson Loh
• Grantee: Fernanda Poletto
• Supervisor: Tommy Nylander
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Lund University, Lund, Sweden
• Associated to the scholarship: 12/12340-8 - Dispersed liquid-crystal devices for controlled drug release kinetics by biochemical trigger., BP.PD

Abstract

A new frontier in drug delivery comprises the research of nanostructured devices that may combine drug targeting with bioresponsive capability. This approach can provide selective permeability across physiological barriers (such as membranes and tissues) combined with drug release controlled by physiological triggers within the target site in the organism. Recent reports demonstrated that Toxoplasma gondii cysts into the brain produce enzimes that can accelerate the metabolic pathway of L-tyrosine to dopamine conversion. Considering this, we hypothesized that this acceleration could act as biochemical trigger for controlled drug release from dispersed liquid-crystalline devices targeted to the brain. The main goal of the research proposal is to investigate how the internal phase structure of devices containing innovative surfactants can be modified by the enzimes. Controlled drug release kinetics as consequence of the phase structure changes is expected in order to demonstrate the potential of those devices as new platforms for drug targeting with biochemically triggered drug release. (AU)

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)

POLETTO, F. S.; LIMA, F. S.; LUNDBERG, D.; NYLANDER, T.; LOH, W.. Tailoring the internal structure of liquid crystalline nanoparticles responsive to fungal lipases: A potential platform for sustained drug release. COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES, v. 147, p. 210-216, NOV 1 2016. (12/12340-8, 13/13153-0)