Incorporation and characterization of baru nuts extract (Dipteryx alata) into liposomes

• Grant number: 18/17451-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 11, 2019
• End date: July 10, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy
• Principal Investigator: Priscila Gava Mazzola
• Grantee: Julia Cedran Coco
• Supervisor: Carsten Ehrhardt
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
• Associated to the scholarship: 18/06043-7 - Extraction, characterization and nanoencapsulation of baru nuts (Dipteryx alata) and its application into topical formulations, BP.IC

Abstract

Baru oil is produced from the nut of the barueiro fruit (Dipteryx alata), a native species from Brazil. It contains a high degree of unsaturated essential fatty acids such as oleic and linoleic, and significant amounts of zinc, ±-tocopherol and polyphenols. Due to its pharmacological effects, mainly the remarkable antioxidant activity, baru oil is an interesting candidate for medicinal use. However, its activity is impaired by polyphenols being volatile, unstable, and sensible to light, heat and oxygen. Advanced drug delivery formulations can be used to preserve the sensitive molecules, by enhancing their stability, bioactivity and bioavailability. Liposomes are among the most successful colloidal drug-carrier systems. They can be made from biocompatible constituents, can protect their payload from degradation and enable controlled release. Studying physicochemical parameters such as size, charge and encapsulation efficiency is necessary to predict the liposomal behavior during administration. This project aims to i) produce extracts from the baru nut, ii) formulate them into liposomes and iii) characterize these liposomes regarding their encapsulation efficiency, in vitro release profile and physicochemical properties. (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)

COCO, JULIA CEDRAN; ATAIDE, JANAINA ARTEM; SAKE, JOHANNES A.; TAMBOURGI, ELIAS BASILE; EHRHARDT, CARSTEN; MAZZOLA, PRISCILA GAVA. In vitro antioxidant and wound healing properties of baru nut extract (Dipteryx alata Vog.) in pulmonary epithelial cells for therapeutic application in chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD). NATURAL PRODUCT RESEARCH, SEP 2021. (18/17451-9, 18/06475-4, 18/06043-7)