Interactions between propolis from stingless bees and nanoclays by PM-IRRAS: studies for advanced nanomaterials' development

• Grant number: 20/11440-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Effective date (Start): November 09, 2020
• Effective date (End): May 08, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics
• Principal Investigator: Patricia Targon Campana
• Grantee: Patricia Targon Campana
• Host Investigator: Thierry Buffeteau
• Host Institution: Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades (EACH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Research place: Institut des Sciences Moléculaires (ISM), France

Abstract

The main goal of this project is to study the interactions between propolis (mainly the coumarins and flavonoids in its composition), halloysite (HNT) and kaolinite (KAO) nanoclays, and Biocompatible Block Copolymers (BBC) in different physical-chemical environments, by means of Polarization Modulation Infrared Reflection Absorption Spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS). This problem is particularly important to the development of advanced nanomaterials for drug delivery, in which the efficiency of the system is determined by the incorporation strategies and composite fabrication, that must be performed in such a way that no significant change in the biomolecules take place, thus not compromising their biological activity. Thereafter, the breakthrough in the development of advanced nanomaterials for biotechnological applications strongly depends on conformational studies of biomolecules incorporated into the system (nanoclays and polymers), considering the physico-chemical changes that materials processing can cause. This field of study requires the use of several physico-chemical and spectroscopic methods that will provide, not only the characterization of structural changes, but also the determination of thermodynamics parameters of biomolecules and their interactions with the environment. (AU)