In vitro evaluation of the physical-chemical behavior of zinc oxide nanoparticles in the ruminal, abomasal and intestinal liquid from sheep

• Grant number: 20/14481-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2021
• End date: January 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Helder Louvandini
• Grantee: Julia Polezi Formagio
• Host Institution: Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/26042-8 - Nanoparticle of zinc oxide as a functional feed, AP.TEM

Abstract

Zinc is an important micronutrient for the immune system, and biological processes such as growth, reproduction, wound healing, synthesis of DNA and proteins and antioxidant, obtained through food daily, because there is no specific tissue in the body animal for its storage. In ruminants, its absorption in the organism occurs through the mucosa of the abomasum and small intestine through specific carrier proteins that control their homeostasis. The deficiency of this element can affect immune cells demaging the defense of the host, requiring daily intake to maintain serum levels. The zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NP) are presented as alternative sources of dietary zinc supplementation to provide controlled release of Zn. Thus, the objective is to evaluate the behavior and distribution of three types of nanoparticles (ZnO NP 20 nm and 40 nm in the form of powder and ZnO NP 40 nm in the form of colloidal dispersion) and two controls (ZnSO4.7H2O and micrometric ZnO) in in vitro assay with ruminal, abomasal and intestinal fluids of sheep determining the soluble fraction of Zn2+ arising from the ZnO NP, the rate of Zn2+ ion release from the particles using dialysis membranes, and the hydrodynamic radius and surface charge of the particles by zeta potential. With this study, it is expected that the ZnO NP will be able to delay the release of ions meeting the animal's nutritional requirements for a longer period.