Evaluation of lycopene potential incorporated in mesoporous silica nanoparticles dispersed in thermo-responsive hydrogels in Vulvovaginal Candidiasis treatment

• Grant number: 19/26821-7
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): April 01, 2021
• Effective date (End): September 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Technology
• Principal researcher: Marlus Chorilli
• Grantee: Gabriela Corrêa Carvalho
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (CVV) is currently a major public health challenge due to its high incidence and recurrence reports, which may be due to host-related factors such as immune system impairment or pathogen-related factors such as antifungal resistance, making it necessary to study new alternatives to treatment, among them the use of natural origin substances, such as lycopene (LIC), a carotenoid with several pharmacological actions, among them antifungal action. However, this substance has problems that limit its application in therapy, such as low aqueous solubility, sensitivity to light, oxygen, acids and heat. Therefore, their incorporation into Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles (MSNs) dispersed in thermoresponsive hydrogels (HG) for vaginal administration proves to be an interesting option to enable its use, since these systems can protect the drug from degradation and increase the formulation residence time in the vaginal environment, enabling sustained release at a specific site of action. In addition, vaginal administration may be advantageous since the vaginal mucosa has high permeability, high blood supply and absence of first-pass metabolism, optimizing its local action. Given this, the present work aims to evaluate the potential of LIC incorporated in MSNs dispersed in HG in the CVV treatment. MSNs plus LIC will be characterized by determination of polydispersion index, surface charge, electrophoretic mobility, infrared absorption vibrational spectroscopy, differential exploratory calorimetry analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. The HG will be characterized using differential exploratory calorimetry analysis, rheology and texture profile and mucoadhesion in vitro. Analytical methodology will be developed and validated for the quantification of LIC by HPLC and studies of release, permeation and retention of in vitro formulations will be performed. Antifungal activity in in vitro biological assays will be performed using C. albicans strains and cytotoxicity in keratinocytes. Finally, in vivo tests will be performed in a CVV model. (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)

CARVALHO, GABRIELA CORREA; FURQUIM DE CAMARGO, BRUNA ALMEIDA; CAVALCANTE DE ARAUJO, JENNIFER THAYANNE; CHORILLI, MARLUS. Lycopene: From tomato to its nutraceutical use and its association with nanotechnology. TRENDS IN FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, v. 118, p. 447-458, DEC 2021. Web of Science Citations: 1.