Evaluation of bioadhesion from lipid nanoparticles containing curcumin coated with chitosan and functionalized with CEACAM-1 in clinical isolates of Helicobacter pylori

• Grant number: 22/15987-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): February 28, 2023
• Effective date (End): February 14, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Marlus Chorilli
• Grantee: Bruna Almeida Furquim de Camargo
• Supervisor: Maria Cristina Teixeira Lopes da Costa Pinto Lopes Martins
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Research place: Universidade do Porto (UP), Portugal
• Associated to the scholarship: 19/25056-5 - Evaluation of the potential of curcumin loaded- CEACAM-1 functionalized nanostructured lipid carriers in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infections, BP.DR

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that colonizes the gastric epithelium and is often associated with gastric disorders such as gastritis, ulcers, and may even progress to gastric cancer. Its ability to penetrate the gastric mucus and form biofilms makes its treatment difficult. Therefore, new alternatives are sought, such as the use of natural products with antimicrobial activity, such as curcumin. However, its lipophilic nature hinders its solubility in water, reducing its bioavailability. Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) are considered innovative nanoparticles for the incorporation of lipophilic drugs. Furthermore, the surfaces of these NLCs can be coated with chitosan, allowing, in addition to mucoadhesion of the system, functionalization with signaling molecules, such as cell adhesion molecules related to human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEACAMs). Thus, this project aims to evaluate the performance of the drug delivery system already developed in the beneficiary's project in the country against the multiresistant clinical strain of H. pylori, in addition to evaluating the stability in the gastric environment and the capacity of bioadhesion to the bacteria. It will also evaluate the influence of the system on the ability of bacteria to adhere to a gastric cancer cell line and its cytotoxicity. Thus, it is expected that the system already developed will present antibacterial activity against the clinical strain of H. pylori. (AU)