EFFECTS OF BIMETALLIC SILVER AND GOLD NANOPARTICLES ANCHORED WITH POLOXAMER 407 (Ag/AuNPs-P407) AGAINST IN VITRO NEUROMUSCULAR BLOCKAGE AND MYOTOXICITY OF Bothrops jararaca VENOM

• Grant number: 23/00766-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2023
• End date: October 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Autonomic Pharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Yoko Oshima Franco
• Grantee: Murilo Jose Confortini
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria de Pós-Graduação, Pesquisa, Extensão e Inovação. Universidade de Sorocaba (UNISO). Sorocaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Nanoparticles have been studied in various research areas such as odontology, medicine, electronics, science, computer science, and materials engineering. In the health sphere it is applied in biomedical devices, nanomedicines for neurodegenerative diseases, antibacterial nanoparticles in dentistry, and in the public sanitation sector for water decontamination, among others. In the investigative field, nanoparticles have been studied against the toxic effects of snake venoms like Bothrops jararacussu (AgNPs) and Phylodrias olfersii (Cur-AgNPs). In this project we intend to evaluate the effects of silver and gold bimetallic nanoparticles anchored with Poloxamer-P407 (Ag/AuNP-P407) against the toxic effects induced by Bothrops jararaca venom, neuromuscular blockade, and myotoxicity. This is an experimental ex vivo study in isolated mouse preparations using a conventional myographic technique. The project will be submitted to the institutional Ethics Committee on Animal Use, for a n=6, for each experimental protocol. Two pharmacological models - pre-incubation and post-venom - will be performed, followed by light microscopy for the best obtained outcome. These assays will be statistically compared with controls (Tyrode's, venom, and Ag/AuNP-P407) and considered significant for values with p<0.05 (Anova One-way). As a result, it is expected to know the applicability of this bimetallic nanoparticle in other snake venoms, mainly by the presence of gold, since the silver nanoparticle has already revealed its protective effect, in the same experimental model.