Molecular Interactions of the flavonoid Baicalein in Cell Membrane Models Deriveted from A375e HEp-2 Cancer Cells

• Grant number: 23/17301-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2024
• End date: December 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Pedro Henrique Benites Aoki
• Grantee: Bruna Alves Martins
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Letras (FCL-ASSIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Assis. Assis , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/22214-6 - Towards a convergence of technologies: from sensing and biosensing to information visualization and machine learning for data analysis in clinical diagnosis, AP.TEM

Abstract

In this scientific initiation project (IC), we will investigate the ability of the flavonoid baicalein to interact with lipid membranes derived from melanoma (A375) and oropharyngeal carcinoma (HEp-2). Baicalein, a natural antioxidant compound with antiviral activity, has therapeutic effects whose mechanisms, especially its interaction with plasma membranes, are still unknown. This interaction is believed to be fundamental to such effects, requiring experiments to characterize these interactions at the molecular level. The project involves the manufacture of Langmuir monolayers using cell membrane extracts from A375 and HEp-2 cells, which are, respectively, non-permissive and permissive to viral infection. This approach aims to mimic half of the phospholipid bilayer. The characterization of the monolayers will be carried out via surface pressure isotherms and occupied molecular area (À-A). In a subsequent step, the baicalein binding sites will be identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), using the Langmuir-Schaefer (LS) film protocol for the fabrication of multilayers. The main objective will be to evaluate the molecular interactions between cell membranes and baicalein, seeking to understand the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic properties of this flavonoid.