Levamisole-carrying nanoparticle for treatment of acanthocephalans in fingerlings and juveniles of tambaqui Colossoma macropomum from fish farms

• Grant number: 24/00115-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: July 01, 2024
• End date: June 30, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Fishery Resources and Fishery Engineering - Aquaculture
• Principal Investigator: Patrick Mathews Delgado
• Grantee: Norma Lorena Rivadeneyra Sanchez
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/12376-4 - Development of parasite treatment in fish with nanoparticles: a technology-applied approach, AP.JP

Abstract

Aquaculture is expanding in Brazil and around the world and pathologies associated with increased fish production have been growing proportionally, which highlights the need for investment in new treatment technologies aimed at quality and added value. In this sense, this project aims to develop a biocompatible and biodegradable nanoparticle as a carrier of the drug levadasole for oral administration. A nanoparticle carrying the drug levadasole will be produced and characterized in terms of its structure and functionality for effective application in the parasitic treatment of acanthocephalans in fingerlings and juveniles of tambaqui Colossoma macropomum from fish farming. The nanoparticles will be produced with the biopolymers chitosan and alginate through the complex coacervation preparation process together with the drug levadasole, providing: effective encapsulation of levadasisol; high palatability for oral administration in tambaqui specimens efficiently and without losses, avoiding aquatic pollution; protection against the degradation of levadasisol in gastric juice; reduction or elimination of toxicity; mucoadhesion in the intestinal mucous membranes, optimizing the release of levadasole in the intestine and achieving high bioavailability, resulting in efficient treatment and at the same time reducing the chances of generating resistance in these parasites. After lyophilization to obtain powdered nanoparticles, they will be administered orally to fish in three concentrations of levadasisol for treatment effectiveness and toxicity studies. The effectiveness of the treatment will be evaluated through parasitic indices and toxicity using intestinal histology and immunohistology and hemato-immunology methods.