Nanoparticle carrying albendazole for the treatment of monogenean infestation in tilapia fry from fish farms

• Grant number: 24/05235-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: June 01, 2024
• End date: May 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Fishery Resources and Fishery Engineering - Aquaculture
• Principal Investigator: Patrick Mathews Delgado
• Grantee: Andrés Vicent Cubas Rengifo
• 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
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/05920-8 - Polymer functionalization and characterization studies for application in antiparasite-drugs administration to fish cultures, BE.EP.MS

Abstract

This project aims to develop a nanoparticle with advantageous properties for use as a carrier of the drug albendazole for use in parasitic treatment in tilapia Oreochromis niloticus from fish farming. The nanoparticles will be produced with the biopolymers chitosan and alginate through the complex coacervation preparation process together with the drug. After lyophilization to obtain powdered nanoparticles, they will be administered orally to fish in three drug concentrations for treatment effectiveness and toxicity studies. Treatment will be evaluated by parasitic indices and toxicity by intestinal histology and immunohistology and hemato-immunology.