EVALUATION OF A HYDROGEL REPELLENT PROTOTYPE CONTAINING MYRCENE ASSOCIATED WITH CYCLODEXTRINS

• Grant number: 24/06522-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: October 01, 2024
• End date: March 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Marlus Chorilli
• Grantee: Felipe Mota Tashiro
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/03985-5 - IN VITRO AND IN VIVO SAFETY ASSESSMENT OF A HYDROGEL-REPELLENT PROTOTYPE CONTAINING MYRCENE ASSOCIATED WITH CYCLODEXTRINS, BE.EP.MS

Abstract

Arboviruses are diseases transmitted by hematophagous arthropods, especially the Aedes genus. In Brazil, in the first three months of 2024, 1,433,467 cases of dengue and 62,105 of Chikungunya have already been confirmed. As neglected diseases have difficult access to specific treatment, the use of repellents is described as the best form of prevention. Formulations with synthetic active repellents are widespread on the market, however, they can create risks for the user, as well damage to the environment. The use of secondary metabolites from plant species, such as myrcene, a monoterpene with proven repellent activity, are alternatives to the development of new products. However, these substances show high volatility, requiring a greater number of reapplications for effective protection. To overcome this problem, the use of matrices capable of controlling the rate release of the active ingredient, such as cyclodextrins, associated with the use of formulations capable of providing greater adhesion and the formation of uniform films on the skin, hydrogels, is an option. Therefore, the present work will be aimed at developing a hydrogel formulation, containing ß-cyclodextrin/myrcene complexes, aiming to obtain a natural repellent formulation. Inclusion complexes between ²-cyclodextrin and myrcene will be developed, followed by their characterization using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and, finally, the encapsulation efficiency and charging efficiency will be determined. Subsequently, the complex obtained will be incorporated into a hydrogel, which will be characterized by rheology, texture profile and in vitro cytotoxicity. The in vitro release of myrcene from the hydrogel will be evaluated, as well as in vitro permeation and retention. At the end, its repellency in volunteers will be evaluated. It is expected, therefore, to obtain a formulation with potential repellent action with a natural active ingredient, which could be an option to the synthetic repellents currently used.