Synthesis and Characterization of Acetic Acid-Functionalized Carbon Dots for the Study of the Gut-Brain Axis in Neurodegenerative Diseases

• Grant number: 24/13728-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2024
• End date: October 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Marina Piacenti da Silva
• Grantee: Éllen Caroline dos Reis
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências (FC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this project is to investigate the synthesis and characterization of carbon dots (CDs) functionalized with acetic acid, using soybean (Glycine max) as a carbon source, to study their potential application in gut-brain axis communication and neurodegenerative diseases. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as acetate, play important roles in both the digestive and central nervous systems, influencing neuroplasticity and gene expression. The proposal is to develop CDs with specific optical properties by encapsulating them with polyethylene glycol (PEG) to increase their stability and solubility in aqueous media. The CDs will be synthesized by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal route, followed by functionalization with PEG and conjugation with acetic acid. The characterization of the CDs will include techniques such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM), attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy (ATR FTIR), zeta potential, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and fluorescence spectroscopy. The resulting CDs are expected to have high fluorescence quantum yields, stability and solubility, making them useful for future in vivo biodistribution evaluations. The ultimate goal is to explore the potential of these nanomaterials in the study of gut-brain communication mechanisms, as well as in the study of therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.