CUTANEOUS PENETRATION OF FREE, PEGYLATED AND NANOENCAPSULATED CATALASE

• Grant number: 25/04170-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2025
• End date: April 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Carlota de Oliveira Rangel Yagui
• Grantee: Eliane Chen
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 23/17651-6 - STUDIES OF FORMULATION AND BIOLOGICAL EFFECT OF PHOTOLYASE IN IN VITRO SKIN MODELS AIMING AT PHOTOPROTECTION AND PREVENTION OF SKIN AGING, AP.R

Abstract

Cancer is responsible for a large proportion of diseases in the Americas, second only to cardiovascular diseases. Among them, skin cancer accounts for 30% of malignant tumors registered in Brazil. Excessive exposure to ultraviolet ligth from the sun is one of the main causes responsible for the development of skin cancer, as it causes oxidative stressin the cells, favoring changes in DNA and the emergence of irreversible cellular damage. Most organisms that live in aerobic conditions have their own mechanisms against oxidative stress and excess reactive oxygen species. Among the known mechanisms, catalase is responsible for decomposing hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen, neutralizing its action. However, despite its antioxidant potential, catalase is prone to degradation and its penetration into the skin can be difficult due to the protein size and hydrophilicity. Therefore, in this project we will study the catalase nanoencapsulation in polymersomes to evaluate skin penetration in an ex vivo model. Given the potential of pegylation as an alternative to increase enzyme stability, we will also investigate the effect of this bioconjugation on skin penetration. Food-grade Aspergillus niger catalase will be purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, nanoencapsulated in Pluronic ® L-121 polymersomes, and alternatively pegylated with 20kDa PEG. Cutaneous penetration of free, pegylated, and nanoencapsulated catalase will be studied in a pig ear skin model using Franz cells diffusion apparatus.