Evaluation of the biocompatibility, anti-inflammatory activity and intestinal permeation of polymeric nanoparticles with mucoadhesive properties based on polysaccharides containing mesalazine and propionate for the treatment of inflammatory diseases

• Grant number: 25/08963-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: January 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Maria Palmira Daflon Gremião
• Grantee: Ana Júlia Rocha Cardoso
• Supervisor: Bruno Filipe Carmelino Cardoso Sarmento
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidade do Porto (UP), Portugal
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/16304-0 - Development of mucoadhesive polymeric nanoparticles based on polysaccharides for co-encapsulation of mesalazine and propionate in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases, BP.MS

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are a group of autoimmune conditions that cause chronic inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Mesalazine (MZL) is the initial treatment often used for these conditions, inhibiting inflammatory enzymes, but in the long term it can trigger renal adverse effects. To improve its efficacy and safety, specific colonic release systems have been studied with the aim of favoring the local pharmacological action of MZL, controlling release rates and increasing its therapeutic efficacy. The use of polysaccharide-based nanoparticles (NPs), such as retrograded starch (RS), hyaluronic acid (HA) and chitosan (CS), brings benefits such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, resistance to stomach digestion, reduction of adverse effects, mucoadhesion, ability to bind to CD44 receptors overexpressed in inflamed tissues and controlled release. The co-encapsulation of MLZ and propionate, a short-chain fatty acid post-biotic with anti-inflammatory action, can enhance treatment. Although the combination of active ingredients and the use of nanotechnology represents a promising treatment approach, its translation to the clinic has been hampered by the lack of cellular models that can provide reliable and predictive knowledge about the formulation's in vivo efficiency. In turn, multicellular systems, by mimicking the main genetic, mechanical and physical information of the inflamed microenvironment, are an important tool in the study of diseases such as IBD. The aim of this project is to carry out an in vitro study of the biocompatibility, intestinal permeability and evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties of polymeric nanoparticles for the colonic-specific release of MLZ and propionate, to be carried out at the Institute for Research and Innovation in Health - University of Porto, in Portugal, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Bruno Filipe Carmelino Cardoso Sarmento.