Development of transdermal systems from cellulose nanofibers with low hydrophilicity for the delivery of hydrophobic bioactives

• Grant number: 25/10517-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Biomedical Engineering - Bioengineering
• Principal Investigator: Valdeir Arantes
• Grantee: Orlando Borota Teixeira
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Lorena , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/07023-2 - Development of an enzyme-based platform technology for production and modulation of nanocellulose: validation for biomedical and food packaging applications, AP.JP2

Abstract

This project proposes the development and evaluation of thin films based on cellulose nanofibers with low hydrophilicity, exploring their potential as platforms for transdermal delivery of hydrophobic drugs, in an approach aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the National Bioeconomy Strategy. The capacity of these platforms for the delivery of such drugs will be investigated using ibuprofen as a model, as the transdermal route can be particularly beneficial for this molecule, which presents challenges in oral administration due to its hydrophobicity, short biological half-life, and gastrointestinal side effects. For this, films will be produced and compared from different systems: cellulose nanofibers enzymatically esterified with butyric acid, cellulose nanofibers containing lignin nanoparticles, and cellulose nanofibers enzymatically esterified with butyric acid containing lignin nanoparticles. The work plan will include the production of films by casting, followed by the characterization of their mechanical, morphological, thermal, and wettability properties, as well as the determination of ibuprofen's loading capacity and encapsulation efficiency. Finally, the in vitro drug release kinetics will be evaluated in Franz diffusion cells, simulating physiological conditions, and the release profiles will be modeled according to zero-order, first-order, Higuchi, and Korsmeyer-Peppas mechanisms.