PECTIN-ALGINATE MICROCAPSULES AND BIOFILMS WITH Stryphnodendron adstringens (Mart.) Coville PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES

• Grant number: 25/21159-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2025
• End date: October 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Catarina dos Santos
• Grantee: Maria Fernanda Lui Lopes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Letras (FCL-ASSIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Assis. Assis , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Stryphnodendron adstringens (Mart.) Coville (Fabaceae), popularly known as Barbatimão, is a species native to the Brazilian Cerrado, known for its high content of phenolic compounds, particularly tannins, responsible for anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and wound-healing properties. Despite their therapeutic potential, the instability of these compounds in environmental factors compromises their efficacy and shelf life, requiring strategies to preserve their activity. This project proposes the development of controlled-release systems based on microcapsules and films made with sodium alginate and pectin, employing the ionic gelation technique to encapsulate hydroethanolic extracts of S. adstringens bark. Encapsulation efficiency, physicochemical stability, and interactions between active compounds and the polymer matrix will be evaluated using infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The comparative performance of microcapsules and films in protecting against degradation and controlling release will also be assessed. The proposal aims to contribute to the formulation of more stable and effective products, with potential application in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors.