Biodistribution evaluation of functionalized magnetic nanoparticles orally administered via Alternating Current Biosusceptometry

• Grant number: 25/19863-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2026
• End date: December 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biophysics - Biophysics of Processes and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Guilherme Augusto Soares
• Grantee: Lucas de Andrade da Silva Netto
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project aims to develop and evaluate polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) using an in vivo model. The proposal seeks to elucidate the mechanisms of absorption and biodistribution of MNPs when administered orally, a route of great relevance due to its practicality and patient compliance, but still limited by physicochemical barriers of the GIT.The absorption of the nanoparticles will be monitored using Alternating Current Biosusceptometry (BAC), employing a high-sensitivity system capable of measuring the complex magnetic susceptibility, thus providing dynamic information on magnetic relaxation processes. Subsequently, biodistribution analysis will be carried out in target organs such as the liver and spleen.Complementarily, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) will be employed to validate and complement the BAC results, enabling a more comprehensive and comparative assessment. The integration of these methodologies will not only quantify the presence of MNPs but also evaluate their structural interactions with tissues, offering a precise understanding of their passage through the GIT and systemic absorption.In this way, the proposal is framed within the field of nanobiotechnology applied to pharmacology, with potential to contribute to the development of innovative oral drug delivery systems based on magnetic nanoparticles. (AU)