Protein nanocarriers and photoactives in the treatment of neurological diseases

Author(s)

Tácila Gabriele Lopes

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Ribeirão Preto.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC)
• Defense date: 2018-03-09

Examining board members

Antonio Claudio Tedesco; Rose Mary Zumstein Georgetto Naal; Márcio José Tiera

• Advisor: Antonio Claudio Tedesco

Abstract

The development of albumin-based nanocarriers, which are nontoxic and biocompatible and biodegradable, have been extensively studied for seeking new alternatives of the treatment for numerous diseases. The most relevant characteristic is that these protein-based systems could across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and selectively achieve the target cells within of the brain. These nanocarriers are proteins-based and have covalent bonds, and consequently it can be digested by a class of enzymes belonging to the protease family, which rapidly degrade the protein-based nanoparticles through of the proteolytic cleavage process. Given the importance of these drug delivery systems (DDS) and their effective permeation through BBB, it was proposed a multidisciplinary scientific development combining protocols, techniques and experimental tests of the areas of pharmaceutical technology, nanotechnology and chemistry to carry out the incorporation of the photoactive or another compound, as aluminum chlorine phthalocyanine (AlClPc or Pc), free and/or pre-encapsulated or magnetic nanoparticles in these albumin-based DDS systems known as albumin nanoparticles (NpA). Among the techniques used in these studies we highlight by thermal cross-linking method (via Thermal) and chemistry (via Chemistry), in this second, it was used 2 reagents, glutaraldehyde and glyceraldehyde, that were analyzed and compared in this research project. From Scanning Electron Microscopy, Atomic Force Microcopy, Zeta potential measurements, we have clearly shown that the elaborated nanoparticles (NPs) have a smaller size with a spherical shape and are more homogeneous, however only the nanoparticles prepared with glutaraldehyde showed greater electronic repulsion (preventing their aggregation). After the characterization, the studies were based on the use of AlClPc as a photoactive applied in the photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) diseases. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/09125-6 - Polymeric nanocarriers and photoactive compounds in diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases
• Grantee: Tácila Gabriele Lopes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master