Insulin-loaded polymeric mucoadhesive nanoparticles: development, characterization and cytotoxicity evaluation

Mucoadhesive nanoparticles are particularly interesting for delivery through nasal or pulmonary routes, as an approach to overcome the mucociliary clearance. Moreover, these nanoparticles are attractive for peptide and protein delivery, particularly for insulin to treat diabetes, as an alternative to conventional parenteral administration. Thus, chitosan, a cationic mucoadhesive polysaccharide found in shells of crustaceans, and the negatively-charged dextran sulfate are able to form nanoparticles through ionic condensation, representing a potential insulin carrier. Herein, chitosan/dextran sulfate nanoparticles at various ratios were prepared for insulin loading. Formulations were characterized for particle size, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and in vitro drug release. Moreover, the interaction with mucin and the cytotoxicity against a lung cell line were studied, which altogether have not been addressed before. Results evidenced that a proper selection of polyelectrolytes is necessary for smaller particle size formation and also the composition and zeta potential impact encapsulation efficiency, which is benefited by the positive charge of chitosan. Insulin remained stable after encapsulation as evidenced by calorimetric assays, and was released in a sustained manner in the first 10 h. Positively-charged nanoparticles based on chitosan/dextran-sulfate at the ratio of 6:4 successfully interacted with mucin, which is a prerequisite for delivery to mucus-containing tissues. Finally, insulin-loaded nanoparticles displayed no cytotoxicity effect against lung cells at tested concentrations, suggesting the potential for further in vivo studies

Síntese e caracterização de adutos óleo de rícino maleinizado-meglumina como potenciais carreadores de fármacos

A síntese de novos materiais a partir de recursos renováveis é uma tendência atual em vários grupos de pesquisa. A tecnologia farmacêutica é uma das áreas que mais pode se beneficiar desses avanços, utilizando os conhecimentos e os produtos obtidos para formulação de sistemas de liberação de fármacos mais modernos e seguros. Assim, o presente projeto de mestrado teve como objetivo a síntese de polímeros supramoleculares formados a partir de adutos óleo de rícino maleinizado- meglumina como potenciais sistemas carreadores para fármacos. Para atingir o objetivo delineado dois precursores maleinizados foram sintetizados em dois graus distintos de maleinização, em seguida, cada um desses precursores foram submetidos à reação com meglumina em diferentes razões estequiométricas, origando um total de quatro adutos. A caracterização estrutural dos adutos confirmou que a transferência de próton mediante reação ácido-base é primordial para o processo de formação dos mesmos e, além disso, demonstrou que a proporção de meglumina desempenha papel importante no arranjo microestrutural desses adutos. A caracterização térmica evidenciou o caráter macromolecular dos adutos com a presença de transições vítreas nas curvas de DSC de aquecimento e reaquecimento. Por fim, o estudo de sistemas adutos-água através de DSC demonstrou a presença de diferentes tipos de água, sugerindo diferentes tipos de arranjos microestruturais dependendo da composição do sistemas. Microscopia de luz polarizada evidenciou mesofases liquido-cristalinas hexagonal e lamelar para cinco dos diferentes sistemas estudadosThe synthesis of new materials from renewable resources is a current trend in many research groups. The pharmaceutical technology is one of the areas that can most benifit from these advances, using the knowledge and the products obtained for formulation of more modern drug delivery systems. In this work our goal was to synthesize novel supramolecular polymers derived from adducts formed from maleated castor oils and meglumine as potential carrier for drugs. Two precursors were synthesized in two different degrees of maleation, then they were subjected to a reaction of meglumine in stoichometric and non-stoichometric ratios, yelding a total of four adducts. Structural characterizations confirmed that the próton transfer acid-base reaction is essential for the formation process of this adducts. The proportion of meglumine also plays an important role in the microstructural arrangement of them. Thermal characterization showed the macromolecular nature of the adducts with the presence of glass transitions in the DSC heating and reheating curves. Finally, the study of adducts-water systems by DSC showed the presence of different types of water, suggesting different microstructural arrangements depending on the composition of the systems. Polarized light microscopy showed liquid-crystlline mesophases hexagonal and lamellar for five of the different systems studiedConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES