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This work aimed to evaluate the in vitro anthelmintic effect of carvone nanoemulsions on Haemonchus contortus. Three R-carvone nanoemulsions were prepared: uncoated R-carvone nanoemulsions homogenized in a sonicator (UNAlg-son) and homogenized in an ultrahomogenizer (UNAlg-ultra) and sodium alginate-coated R-carvone (CNAlg-ultra). The physicochemical characterizations of the nanoemulsions were carried out. The anthelmintic activity was evaluated using egg hatch test (EHT), larval development test (LDT) and adult worm motility test (AWMT). Changes in cuticle induced in adult H. contortus were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results were subjected to analysis of variance and compared using the Tukey test (P < 0.05). The effective concentration to inhibit 50% (EC50) of egg hatching and larval development was calculated. The particle sizes were 281.1 nm (UNAlg-son), 152.7 nm (UNAlg-ultra) and 557.8 nm (CNAlg-ultra), and the zeta potentials were −15 mV (UNAlg-son), −10.8 mV (UNAlg-ultra) and −24.2 mV (CNAlg-ultra). The encapsulation efficiency was 99.84 ± 0.01%. SEM of the nanoemulsions showed an increase in size. In EHT, the EC50 values of UNAlg-son, UNAlg-ultra and CNAlg-ultra were 0.19, 0.02 and 0.17 mg mL−1, respectively. In LDT, they were 0.29, 0.31 and 0.95 mg mL−1 for UNAlg-son, UNAlg-ultra and CNAlg-ultra, respectively. The adult motility inhibition was 100% after 12 h of exposure to UNAlg-ultra and CNAlg-ultra, while for UNAlg-son, it was 79.16%. SEM showed changes in the buccal capsule and cuticular damage. It was concluded that R-carvone nanoemulsions showed antiparasitic action demonstrating promise for the control of infections caused by gastrointestinal nematodes in small ruminants.

The skin is the largest organ in the human body and its physical integrity must be maintained for body homeostasis and to prevent the entry of pathogenic microorganisms. Sodium alginate (SA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) are two polymers widely used in films for wound dressing applications. Furthermore, blends between SA and PVA improve physical, mechanical and biological properties of the final wound healing material when compared to the individual polymers. Different drugs have been incorporated into SA/PVA-based films to improve wound healing activity. It is noteworthy that SA/PVA films can be crosslinked with Ca

Micelles have aroused interest due to their ability to assist in the transport of poorly soluble drugs. In this study the mixture of copolymers F127/E45S8 in different proportions (F/ES 30/70, 50/50 and 70/30) was performed to improve the bioavailability of griseofulvin and quercetin. The results of cytotoxicity (MTT assay) revealed that the copolymers F127 and E45S8 had considerable biocompatibility and did not affect the metabolism of human neutrophils. The binary systems were also evaluated by critical micellar concentration (CMC) and thermoresponsive behavior. The CMC values were intermediate to those of the isolated copolymers. The systems maintained the thermoresponsive properties present in F127 making the systems interesting for subcutaneous administration. The systems presented small size, an average range in size from 17 to 38 nm, and the samples prepared with higher hydrophobic proportion presented more uniform sizes. Results suggest stability and the increasing of the nanosystems circulation time. The F/ES 30/70 system has polydispersity smaller than 0.1 and showed an increase of 129 times for quercetin solubility. Thus, it is possible to consider F127/E45S8 micelles as potential nanosystems for poorly soluble drug delivery.

The use of mushrooms in medicine is quite old and the first report about the use of genus Agaricus in treatment of ulcers occurred in Byzantine period. This mushroom is widely consumed as food, tea, food supplements, as well as nutraceutical and cosmeceutical applications, being cultivated and appreciated in several countries such as Brazil, Korea, Japan and China.This study aimed to characterize the chemical profile and the potential gastroprotective effect of hydroalcoholic extract from Agaricus blazei Murill (HEAb).The extract was chemically characterized by elemental analysis, UPLC-QTOF-MSMannitol, malic acid, pyroglutamic acid, L-agaritine and L-valine were putatively identified by UPLC-QTOF-MSIn this study was possible to conclude that HEAb has gastroprotective effect related to the involvement of NO and PG pathways in the ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model in mice.

A questão ambiental está intimamente ligada aos conceitos químicos, assim como a alta relevância de sua abordagem em todas as esferas da sociedade. Associado a isso, sabe-se que, para um ensino eficaz e significativo de Química, é preciso conhecer e testar novas ferramentas com o objetivo de melhorar o aprendizado dos alunos. Nesse sentido, a gamificação pode ser uma boa estratégia no ensino. A usabilidade do jogo didático como ferramenta pedagógica e suas contribuições para o processo de ensino e aprendizagem, devem ser verificadas usando de análises adequadas. Nesta perspectiva, o objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver um jogo de computador utilizando o software livre 001 Game Creator® para abordar a temática da Educação Ambiental (EA) para alunos do Ensino Médio Técnico (EMT). Além disso, foi utilizado a Análise Fatorial (FA) de Máxima Verossimilhança (ML), como ferramenta analítica para avaliação dos resultados obtidos. Participaram da pesquisa 90 alunos de três turmas do EMT, sendo aplicado um questionário para coletar os dados sobre os conhecimentos prévios de EA e as percepções do jogo desenvolvido. Diante do trabalho realizado, foi possível evidenciar que a técnica de análise ML foi uma ferramenta hábil e rápida para o entendimento da avaliação de jogos educativos, identificando que a aplicação do jogo “Um passeio na Comptrônica” despertou o interesse dos alunos e proporcionou uma aprendizagem dinâmica e prazerosa, de forma cooperativa e bastante imersiva.

A quimioterapia é um dos principais tratamentos oncológicos, no qual acarreta diversos efeitos colaterais, dentre os quais têm-se a mucosite. A rutina pertence à classe dos flavonoides e apresenta clinicamente funções relevantes, potencialmente benéficas na prevenção de doenças e atividade antioxidante. Portanto, objetivou-se com esse estudo, realizar um monitoramento científico e tecnológico acerca das propriedades farmacológicas da rutina e sua relação como possível agente terapêutico no controle da mucosite intestinal. O monitoramento foi realizado através das bases Science direct e Web of Science e, bases tecnológicas, Instituto Europeu de Patentes e Instituto Nacional de Propriedade Intelectual. Os descritores foram: “Rutin, Rutin” e “ulcer, Rutin” e “biological activity”, “Rutin and pharmacology” e “Rutin and câncer”. As buscas foram realizadas em outubro de 2019, sendo consideradas publicações dos últimos 10 anos. Pode-se verificar que houve um crescimento de estudos relacionados à rutina na última década, podendo destacar diversas atividades farmacológica do composto. Chemotherapy is one of the main oncological treatments, in which it has several side effects, including mucositis. Rutin belongs to the class of flavonoids and has clinically relevant functions, potentially beneficial in preventing diseases and antioxidant activity. Therefore, the objective of this study was to carry out scientific and technological monitoring of the pharmacological properties of rutin and its relationship as a possible therapeutic agent in the control of intestinal mucositis. Monitoring was carried out through the Science direct and Web of Science bases, and technological bases, the European Patent Institute and the National Intellectual Property Institute. The descriptors were: "Rutin, Rutin" and "ulcer, Rutin" and "biological activity", "Rutin and pharmacology" and "Rutin and cancer". The searches were carried out in October 2019, being considered publications from the last 10 years. It can be seen that there has been an increase in studies related to rutin in the last decade, highlighting several pharmacological activities of the compound. La quimioterapia es uno de los principales tratamientos oncológicos, en el que tiene varios efectos secundarios, entre ellos la mucositis. La rutina pertenece a la clase de flavonoides y tiene funciones clínicamente relevantes, potencialmente beneficiosas en la prevención de enfermedades y actividad antioxidante. Por tanto, el objetivo de este estudio fue realizar un seguimiento científico y tecnológico de las propiedades farmacológicas de la rutina y su relación como posible agente terapéutico en el control de la mucositis intestinal. El seguimiento se realizó a través de las bases Science direct y Web of Science y bases tecnológicas, el Instituto Europeo de Patentes y el Instituto Nacional de Propiedad Intelectual. Los descriptores fueron: “Rutin, Rutin” y “ulcer, Rutin” y “biological activity”, “Rutin and pharmacology” y “Rutin and câncer”. Las búsquedas se realizaron en octubre de 2019, considerándose publicaciones de los últimos 10 años. Se puede observar que se ha incrementado los estudios relacionados con la rutina en la última década, destacando varias actividades farmacológicas del compuesto.

Plant phenolic extracts are widely recognized as an important source of natural antioxidant substances and potential compounds for cosmetic formulations. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical profile, photoprotective and antioxidant activities of stem bark extract of Spondias purpurea L. (ciriguela) and its application in photoprotective formulations. Thirty phenolic constituents were annotated by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with an electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry in mode negative (UPLC‑QTOF-MS2). The stem bark extract antioxidant and chelation potential, expressed in half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50), showed 6.25 and 352.22 μg mL−1, respectively. The phenolic extract was used as an active ingredient in six sunscreen formulations, with concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 10%. The ultraviolet (UV) protection properties of the formulations were evaluated by sun protection factor (SPF) values obtained in 0.2 mg mL−1 (0.495 to 2.27) and 2.0 mg mL−1 (2.29 to 15.87). The SPF value for the extract (14.37 and 26.16) was high, but there was a reduction in the base formulation. However, these results suggested that the bioactive extracted of stem bark of Spondias purpurea L. has interesting potential to reduce the damage caused by UV radiation and may be utilized as an active ingredient in a sunscreen formulation.

Edible mushrooms have been increasingly introduced into the human diet, which has driven research into their functional properties. Thus, Agaricus brasiliensis Murill or Agaricus blazei Murill (ABM) is a species native to the Brazilian biome, whose fruiting body has been used not only for dietary purposes, but also in the development of functional foods or as source of molecules of pharmacological interest. The bioactivity of ABM has been related to the presence of polysaccharides, although the contribution of other metabolites cannot be discharged. This work describes the polysaccharides isolation methodology and preparation of the extracts of ABM and their biological activities. Furthermore, it presents a general outline of its characterizations regarding composition, chemical structure and properties in solution. The ABM and its chemical constituents exhibit several biological activities that support their potential use for prevention or treatment of diseases with inflammatory background, such as cancer, diabetes and atherosclerosis. The mechanism of action of the extracts and polysaccharides from ABM is mainly related to a modulation of immune system response or reduction of inflammatory response. This review shows that the ABM has great potential in the pharmaceutical, biotechnological and food sectors that deserves additional research using standardized products.

In this work, cashew apple pectin (CP) of the species Anacardium occidentale L. was used as an encapsulation matrix for hydrophobic drugs. The model drug chosen was mangiferin (Mf), a glycosylated C-xanthone which has antioxidant properties but low solubility in aqueous medium. CP (1–100 μg mL−1) was not toxic to human neutrophils and also did not significantly interfere with the pro-inflammatory mechanism of these cells in the concentration range of 12.5 and 100 μg mL−1. The results are promising because they show that pectin encapsulated mangiferin after spray drying presented an efficiency of 82.02%. The results obtained in the dissolution test, simulating the release of mangiferin in the gastrointestinal tract (pH 1.2, 4.6 and 6.8) and using Franz diffusion cells (pH 7.4), showed that cashew pectin may be a promising vehicle in prolonged drug delivery systems for both oral and dermal applications.

The use of copolymeric micelles of copoly(oxyalkylene)s for dissolution of poorly soluble bioactive compounds has been studied due to their efficiency in the blood dilution process and biocompatibility. In this study we investigated the use of micellar system of copolymers F127, EO65SO9EO65 (EO = ethylene oxide/SO = styrene oxide) and the binary mixtures of these copolymers for the solubilization of lapachol. Solubility was estimated by UV–Vis. The samples, with and without drug, were characterized by X-ray, DSC, particle size and zeta potential. The antioxidant activity, the cytotoxicity and the release assay for the system SO970(blend of EO65SO9EO65/F127 in the proportions 70/30) were also investigated. The SO970LA system presented the best solubilization capacity (Scp) value. It showed antioxidant activity, a prolonged release time, non-toxic with LC50 > 1000 and a cytotoxic effect on cancer cells. Results showed IC50 values starting at 5.8 μg mL−1 for the free lapachol and 12.3 μg mL−1 for the lapachol-loaded. Therefore, the system presents a potential for anticancer application.

The known biotechnological properties of chitosan and the recent biological activities attributed to polysaccharides from Agaricus brasiliensis have been of interest to obtain films constituted by these two polymers. The glucans obtained from the mushroom inhibited about 96.5% of the ferrous ion, besides not promoting a significant increase of lactate dehydrogenase enzyme (LDH), which indicates that the polysaccharide is able to inhibit the production of radical species and also presents low cytotoxicity to the biological systems. The results of spectroscopy analyses in the infrared region (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction suggest an existing electrostatic interaction between the substances. A reduction in the films’ swelling capacity was observed with an increase in the polysaccharide content in the composition. In addition, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed greater surface density of the films. In convening the biological properties of the substances, it is expected that this study raises interest in evaluating the films and their capacity for healing wounds and burns.

Intestinal mucositis is a common complication associated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a chemotherapeutic agent used for cancer treatment. Troxerutin (TRX), a semi-synthetic flavonoid extracted from Dimorphandra gardneriana, has been reported as a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of TRX on 5-FU-induced intestinal mucositis. Swiss mice were randomly divided into seven groups: Saline, 5-FU, TRX-50, TRX-100, TRX-150, Celecoxib (CLX), and CLX + TRX-100. The weight of mice was measured daily. After treatment, the animals were euthanized and segments of the small intestine were collected to evaluate histopathological alterations (morphometric analysis), levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), glutathione (GSH), mast and goblet cell counts, immunohistochemical analysis, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity. Compared to the saline treatment, the 5-FU treatment induced intense weight loss and reduction in villus height. TRX treatment (100 mg/kg) prevented the 5-FU-induced histopathological changes and decreased oxidative stress by decreasing the MDA levels and increasing GSH concentration. TRX attenuated inflammatory process by decreasing MPO activity, intestinal mastocytosis, and COX-2 expression. TRX also reversed the depletion of goblet cells. Our findings suggest that TRX at a concentration of 100 mg/kg had chemopreventive effects on 5-FU-induced intestinal mucositis via COX-2 pathway.

This work aims to formulate a new semisolid pharmaceutical form based on clove essential oil and polysaccharides for the treatment of vaginal candidiasis. The nanoemulsions showed excellent colloidal stability with values of zeta potential higher than 30 mV in module, as well as hydrodynamic diameter between 198.8 and 321.0 nm and moderate polydispersity. The nanosystems did not show macroscopic instability phenomena and demonstrated adequate pH values for vaginal use. The presence of clove essential oil in the nanoemulsion was attested by a UV-Vis spectrophotometer with encapsulation efficiency greater than 99%. Emulsions based on carboxymethylcellulose and alginate (Ecmc and Ealgi, respectively) showed ferrous ion chelating ability in a range of 42-62%, with results superior to those of ascorbic acid. Ecmc formulation exhibited a higher inhibitory effect against Candida albicans and higher content of essential oil, being used in the formulation of emulgel. The rheological properties of the emulgel showed a non-Newtonian behavior, pseudoplastic type, with values of G' higher than G”, which characterizes the formation of a gel. The micrographs obtained by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed the incorporation of the nanoemulsion in the polymeric matrix, whose diameters corroborated with the results obtained by dynamic light scattering.

In the present work, an alternative to synthesized nanocapsules in which the lipophilic core was a multiple nanoemulsification forming a complex system constituted of various phases was studied. A primary emulsion (O/W) was poured into another lipophilic solvent, forming a multiple nanoemulsion (O/W/O) able to provide the encapsulation of lapachol, a lipophilic drug. The synthesized nanocapsules were well characterized and the results demonstrate a core-shell morphology, based on the polyurethane formation that exists in the cross-linked starch shell. Furthermore, these systems have moderate stability, with particle size measuring up to 274 nm. The nanocapsules containing lapachol encapsulated 73% of the drug initially added. This demonstrates success in the synthetic route adopted, evidenced by the efficiency of incorporation of the lapachol, in addition of providing a controlled release, reaching 51.4% in 24 h. This behavior shows that the polymeric shell influences the drug release profile and it is in accordance with the kinetic model proposed by Peppas.

Improving the development of modified release matrix systems strictly depends on selecting an appropriate agent capable of controlling the drug's release. In this study, Adenanthera pavonina galactomannan was investigated as a potential basis for developing a controlled release of rutin. This galactomannan was extracted, purified and characterized by GPC, NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy. The mannose/galactose ratio (M/G) of 1.46 was calculated by the relative area from signals of the anomeric region of 1H-NMR spectrum. The main chain of this galactomannan consists of β(1®4)-D-mannose and α(1®6)-D-galactose linked units (1H-decoupled 13C NMR, 13C DEPT 135o NMR and HSQC spectra). The sustained-release tablets containing rutin and galactomannan were compared with the extensively investigated hydrophilic matrix HPMC. Drug release analysis revealed similar release mechanism for both matrices. A new formulation for controlled drug delivery from water-swellable matrix systems is proposed.

In dilute aqueous solution unimers of Pluronic F127 associate to form micelles. In more concentrated solution, micelles pack to form high-modulus gels. Our interest is the effect of addition of 10–30 wt % low molecular weight PPG400 on the micellization and gelation of solutions of F127. DLS was used to determine the apparent size of the micelles (rh,app). The critical micelle concentration (cmc) using the dye solubilization method of F127 in PPG400 solutions was studied. Visual observation was carried out to detect gel formation in concentrated solutions and the onset of clouding and turbidity, as the temperature was raised. Oscillatory rheometry was used to confirm the formation of high-modulus gels and provide values of elastic moduli (G′max) over a wide temperature range. SAXS was used to determine gel structure. Our results for the hydrophobic adduct PPG400 were compared with literature values for the hydrophilic adduct PEG6000.

The binary mixtures of Brij® surfactant and Pluronic® F127 were studied as carriers of griseofulvin. The F127 systems and Brij® 78 (C18H37E20), Brij® 98 (C18H35E20) and Brij® 700 (C18H37E100) were prepared in the proportions 10/90, 30/70, 50/50 and 70/30, respectively. The characterizations were carried out by tube inversion, rheology, particle size, and theoretical cmcs. The griseofulvin solubilization tests were performed at 25 and 37 ºC in micellar solutions of 1 wt. % and quantified by UV/Vis. According to the rheological data, the presence of F127 make the F127/Brij 78 70/30 and F127/Brij 98 70/30 mixtures thermoresponsive at concentrations of 30 and 35 wt.%, with transition fluid/gel in the range of 28-30 ºC, ideal for topical use. All of the F127 / Brij 700 mixtures showed moderate distribution polydisperse (PDI < 0.4), as well as mixtures of F127 / Brij 98, with the exception of the mixture with ratio 30/70. Mixtures of F127 / Brij 78 had wide polydisperse distribution (PDI > 0.4). The optimal mixing for oral application would be of F127/Brij 78 because it exhibits greater solubilizing capacity (Scp) of griseofulvin at temperatures of 25 to 37 ºC when compared to F127 alone.

O presente trabalho pretende apresentar um panorama nacional sobre as pesquisas em linguagem e formação de conceitos no Ensino de Química, tendo como base o Diretório de Grupos de Pesquisa no Brasil, existente no portal do CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico). Dada a importância da linguagem e da apropriação de conceitos científicos no processo de ensino-aprendizagem dos educandos, evidenciado pelos autores que defendem a teoria construtivista, é importante que pesquisas nesta área sejam incentivadas, pois a apropriação, ou não, desses saberes por parte dos professores, tem reflexo direto na prática pedagógica e na qualidade do ensino de Química. A pesquisa realizada constatou que o número de linhas de pesquisas nesta área ainda é muito pequeno no nosso país, não chegando à proporção de 1:1 por unidade federativa, apesar do crescimento em pesquisas no Ensino de Química nos últimos anos.

Mangiferin-loaded F127/PEG micellar systems were evaluated regarding the effect of PEG addition at different molecular weights, where the system with best mangiferin solubility response (0.5 wt% of PEG in 1 wt% F127 aqueous solution) was chosen to be a potential drug delivery system (DDS), which solubilized 7.92 mg dL−1 of mangiferin. Subsequently, the chosen mangiferin-loaded DDS was evaluated in regard the inhibition of enzyme α-glucosidase, which showed a more effective inhibition, around 95.42%, when compared to the standard acarbose (92.59%) and to the free-form mangiferin (90.42%). The same micellar system was also evaluated for its cytotoxicity, where no significative values of LDH activity was observed. No study has been done yet with both mangiferin and DDSs regarding in vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. This work proposes a “new” alternative towards diabetes treatment.

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of selected Brij non-ionic surfactants for enhancing the solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs. Griseofulvin was selected as a model drug candidate enabling comparisons to be made with the solubilisation capacities of other poly(ethylene oxide)-based copolymers. UV/Vis and (1)H NMR spectroscopies were used to quantify the enhancement of solubility of griseofulvin in 1 wt% aqueous micellar solutions of Brij 78 (C(18)H(37)E(20)), Brij 98 (C(18)H(35)E(20)) and Brij 700 (C(18)H(37)E(100)) (where E represents the OCH(2)CH(2) unit of the poly(ethylene oxide) chain) at 25, 37 and 40 °C. Solubilisation capacities (S(cp) expressed as mg griseofulvin per g Brij) were similar for Brij 78 and 98 (range 6-11 mg g(-1)) but lower for Brij 700 (3-4 mg g(-1)) as would be expected for the surfactant with the higher ethylene oxide content. The drug loading capacity of micelles of Brij 78 was higher than many di- and triblock copolymers with hydrophilic E-blocks specifically designed for enhancement of drug solubility.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of enhancing the solubilisation capacity of micellar solutions of Pluronic F127 for the poorly water-soluble drug griseofulvin by co-formulating with a water-soluble polymer. The effect of the addition of the polyethylene glycols PEG6000 and 35000, and the poly(vinylpyrrolidone)s PVP K30 and K90, on the solubilisation capacity of 1wt% solutions of Pluronic F127 was related to the effect of these additives on particle size as determined by dynamic light scattering measurements. The addition of PEG35000 to 1wt% F127 solutions significantly increased the solubility capacity expressed in terms of unit weight of F127; PVP K90 had a smaller effect but no enhancement was noted following the addition of PEG6000 or PVP K30. Solubilisation enhancement was thought to be a consequence of the association of the polymers with the E-blocks of the micelle corona so providing an expanded region of reduced polarity for drug solubilisation.

Quercetin belongs to the chemical class of flavonoids and can be found in many common foods, such as apples, nuts, berries, etc. It has been demonstrated that quercetin has a wide array of biological effects that are considered beneficial to health treatment, mainly as anticancer. However, therapeutic applications of quercetin have been restricted to oral administration due to its sparing solubility in water and instability in physiological medium. A drug delivery methodology was proposed in this work to study a new quercetin release system in the form of magnetite–quercetin–copolymer (MQC). These materials were characterized through XRD, TEM, IR, and Thermal analysis. In addition, the magnetization curves and quercetin releasing experiments were performed. It was observed a nanoparticle average diameter of 11.5 and 32.5 nm at Fe3O4 and MQC, respectively. The presence of magnetic nanoparticles in this system offers the promise of targeting specific organs within the body. These results indicate the great potential for future applications of the MQC to be used as a new quercetin release system.

The dependence of log(cmc) on hydrophobic block length n was examined for EmBn copolymers (E = oxyethylene, B = oxybutylene, subscripts denote number-average block lengths in repeat units)with n in the range 30-76. Combination with published data for EmBn diblock copolymers with shorter E-blocks shows two changes of slope in the log(cmc)-n plot corresponding to the onset of unimolecular micelle formation at n approximate to 12 and completion of this process at n approximate to 30. The results are discussed with reference to published data for EmLn and EmCLn (L from D,L-lactide; CL from epsilon-caprolactone) copolymers, which show similar behaviour. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The surfactants were synthesized by condensing the obtained oligosaccharides of amylose and alkyl phenols extracted from the natural cashew nut shell liquid (nCNSL). The Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) data showed aromatic ring bands, glycosidic rings, olefins and paraffins. The Nuclear Overhauser Effect Spectroscopy (NOESY) experiments showed that the conformation of the glycosidic units is of the type 4C1 with an α anomeric configuration. The values of Gibbs free energy of micellization (ΔGomic) indicate that the spontaneity of formed micelles are cardanyl oligoglycosides > cardyl oligoglycosides > anacardyl oligoglycosides. The surface tension (γ) measurements showed that critical micelle concentration (cmc) values were low for surfactants. The study γ versus lnc (g dm-3) indicated that the aggregation behavior of the surfactants is dependent on their structural characteristics, as well as their thermal behavior. The area per molecule (A) values indicates that cardyl oligoglycosides are likely to form aggregates smaller than cardanyl oligoglycosides and anacardyl oligoglycosides. The critical packing parameter (cpp) indicates that the aggregates are of the vesicles and bilayers.

The non-commercial copolymers E45S8, E45S17 and their mixtures with Pluronic® P123 (E21P67E21) were studied as carriers of the model drug griseofulvin. Critical micelle concentration (cmc) (dye solubilisation method), drug solubilisation capacity (Scp and Sh) determined by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) and cytotoxicity (LDH activity in human neutrophils) were studied. E45S17 1.0 wt.% dispersions presented colloidal aggregates limiting its Scp in comparison to E45S8, but in 0.1 wt.% solutions this phenomenon seemed to be absent and E45S17 presented a higher Scp. The mixtures that showed the best Scp results contained 50% of P123 and presented low cmc. An evaluation of literature data suggested a minimum Em content of 62% in EmSn copolymers below which the increase of Sn length does not lead to an increase of Sh. The results suggested no toxicity of the copolymers on human neutrophils, supporting the use of P123 and poly(styrene oxide) containing copolymers as drug carriers.

The solubilisation of griseofulvin in 1 wt% aqueous micellar solutions of Pluronic F127 at 37 °C has been modified by adding polyethylene glycol PEG 35000 or poly(vinylpyrrolidone) PVP K30. The solubilisation capacity expressed in terms of unit weight of F127 is increased by the addition of 0.5 wt% PEG 35000 to a value approaching double that of a 2.5 wt% solution of F127 alone, but there is no advantage in adding 0.5 wt% PVP K30.

The influence of hydrophobic-block length on solubilisation capacity was examined for micelles of E(m)B(n) copolymers (E=oxyethylene, B=oxybutylene, subscripts denote number-average block lengths in repeat units) with B-block lengths in the range of 30-76 and with E-blocks of sufficient length to ensure the formation of spherical micelles. Griseofulvin was used as a model poorly-water-soluble drug known to be almost exclusively solubilised in the micellar core. Combination of solubilisation data with those of a previous study has shown that the amount of drug solubilised per gram of hydrophobe is essentially independent of B-block length when this exceeds about 15 B units, suggesting that core size is not a major influence on solubilisation.

This paper describes the investigation and development of a novel magnetic drug delivery nanosystem (labeled as MO-20) for cancer therapy. The drug employed was oncocalyxone A (onco A), which was isolated from Auxemma oncocalyx, an endemic Brazilian plant. It has a series of pharmacological properties: antioxidant, cytotoxic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antitumor and antiplatelet. Onco A was associated with magnetite nanoparticles in order to obtain magnetic properties. The components of MO-20 were characterized by XRD, FTIR, TGA, TEM and Magnetization curves. The MO-20 presented a size of about 30 nm and globular morphology. In addition, drug releasing experiments were performed, where it was observed the presence of the anomalous transport. The results found in this work showed the potential of onco A for future applications of the MO-20 as a new magnetic drug release nanosystem for cancer treatment.

The solubilisation of two poorly soluble flavonoids, quercetin and rutin, in micellar solutions of mixtures of a block copolymer of ethylene oxide and styrene oxide (E(137)S(18)E(137)) with one of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide (E(62)P(39)E(62)) has been studied at 25 and 37 degrees C. Solubilisation capacities were higher than those for the model poorly water-soluble drug griseofulvin and comparable with published values for the solubilisation of rutin by beta-cyclodextrin.

O projeto “NTICs na educação: O uso do Linux Educacional no Ensino”, realizado pelo IFRN – Campus Currais Novos, tem como objetivo promover a inclusão digital dos docentes de escolas públicas municipais e estaduais da cidade de Currais Novos e regiões circunvizinhas por meio da realização de um curso de capacitação em Linux Educacional. Além da capacitação de docentes, o projeto atingirá consequentemente os alunos das escolas públicas que serão ensinados pelos professores capacitados sobre o uso das ferramentas disponíveis nesse sistema operacional. Outra consequência do projeto será o uso adequado dos laboratórios disponibilizados pelo MEC através do PROINFO, evitando-se a ociosidade dos recursos tecnológicos existentes na escola. Assim, o projeto pretende atingir, de forma direta e indireta, toda a comunidade local envolvida com questões de ensinoaprendizagem, utilizando-se as novas tecnologias de informação e comunicação.

Alkyl polyglycosides (APGs) are new biodegradable surfactants, non-toxic, synthesized from abundant renewable sources, potentially more appropriate than anionic surfactants. A range of glycosides denoted APG-Cy was synthesized by the Koenig-Knorr reaction using C10, C16 and C18 alcohols and derived from the degradation of amylose from English potato. The molecular structures of the glycosides were characterized by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H and 13C NMR) together with Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC). The study by NMR allowed the junctions between hydrophilic head groups and hydrophobic tail-groups to be characterized in detail. Conformation of the glycosidic units is 4C1 type with a b anomeric configuration. The formation of glycosides with five glucose rings linked to the alkyl chain was confirmed by 1H NMR and GPC. Liquid crystals identified by the presence of double melting points were observed by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) showing thermotropic properties. The surface tension (γ) and critical micelle concentration (cmc) were determined by du Nouy method, noting that increasing the length of alkyl chain led to the expected reduction in the cmc. The energies of adsorption and micellization processes calculated from isotherms γ versus ln c (g.dm-3) indicate cooperativeness of hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups.

Melon is one of the most widely consumed fruits in the world. In Brazil, 60% of the production is for domestic consumption, with these fruits deemed to be of lower commercial value. For the first time, pectin has been extracted from this species of melon. So the extraction of this polysaccharide can be used as an alternative to increase the value of the fruit, improving profits in the domestic market where it can be used in many industries. The goal of this study is to determine, quantify, characterize and chemically modify by sulfation pectin from common melon for eventual application as an antithrombotic agent. The acidic, basic and neutral extractions yielded an average of 11%, 14% and 8% respectively. The FTIR spectrum revealed that pectin has a low degree of esterification (DE). The bands which appeared at 833 cm-1 and 1251 cm-1 can be attributed to the vibrations of C-O-S and S=O respectively, showing that the material was sulfated. The 13C NMR spectrum showed consistent carbon galacturonic acid peaks and agrees with the FTIR data and elemental analysis for the sulfation of pectin. The molecular weight (MW) determined by GPC was 7.7 x 105 g mol-1, consistent with pectin.