Patrícia Proença | Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" (original) (raw)

Papers by Patrícia Proença

Environmental Science: Nano

This study reports the development of zein nanoparticles associated with the herbicide atrazine a... more This study reports the development of zein nanoparticles associated with the herbicide atrazine and the pre-emergence activity of this formulation against a target and a non-target plant, its soil mobility and uptake/transport in plant tissues.

Journal of Nanobiotechnology

Background Ascorbic acid (AA) is a micronutrient essential for the mechanisms of reproduction, gr... more Background Ascorbic acid (AA) is a micronutrient essential for the mechanisms of reproduction, growth, and defense in fish. However, the biosynthesis of this micronutrient does not occur in fish, so it must be supplied with food. A difficulty is that plain AA is unstable, due to the effects of light, high temperature, and oxygen, among others. The use of nanoencapsulation may provide protection and preserve the physicochemical characteristics of AA for extended periods of time, decreasing losses due to environmental factors. Method This study evaluated the protective effect of nanoencapsulation in polymeric nanoparticles (chitosan and polycaprolactone) against AA degradation. Evaluation was made of the physicochemical stability of the nanoformulations over time, as well as the toxicological effects in zebrafish (Danio rerio), considering behavior, development, and enzymatic activity. For the statistical tests, ANOVA (two-way, significance of p < 0.05) was used. Results Both nanop...

BioMed Research International

Topical delivery of local anesthetics (LAs) is commonly used to decrease painful sensations, bloc... more Topical delivery of local anesthetics (LAs) is commonly used to decrease painful sensations, block pain throughout procedures, and alleviate pain after surgery. Dermal and/or transdermal delivery of LAs has other advantages, such as sustained drug delivery and decreased systemic adverse effects. This study reports the development of poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles coated with chitosan for the sustained release and topicality of benzocaine (BZC) and topical delivery. BZC PLGA nanoparticles or nonencapsulated drugs were further incorporated into Poloxamer hydrogels (Pluronic™ F-127). The nanoparticles showed a mean diameter of 380 ± 4 nm, positive zeta potential after coating with chitosan ( 23.3 ± 1.7 mV), and high encapsulation efficiency ( 96.7 ± 0.02 % ). Cellular viability greater than 70% for both fibroblasts and keratinocytes was observed after treatment with nanoparticles, which is in accordance with the preconized guidelines for biomedical devices and de...

Additional file 1: Figure S1. Morphological abnormalities (pericardial edema, skin lesions, undev... more Additional file 1: Figure S1. Morphological abnormalities (pericardial edema, skin lesions, undeveloped tail, tail alterations, and bent spine) observed in the zebrafish embryos and larvae exposed to the different treatments at concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 mg/mL: non-encapsulated ascorbic acid (AA), chitosan nanoparticles (NPs_CS), chitosan nanoparticles containing AA (NPs_CS_AA), PCL nanoparticles (NPs_PCL), and PCL nanoparticles containing AA (NPs_PCL_AA). The images were acquired using a stereomicroscope (Model SMZ 2 LED, Optika), at 2x magnification. Figure S2. Morphological abnormalities (yolk sac malformation and edema, pericardial edema, opaque yolk, tail malformation, and bent spine) observed in the zebrafish embryos and larvae exposed to the different treatments: non-encapsulated ascorbic acid (AA), chitosan nanoparticles (NPs_CS), chitosan nanoparticles containing AA (NPs_CS_AA), PCL nanoparticles (NPs_PCL), and PCL nanoparticles containing AA (NPs_PCL_AA). The images...

Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2021

Nanoencapsulation of biopesticides is an important strategy to increase the efficiency of these c... more Nanoencapsulation of biopesticides is an important strategy to increase the efficiency of these compounds, reducing losses and adverse effects on non-target organisms. This study describes the preparation and characterisation of zein nanoparticles containing the botanical compounds limonene and carvacrol, responsive to proteolytic enzymes present in the insects guts. The spherical nanoparticles, prepared by the anti-solvent precipitation method, presented in the nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) a concentration of 4.7 × 1012 ± 1.3 × 1011 particles.mL-1 and an average size of 125 ± 2 nm. The formulations showed stability over time, in addition to not being phytotoxic to Phaseolus vulgaris plants. In vivo tests demonstrated that formulations of zein nanoparticles containing botanical compounds showed higher mortality to Spodoptera frugiperda larvae. In addition, the FTIC probe (fluorescein isothiocyanate) showed wide distribution in the larvae midgut, as well as being identified in the feces. The trypsin enzyme, as well as the enzymatic extract from insects midgut, was effective in the degradation of nanoparticles containing the mixture of botanical compounds, significantly reducing the concentration of nanoparticles and the changes in size distribution. The zein degradation was confirmed by the disappearance of the protein band in the electrophoresis gel, by the formation of the lower molecular weight fragments and also by the greater release of FTIC after enzymes incubation. In this context, the synthesis of responsive nanoparticles has great potential for application in pest management, increasing the selectivity and specificity of the system and contributing to a more sustainable agriculture.

ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 2021

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disorder characterized by intens... more Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disorder characterized by intense itching and recurrent eczematous lesions. Topical corticosteroids are the first-line treatment to control moderate-to-severe AD; however, prolonged application of corticosteroids is required, which can result in dermal atrophy as a side effect. Drug-delivery systems can provide more effective and targeted therapy strategies. In this study, budesonide (BUD) was encapsulated into chitosan (CS)-coated PLGA nanoparticles, which were further incorporated into poloxamer hydrogels to improve the anti-inflammatory activity and decrease adverse effects. The nanoparticles were prepared by the emulsification–solvent evaporation technique, and their physicochemical characteristics were evaluated. Rheological properties of the hydrogels, such as viscosity and sol–gel transition temperature, were evaluated with and without nanoparticles. In vitro release kinetics and ex vivo drug absorption studies were performed using Franz diffusion cells. The nanoparticles showed a mean diameter of 324 ± 4 nm, positive ζ potential (20 mV) due to CS coating, and high encapsulation efficiency (>90%). The nanoparticles did not show cytotoxic effects in primary human fibroblasts and keratinocytes; however, all formulations induced the generation of reactive oxygen species. Both nanoparticles and hydrogels were able to change the release kinetics of BUD when compared to the nonencapsulated compound. Nanoparticles were not able to surmount the stratum corneum of excised human skin, but the nanoencapsulation facilitated the skin absorption of BUD. The hydrogels containing nanoparticles or not showed non-Newtonian and pseudoplastic behavior. The nanoformulations seem to be a good candidate to deliver glucocorticoids in the skin of AD patients

Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery, 2020

Introduction: Immunological skin dysfunctions trigger the synthesis and release of inflammatory c... more Introduction: Immunological skin dysfunctions trigger the synthesis and release of inflammatory cytokines, which induce recurrent skin inflammation associated with chronic itching, inefficient barrier behavior, and reduced skin hydration. These features characterize a multifactorial chronic inflammatory disease atopic dermatitis (AD). AD therapy includes anti-inflammatory drugs and immunosuppressors as well as non-pharmacological alternatives such as emollients, moisturizers, and lipids (ceramides, phospholipids) for modulating the skin hydration and the barrier repair. However, these treatments are inconvenient with low drug skin penetration and insufficient maintenance on the application site. Areas covered: Nanotechnology-based therapies can be a great strategy to overcome these limitations. Considering the particular skin morphological organization, SC lipid matrix composition, and immunological functions/features related to nanocarriers, this review focuses on recent developments of nanoparticulate systems (polymeric, lipid-based, inorganic) as parent or hybrid systems including their chemical composition, physico-chemical and biopharmaceutical properties, and differential characteristics that evaluate them as new effective drug-delivery systems for AD treatment. Expert opinion: Despite the several innovative formulations, research in nanotechnology-based carriers should address specific aspects such as the use of moisturizers associated to pharmacological therapies, toxicity studies, scale-up production processes and the nanocarrier influence on immunological response. These approaches will help researchers choose the most appropriate nanocarrier system and widen nanomedicine applications and commercialization.

Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 2019

Pesticides and fertilizers are widely used to enhance agriculture yields, although the fraction o... more Pesticides and fertilizers are widely used to enhance agriculture yields, although the fraction of the pesticides applied in the field that reaches the targets is less than 0.1%. Such indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides is disadvantageous due to the cost implications and increasing human health and environmental concerns. In recent years, the utilization of nanotechnology to create novel formulations has shown great potential for diminishing the indiscriminate use of pesticides and providing environmentally safer alternatives. Smart nano-based pesticides are designed to efficiently delivery sufficient amounts of active ingredients in response to biotic and/or abiotic stressors that act as triggers, employing targeted and controlled release mechanisms. This review discusses the current status of stimuli-responsive release systems with potential to be used in agriculture, highlighting the challenges and drawbacks that need to be overcome in order to accelerate the global commerc...

Scientific Reports, 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of t... more A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.

Ecological Indicators, 2018

Recent decades have witnessed major growth in the use of agrochemicals worldwide,for maximizing t... more Recent decades have witnessed major growth in the use of agrochemicals worldwide,for maximizing the food production for a rapidly growing human population. However, the indiscriminate use of these substances especially the pesticides has led to the accumulation of toxic residues in food, soil, air, and water, as well as the development of resistance in pests. Moreover, pesticides affect soil enzymes, which are essential catalysts that govern soil quality. In order to meet the food security, it is necessary to produce more food, sustainably and safely, in a diminishing area of available arable land and with decreased water resources. Given this situation, there is an increased interest in the use of alternative substances to synthetic agrochemicals that present less risk to the environment and human health while increasing the food safety. Promising results have been obtained using compounds derived from aromatic plants for the control of agricultural pests. Such compounds of botanical origin can be highly effective, with multiple mechanisms of action, while at the same time having low toxicity towards nontarget organisms. However, the large-scale application of these substances for pest control is limited by their poor stability and other technological issues. In this backdrop, the present work discusses perspectives for the use of compounds of botanical origin, as well as strategies employing the encapsulation techniques that can contribute to the development of systems for use in sustainable agricultural practices.

Advances in Colloid and Interface Science

Scientific reports, Jan 16, 2018

Pesticides are the main tactics for pest control because they reduce the pest population very fas... more Pesticides are the main tactics for pest control because they reduce the pest population very fast and their efficiency does not depend on abiotic factors. However, the indiscriminate use of these substances can speed up the development of resistant populations and causing environmental contamination. Therefore, alternative methods of pest control are sought, such as the use of botanical compounds. Nanoencapsulation of volatile compounds has been shown to be an important tool that can be used to overcome the lack of stability of these compounds. In this work, we describe the preparation and characterization of chitosan nanoparticles functionalized with β-cyclodextrin containing carvacrol and linalool. The toxicity and biological activity were evaluated. Decreases of toxicity were observed when the compounds were nanoencapsulated. The nanoparticles presented insecticidal activity against the species Helicoverpa armigera (corn earworm) and Tetranychus urticae (spider mite). In additio...

Scientific reports, 2018

Carvacrol and linalool are natural compounds extracted from plants and are known for their insect... more Carvacrol and linalool are natural compounds extracted from plants and are known for their insecticidal and repellent activities, respectively. However, their low aqueous solubility, high photosensitivity, and high volatility restrict their application in the control of agricultural pests. The encapsulation of volatile compounds can be an effective way of overcoming such problems. Inclusion complexes between beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and carvacrol (CVC) or linalool (LNL) were investigated. Inclusion complexes were prepared by the kneading method. Both complexes presented 1:1 host:guest stoichiometry and the highest affinity constants were observed at 20 °C for both molecules. The nanoparticles containing carvacrol and linalool had mean diameters of 175.2 and 245.8 nm, respectively and high encapsulation efficiencies (<90%) were achieved for both compounds. Biological assays with mites (Tetranychus urticae) showed that the nanoparticles possessed repellency, acaricidal, and oviposi...

Toxicon, Sep 30, 2003

The immunosuppressive property has been demonstrated for the venom of the Crotalus durissus terri... more The immunosuppressive property has been demonstrated for the venom of the Crotalus durissus terrificus. Using a simple, novel method for obtaining crotapotin and phospholipase A 2 isoforms from venom, it was possible to demonstrate that the addition of crotapotin to cultures of isolated lymphocytes resulted in a significant inhibition of the cellular proliferative response to Concanavalin A. This reduction in blastogenic response of lymphocytes is accompanied by a significant increase in the production of PGE 2 by macrophages. This effect on the innate immune response suggests that this compound may modify the subsequent adaptative immune response.