A carregar...
Projeto de investigação
Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry - Clean Technologies and Processes
Financiador
Autores
Publicações
Understanding intracellular trafficking and anti-inflammatory effects of minocycline chitosan-nanoparticles in human gingival fibroblasts for periodontal disease treatment
Publication . Martin, Victor; Ribeiro, Isabel A. C.; Alves, Marta M.; Gonçalves, Lídia; Almeida, António José; Grenho, Liliana; Fernandes, Maria H.; Santos, Catarina F.; Gomes, Pedro S.; Bettencourt, Ana
Periodontal diseases remain a challenge due to a complex interplay of factors involving a chronic inflammatory activation and bacteria internalization in periodontal cells. In this work, chitosan-nanoparticles loaded with minocycline (MH-NPs), a tetracycline with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects, were developed for in situ delivery in the periodontal milieu aiming to improve drug effectiveness.
A general cytocompatibility evaluation and a detailed approach to address the cellular uptake process, trafficking pathways and the modulation of relevant inflammatory gene expression was conducted using human gingival fibroblasts. Results show that MH-NPs with an adequate cytocompatible profile can be internalized by distinct endocytic processes (macropinocytosis and clathrin-mediated endocytosis). The ability to modulate autophagy with the delivery within the same endosomal/lysosomal pathway as periodontal pathogens was observed, which increases the intracellular drug effectiveness. Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS-stimulated cultures, grown in the presence of MH-NPs, were found to express significantly reduced levels of inflammation-related markers (IL-1b, TNFα, CXCL-8, NFKB1). These nanoparticles can be potentially used in periodontal disease treatment conjoining the ability of intracellular drug targeting with significant anti-inflammatory effects.
Cinnamic acid conjugates in the rescuing and repurposing of classical antimalarial drugs
Publication . Silva, Ana Teresa; Bento, Clara M.; Pena, Ana C; Figueiredo, Luisa M.; Prudêncio, Cristina; Aguiar, Luísa; Silva, Tânia; Ferraz, Ricardo; Gomes, Maria Salomé; Teixeira, Cátia; Gomes, Paula
Cinnamic acids are compounds of natural origin that can be found in many different parts of a wide panoply of plants, where they play the most diverse biological roles, often in a conjugated form. For a long time, this has been driving Medicinal Chemists towards the investigation of the therapeutic potential of natural, semi-synthetic, or fully synthetic cinnamic acid conjugates. These efforts have been steadily disclosing promising drug leads, but a wide chemical space remains that deserves to be further explored. Amongst different reported approaches, the combination or conjugation of cinnamic acids with known drugs has been addressed in an attempt to produce either synergistic or multi-target action. In this connection, the present review will focus on efforts of the past decade regarding conjugation with cinnamic acids as a tool for the rescuing or the repurposing of classical antimalarial drugs, and also on future perspectives in this particular field of research.
Diclidophora luscae (Monogenea: Diclidophoridae) in pouting, Trisopterus luscus (Linnaeus, 1758) from the northeast Atlantic; epidemiology, morphology, molecular and phylogenetic analysis
Publication . Ramos, P.; Varandas, R.; Conceição, I.L.; Grade, A.; Oliveira, M.M.; Alexandre-Pires, G.; Rosa, F.
Diclidophora (Monogenea) species are gill parasites with a stenoxenic specificity occurring only in Gadiformes. Epidemiological,
morphological, molecular and phylogenetic studies were performed on 594 Diclidophora specimens collected from 213
Trisopterus luscus captured in the northeast Atlantic off the Portuguese coast during 2012, 2013 and 2020. Prevalence, parasite
abundance and infection intensity were determined. Positive correlation between fish weight and length and infection intensity
was observed. The effects of preservation on the parasite morphological features were studied, highlighting that specimen’s
identification should be reinforced by molecular studies. A sequence of D. luscae capelanii from T. capelanus captured in the
Mediterranean Sea included in the 28S rDNA molecular analysis was nested within a robust D. luscae clade. Data analysis suggested
that this species is in fact D. luscae, which is compatible with T. luscus and T. capelanus. The identity of fish hosts was
confirmed by barcoding. For the first time, data on the infection parameters is shown, highlighting the importance of including
this parasite in the monitoring plans for a holistic approach with possible effects for the management of pouting resources aiming
of attaining sustainable development and biodiversity conservation measures, according to the 14th objective of the 2030 agenda
Fragaria vesca L. Extract: A Promising Cosmetic Ingredient with Antioxidant Properties
Publication . Couto, Joana; Figueirinha, Artur; Batista, Maria Teresa; Paranhos, António; Nunes, Carla; Gonçalves, Lídia; Marto, Joana; Fitas, Manuel; Pinto, Pedro; Ribeiro, Helena Margarida; Pina, Maria Eugénia
Fragaria vesca L. (F. vesca), popularly known as wild strawberry, is a plant from the Rosaceae family, found in temperate and subtropical areas of the northern hemisphere. F. vesca leaves have been shown to have antiseptic, emollient, and dermatological protection properties, due to the presence of bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, ellagitannins, and proanthocyanidins. In this study, a F. vesca extract was obtained by an optimized extraction process, and was characterized by HPLC, ROS scavenging activity, cytotoxicity assays in HaCaT cells, and tyrosinase inhibitory activity determination. The most active extract was then incorporated in a hydrogel with hydroxyethylcellulose at 2% (w/w), which was characterized at the physicochemical, stability, cytotoxicity, and ROS scavenging activity levels to evaluate its quality, safety, and efficacy. In vivo studies, human repeat insult patch testing, and an assay to determine their antioxidant efficacy, were also performed. The results showed that the Fragaria vesca extracts had antioxidant activity and that the F. vesca extract-based hydrogel exhibited cutaneous compatibility, acceptability and antioxidant efficacy, being stable, and suitable for topical application.
Unidades organizacionais
Descrição
Palavras-chave
Contribuidores
Financiadores
Entidade financiadora
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Programa de financiamento
6817 - DCRRNI ID
Número da atribuição
UID/QUI/50006/2019