Formulações nanotecnologicas contendo ácido ferúlico: modelagem in silico, desenvolvimento e avaliação biológica

Abstract

Natural molecules, such as ferulic acid (FA), are increasingly under investigation due to their properties, including antioxidant, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, photoprotective, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, antiviral, and anticarcinogenic effects. However, the pharmaceutical potential of FA is hindered by its low solubility, limited oral bioavailability, and susceptibility to oxidation, posing challenges for clinical application. To overcome these, nanotechnology has been employed, utilizing nanocarriers to associate FA. In this study, nanotechnological pharmaceutical forms were developed for both oral (solid) and topical (semisolid) administration containing FA. Thus, gels with different gelling agents from a FA nanoemulsion were developed through classical molecular dynamics simulation. Additionally, were produced and characterized powders, granules, and tablets from FA-loaded nanocapsules (0.5 mg/mL) optimized by our research group. The nanoemulsions containing 1.5 mg/mL and medium-chain triglyceride as oily core, demonstrated the best results in terms of characterization and stability, exhibiting antioxidant effects and controlled, prolonged release. The nanocapsules showed stability for 30 days and improved motor symptoms in rats with haloperidol-induced parkinsonism. Both nanocarriers exhibited photoprotective effects, displaying second-order reaction kinetics and a longer half-life compared to the FA solution. The solid preparations, especially lyophilized forms, maintained physical-chemical stability for 12 months, while the gels showed stability for 3 months, highlighting the viability of these innovative pharmaceutical forms. These promising results indicate viable technological strategies for the therapeutic application of FA. The continuation of pre-clinical studies for these pharmaceutical forms is crucial, considering their potential future as adjuvant or preventive therapy in various diseases associated with inflammation, oxidation, neurodegeneration and aging.