Desenvolvimento e caracterização físico, química e biológica in vitro de nanopartículas polimericas contendo α-β Amirina

Abstract

Triterpenes are a group of metabolites having some important pharmacological effects like liver protective, anxiolytic, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic effects, and lipid-lowering, among others. The α and β amyrin are triterpenes showing several pharmacological use in vitro and in vivo, but its low aqueous solubility have been shown to be limiting in oral administration. The objective of this work was to develop α-β-amyrin loaded- nanoparticles as a probable route for its use in therapy, which could avoid or diminish the pharmacokinetic problems mentioned above. First, the isomeric mixture of amyrins was isolated and purified using a chromatographic column. Second, the mixture was characterized by physicochemical methods (RX, FTIR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR, MEV). Third, the nanoparticles were prepared by the emulsification-solvent diffusion method, using three different polymers (Eudragit E100, Poly-ɛ-caprolactone, and Kollicoat Mae100P), and two surfactants (Tween 80®, in the aqueous phase and Span 20®, in the organic phase). Nanoparticles were characterized by measuring the particle size, particle size distribution, potential zeta, conductivity and the encapsulation efficiency, of the preparation process. An HPLC method was validated for the quantification of amyrins in the purified material and in nanoparticles. A shelf life stability study of nanoparticles main properties was carried out. Finally, the antioxidant properties (DPPH and ABTS), the ability to inhibit pancreatic lipase and alpha-glucosidase enzymes, as well as relative cytotoxicity in human lung non-neoplastic fibroblast were evaluated. A mixture of α-β amyrin was extracted and purified with a yield of 28%. The isomeric mixture is a white, light and fine needle product (as observed by MEV). Analyzes of RX, FTIR, 1H NMR and 13C-NMR confirmed the presence of amyrin. A 99% of purity evaluated by an HPLC analytical method was confirmed. Nanoparticles showed a particle size of 128.80 nm, polydispersity 0.107, zeta potential -35.63 mV, and a conductivity of 0.149 μΩ.cm-1. Nanoparticles presented an excellent physicochemical shelf stability up to 90 days after preparation. Both the pure amyrin and the amyrin nanoparticles showed poor antioxidant activity against DPPH and ABTS radicals. The pure amyrin showed a low inhibitory effect of the pancreatic lipase and α-glucosidase enzymes. On the contrary, amyrin nanoparticles showed an excellent pancreatic lipase inhibitory effect (IC50 15.40 μg / mL) and α-glycosidase (IC50 44.40 μg / mL). Both products (amyrin and amyrin nanoparticles) showed no activity on the cellular viability of non-neoplastic human lung fibroblasts, showing the absence of cytotoxicity in this cell line. The results obtained suggest that amyrin-loaded nanoparticles are a viable alternative for their use as adjuvants on the diabetes treatment, and in diabetic patients with secondary complications such as obesity. However other studies should be conducted to prove the real functionality of nanoparticles in these health conditions.