Abstract Monteverdia ilicifolia (Mart. ex Reissek) Biral (basionym: Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reissek) (Celastraceae) is popularly known as holy thorn or “espinheira-santa” in Brazil. This herb is traditionally used for gastric and digestive problems. However, similar species are often used as adulterants. Considering the pharmacological interest and the existence of adulterants, this study was devoted to characterizing M. ilicifolia samples by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy coupled with principal component analysis (PCA) and photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) by using Citronella gongonha (Mart.) R. A. Howard as adulterant sample. Six commercial samples were purchased, and seven collected samples were obtained in the Campos Gerais region. The leaves were then dehydrated and converted to powder. The FTIR spectroscopic assay was carried out and consisted of ten different measurements for each sample with a time interval of seven days between them. The PCA was performed from these spectra. The characterization by FTIR demonstrated the presence of tannins and flavonoids in the studied samples. FTIR spectroscopy coupled with PCA was able to discriminate the commercial and the collected samples of M. ilicifolia using three principal components. The photoacoustic spectroscopy resulted in absorption bands centered at ~280, ~380, ~480, and ~630 nm. These bands presented a higher spectral resolution for the collected samples. The commercial samples showed broadening bands, which allowed the differentiation between these two sets of samples. FTIR spectroscopy coupled with PCA, and photoacoustic spectroscopy are alternative tools for the differentiation of M. ilicifolia samples.

Abstract Eugenol is a phenolic compound with numerous biological activities. It is widely used in dentistry to treat toothache and pulpitis. In particular, eugenol may be used for tooth whitening procedures to minimize dental sensitivity in patients. However, eugenol has some disadvantages such as its volatility, its photosensitivity, and immediate effect, which can be avoided by using pharmaceutical nanotechnology. The aim of the present study was to obtain, characterize, quantify, and evaluate the physicochemical stability of eugenol-loaded Eudragit RS100 nanocapsules. The nanocapsules (NCs) were prepared by interfacial deposition of the preformed polymer method. The NCs were characterized through morphological and spectroscopic studies. The encapsulation efficiency was achieved by quantifying the non-encapsulated eugenol using a previously developed and validated analytical method. The physicochemical stability of NCs was assessed at predetermined time intervals for 90 days after preparation. The nanocapsules were successfully prepared by the chosen method and had a predominantly spherical shape with a smooth surface. The mean size, the polydispersion index, and the zeta potential were in agreement to literature data. Infrared spectra ensured that the nanoencapsulation process did not result in chemical reactions between the drug and the polymer. The formulations showed encapsulation efficiency higher than 90% and remained stable after 60 days of preparation. Thus, eugenol-loaded Eudragit RS100 nanocapsules may be further considered as an alternative formulation for dental sensitivity in order to provide a controlled release, a decreased toxicity, and a better dental sensitivity relief.

Abstract Hydroxytyrosol (HT) is a natural phenolic compound found in leaves of olive trees. It is a photosensitive solid phytochemical constituent and an irritant substance to skin and mucosa as pure drug. HT is a lipophilic chemical constituent and shows low solubility in water, bitter taste, and instability to oxidizing atmosphere. Considering the limitations for its suitable therapeutic use, the aim of the present study was to obtain, to characterize, to quantify, and to evaluate the stability of HT-loaded poly(ԑ-caprolactone) nanocapsules for its further use in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products. Nanocapsules were prepared by method of interfacial deposition of the preformed polymer. The formulations were characterized by morphological and spectroscopic methods. The UHPLC-PDA analytical method was developed and validated for quantifying the HT encapsulation. Physicochemical stability assay was performed for 120 days. Nanocapsules were successfully obtained by the proposed method. The morphological evaluation demonstrated the drug absence in the nanocapsule surface. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy demonstrated the drug nanoencapsulation. The analytical method was validated and confirmed a high HT encapsulation efficiency over 95%. Considering the physicochemical stability testing, the polydispersity index changed after 30 days for NC-2 (HT at 2 mg/mL) and after 90 days for NC-5 (HT at 5 mg/mL). Zeta potential changed after 60 days for both formulations (NC-2 and NC-5). pH values were modified after 60 days for NC-5 and after 90 days for NC-2. HT-loaded PCL nanocapsules demonstrate adequate physicochemical features and high drug encapsulation. The different formulations revealed stability changes from 30 to 90 days. Additional in vitro and in vivo evaluations may be performed in order to use these nanoformulations for treating several diseases based on oxidative-inflammatory environments.

Abstract Silsesquioxane 3-n-propylpyridinium chloride (SiPy+Cl-) is a water-soluble polymer that can be used as a promising material with remarkable biological effects. SiPy+Cl- can form thin films on substrate surfaces and shows suitable adhesiveness. Besides, it has high affinity for metal ions. Considering this effect as exchanger polymer and the well-known antimicrobial and cytotoxic features of copper, the aim of this study was to perform the copper functionalization of silsesquioxane 3-n-propylpyridinium chloride Cu-SiPy+Cl-. The SiPy+Cl- was obtained by the sol-gel processing method and the incorporation of copper (II) chloride was carried out by immobilization. Its characterization was performed by spectroscopic methods of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The FTIR spectrum of SiPy+Cl- showed symmetric and asymmetric stretching of Si-O-Si group and also exhibited vibrational bands of pyridinium ring. The FTIR spectrum of Cu-SiPy+Cl- assigned typical bands displacements of the metal coordination to nitrogen atoms. Spectroscopic data recorded by 13C and 29S NMR confirmed the chemical structures of SiPy+Cl- and Cu-SiPy+Cl-. Concerning to the in vitro susceptibility assay, the antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Streptococus mutans was achieved by the agar-well diffusion method. Cu-SiPy+Cl- showed similar cytotoxicity than SiPy+Cl- against Calu-3 and 3T3 cell lines by the MTT colorimetric assay. Further studies are required to investigate the use of Cu-SiPy+Cl- as a novel dental material.

RESUMO Objetivos: analisar os critérios diagnósticos da Pneumonia Associada à Ventilação Mecânica recomendados pela Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária e pela National Healthcare Safety Network/CDC, bem como os fatores de risco. Métodos: estudo de coorte retrospectivo realizado em uma Unidade de Terapia Intensiva, no período de 12 meses, no ano de 2017. A análise foi realizada por meio de testes estatísticos Qui-Quadrado, regressão linear simples e teste de Kappa, pelo programa STATA 12. Resultados: a amostra constitui-se de 543 pacientes hospitalizados na UTI em ventilação mecânica, destes, 330 (60,9%) eram do sexo masculino e 213 (39,1%) eram do sexo feminino. As variáveis, como sexo, idade, tempo de ventilação e higiene oral, foram significativas como fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento da Pneumonia Associada à Ventilação Mecânica (PAV). Conclusões: os pacientes em uso da ventilação mecânica necessitam de constante avaliação para acurácia dos métodos de diagnósticos, de forma objetiva e padronizada, nas instituições hospitalares brasileiras.

ABSTRACT Objectives: to analyze the diagnostic criteria for ventilator-associated pneumonia recommended by the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency and the National Healthcare Safety Network/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as its risk factors. Methods: retrospective cohort study carried out in an intensive care unit throughout 12 months, in 2017. Analyses included chi-square, simple linear regression, and Kappa statistical tests and were conducted using Stata 12 software. Results: the sample was 543 patients who were in the intensive care unit and under mechanical ventilation, of whom 330 (60.9%) were men and 213 (39.1%) were women. Variables such as gender, age, time under mechanical ventilation, and oral hygiene proved to be significant risk factors for the development of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Conclusions: patients submitted to mechanical ventilation need to be constantly evaluated so the used diagnostic methods can be accurate and applied in an objective and standardized way in Brazilian hospitals.

RESUMEN Objetivos: analizar los criterios diagnósticos de neumonía asociada la ventilación mecánica recomendados por la Agencia Nacional de Vigilancia Sanitaria y la National Health Care Safety Network/CDC, así como los factores de riesgo. Métodos: estudio de cohorte retrospectivo realizado en una unidad de terapia intensiva durante 12 meses, en 2017. El análisis se realizó mediante pruebas estadísticas de Chi-cuadrado, regresión lineal simple y test de Kappa, utilizando el programa STATA 12. Resultados: muestra constituida por 543 pacientes hospitalizados en UTI con ventilación mecánica, de ellos 330 (60,9%) eran de sexo masculino, y 213 (39,1%) de sexo femenino. Las variables como sexo, edad, tiempo de ventilación e higiene oral fueron significativas como factores de riesgo para el desarrollo de la NAV. Conclusiones: los pacientes en uso de ventilación mecánica requieren evaluación constante de precisión en los métodos de diagnóstico de manera objetiva y estandarizada en las instituciones hospitalarias brasileñas.

Abstract Curcumin (CUR) shows potential use for treating cancer. However, CUR has low solubility and reduced bioavailability, which limit its clinical effect. Therefore, the development of nanocarriers can overcome these problems and can ensure the desired pharmacological effect. In addition, it is mandatory to prove the quality, the efficacy, and the safety for a novel nanomedicine to be approved. In that sense, this paper aimed (a) to prepare CUR-loaded polyethylene glycol-poly(ε-caprolactone) nanocapsules; (b) to validate an analytical method by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for quantifying CUR in these nanoformulations; (c) to evaluate the physicochemical stability of these formulations; and to investigate their cytotoxicity on NIH-3T3 mouse fibroblast cells. The HPLC method was specific to CUR in the loaded nanocapsules, linear (r = 0.9994) in a range of 10.0 to 90.0 µg.mL-1 with limits of detection and quantification of 0.160 and 0.480 µg.mL-1, respectively. Precision was demonstrated by a relative standard deviation lower than 5%. Suitable accuracy (102.37 ± 0.92%) was obtained. Values of pH, particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential presented no statistical difference (p > 0.05) for CUR-loaded nanoparticles. No cytotoxicity was observed against NIH-3T3 mouse embryo fibroblast cell line using both the tetrazolium salt and sulforhodamine B assays. In conclusion, a simple and inexpensive HPLC method was validated for the CUR quantification in the suspensions of nanocapsules. The obtained polymeric nanocapsules containing CUR showed suitable results for all the performed assays and can be further investigated as a feasible novel approach for cancer treatment.

ABSTRACT Ferulic acid (FA) is a phenolic compound with well-known antioxidant potential that can be used as a promising anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer molecule. Furthermore, it has been reported to have neuroprotective activity. One of the main problems, which limit its clinical use, is its low bioavailability when administered orally. This limitation can be circumvented by changes in their structure and/or for preparing lipid-based formulations. The aim of this study was to synthesize a derivative of FA, the hexadecyl ferulate (HF). This compound would be more susceptible to pass through blood-brain barrier (BBB) due to its lipophilic character. The HF was obtained by Steglich esterification and yielded 76.77 ± 1.35%. Its structural characterization was performed by spectroscopic methods of Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). FTIR spectrum of HF presented two typical bands of ester group, a C=O ester stretching band at 1725 cm-1 and a C-O stretching band at 1159 cm-1. The 1H and 13C spectral data confirmed the chemical structure of HF. Regarding the 13C NMR spectrum, HF showed a chemical shift at δ 167.39 ppm which corresponded to the carbonyl carbon of the ester group. Concerning the in vitro antioxidant potential, HF had equivalent or improved scavenger activity than FA leading to IC50 values of 0.083 ± 0.009 nmol.mL-1 and 0.027 ± 0.002 nmol.mL-1 in DPPH radical scavenging and ABTS radical cation decolorization assays, respectively. Further studies are required in order to investigate the antioxidant effect of HF in biological media.

ABSTRACT Skin aging causes changes such as wrinkles and flaccidity leading to a large demand for aesthetic procedures, including dermal filling. A key agent in dermal filling is hyaluronic acid (HA), which is a naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan. However, it is a hydrophilic macromolecule that experiences great difficulty in crossing the skin barrier causing most commercial formulations containing it to be injectable, which in turn brings risks since they involve an invasive technique. In that sense, the aim of this study was to develop and characterize nanoparticles obtained from ionic interaction between HA and lysine (Lys) for use as a potential agent of dermal filling for topical application, increasing and improving its applicability and safety. To this end, nanoparticles were obtained by dripping of Lys over HA under magnetic stirring. A nanometric size was confirmed and a suitable surface charge was obtained by zeta potential. Nanoparticles were almost spherical in shape with a smooth surface. Interaction between raw materials for preparing nanoparticles was studied by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy and an ionic interaction was confirmed. These physicochemical features suggest that obtained nanoparticles can be further used as a topical dermal filling.