Inclusion Complex between Local Anesthetic/2-hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin in Stealth Liposome.

The drugs delivery system in the treatment of diseases has advantages such as reduced toxicity, increased availability of the drug, etc. Therefore, studies of the supramolecular interactions between local anesthetics (LAs) butamben (BTB) or ropivacaine (RVC) complexed with 2-hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin (HP-ßCD) and carried in Stealth liposomal (SL) are performed. 1H-NMR nuclear magnetic resonance (DOSY and STD) were used as the main tools. The displacements observed in the 1H-NMR presented the complexion between LAs and HP-ßCD. The diffusion coefficients of free BTB and RVC were 7.70 × 10-10 m2 s-1 and 4.07 × 10-10 m2 s-1, and in the complex with HP-ßCD were 1.90 × 10-10 m2 s-1 and 3.64 × 10-10 m2 s-1, respectively, which indicate a strong interaction between the BTB molecule and HP-ßCD (98.3% molar fraction and Ka = 72.279 L/mol). With STD-NMR, the encapsulation of the BTB/HP-ßCD and RVC/HP-ßCD in SL vesicles was proven. Beyond the saturation transfer to the LAs, there is the magnetization transfer to the hydrogens of HP-ßCD. BTB and RVC have already been studied in normal liposome systems; however, little is known of their behavior in SL.

Antiproliferative activity and energy calculations of a new triterpene isolated from the palm tree Acrocomia totai.

Acrocomia totai Mart (Arecaceae) is a palm tree native to South America, widely studied for biodiesel production. The aim of this work was to perform the first phytochemical study of A. totai leaves, as well as to do biological assays against human cancer cell lines. A new triterpene of the hopane class named totaiol (1), three known triterpenes (2-4), and two phytosteroids (5-6) were identified. The new natural product was characterized using 1 D and 2 D NMR, single crystal X-ray diffraction analises, and high resolution mass spectrometry. The intercontacts in the crystal packing were also analised. Complete stereochemical characterization of compound 1 revealed an unusual positioning pattern for methyl and isopropenyl groups in the polycyclic skeleton. Compounds 1-5 were evaluated for the first time in antiproliferative assays against Ca Ski, MCF-7 and MCF-10 cells. The new natural product was active against Ca Ski cells with IC50 ≤ 6.25 µg mL-1.

The ability of farnesol to prevent adhesion and disrupt Fusarium keratoplasticum biofilm.

A biofilm is represented by a community of microorganisms capable of adhering to a surface and producing substances that envelop the cells, forming an extracellular matrix. The extracellular matrix is responsible for protecting microorganisms against environmental stress, hosts the immune system and confers resistance to antimicrobials. Fusarium keratoplasticum is a common species of FSSC (Fusarium solani species complex) associated with human infections, being the most prevalent species related to biofilm formation in hospital water systems and internal pipelines. With this in mind, this study aimed to characterise the biofilm formed by the fungus F. keratoplasticum and to evaluate the effects of farnesol, a fungal quorum sensing (QS) molecule, on the preformed biofilm and also during its formation at different times (adhesion and 24, 48 and 72 h). F. keratoplasticum is able to adhere to an abiotic surface and form a dense biofilm in 72 h, with increased total biomass and matrix modulation with the presence of extracellular DNA, RNA, polysaccharides and proteins. Farnesol exhibited important anti-biofilm activity, causing the destruction of hyphae and the extracellular matrix in preformed biofilm and preventing the adhesion of conidia, filamentation and the formation of biofilm. Few studies have characterised the formation of biofilm by filamentous fungi. Our findings suggest that farnesol acts efficiently on F. keratoplasticum biofilm since this molecule is capable of breaking the extracellular matrix, thereby disarranging the biofilm.