Skin Regenerative Potential of Cupuaçu Seed Extract (<i>Theobroma grandiflorum</i>), a Native Fruit from the Amazon: Development of a Topical Formulation Based on Chitosan-Coated Nanocapsules
Geisa Nascimento Barbalho,
Breno Noronha Matos,
Gabriel Ferreira da Silva Brito,
Thamires da Cunha Miranda,
Thuany Alencar-Silva,
Fernando Fabriz Sodré,
Guilherme Martins Gelfuso,
Marcilio Cunha-Filho,
Juliana Lott Carvalho,
Joyce Kelly do Rosário da Silva,
Taís Gratieri
Affiliations
Geisa Nascimento Barbalho
Laboratory of Food, Drugs and Cosmetics (LTMAC), University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil
Breno Noronha Matos
Laboratory of Food, Drugs and Cosmetics (LTMAC), University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil
Gabriel Ferreira da Silva Brito
Laboratory of Automation, Chemometrics and Environmental Chemistry, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil
Thamires da Cunha Miranda
Laboratory of Food, Drugs and Cosmetics (LTMAC), University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil
Thuany Alencar-Silva
Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology Program, Catholic University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70790-160, DF, Brazil
Fernando Fabriz Sodré
Laboratory of Automation, Chemometrics and Environmental Chemistry, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil
Guilherme Martins Gelfuso
Laboratory of Food, Drugs and Cosmetics (LTMAC), University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil
Marcilio Cunha-Filho
Laboratory of Food, Drugs and Cosmetics (LTMAC), University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil
Juliana Lott Carvalho
Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology Program, Catholic University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70790-160, DF, Brazil
Joyce Kelly do Rosário da Silva
Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
Taís Gratieri
Laboratory of Food, Drugs and Cosmetics (LTMAC), University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil
Scarless skin regeneration is a challenge in regenerative medicine. Herein, we explore the regenerative potential of a Cupuaçu seed extract (Theobroma grandiflorum) to develop an innovative skin regeneration formulation based on chitosan-coated nanocapsules. Cupuaçu seed extract significantly stimulated cell proliferation and migration. A reparative gene expression profile could be verified following extract treatment, which included high levels of MKI67, a cellular proliferation marker, and extracellular matrix genes, such as ELN and HAS2, which code for elastin and hyaluronic acid synthase 2. Formulations with Cupuaçu seed extract successfully entrapped into nanocapsules (EE% > 94%) were developed. Uncoated or coated nanocapsules with low-molecular-weight chitosan presented unimodal size distribution with hydrodynamic diameters of 278.3 ± 5.0 nm (PDI = 0.18 ± 0.02) and 337.2 ± 2.1 nm (PDI = 0.27 ± 0.01), respectively. Both nanosystems were physically stable for at least 120 days and showed to be non-irritating to reconstructed human epidermis. Chitosan coating promoted active penetration into undamaged skin areas, which were still covered by the stratum corneum. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated for the first time the biotechnological potential of the frequently discarded Cupuaçu seed as a valuable pharmaceutical ingredient to be used in regenerative skin products.
