Antibiotics (Dec 2020)

Poly-ε-caprolactone Nanoparticles Loaded with 4-Nerolidylcatechol (4-NC) for Growth Inhibition of <i>Microsporum canis</i>

  • Vanessa Raquel Greatti,
  • Fernando Oda,
  • Rodrigo Sorrechia,
  • Bárbara Regina Kapp,
  • Carolina Manzato Seraphim,
  • Ana Carolina Villas Bôas Weckwerth,
  • Marlus Chorilli,
  • Patrícia Bento Da Silva,
  • Josimar O. Eloy,
  • Marcelo J. Kogan,
  • Javier O. Morales,
  • Rosemeire Cristina Linhari Rodrigues Pietro

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9120894
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 12
p. 894

Abstract

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Dermatophyte fungal infections are difficult to treat because they need long-term treatments. 4-Nerolidylcatechol (4-NC) is a compound found in Piper umbellatum that has been reported to demonstrate significant antifungal activity, but is easily oxidizable. Due to this characteristic, the incorporation in nanostructured systems represents a strategy to guarantee the compound’s stability compared to the isolated form and the possibility of improving antifungal activity. The objective of this study was to incorporate 4-NC into polymeric nanoparticles to evaluate, in vitro and in vivo, the growth inhibition of Microsporum canis. 4-NC was isolated from fresh leaves of P. umbellatum, and polymer nanoparticles of polycaprolactone were developed by nanoprecipitation using a 1:5 weight ratio (drug:polymer). Nanoparticles exhibited excellent encapsulation efficiency, and the antifungal activity was observed in nanoparticles with 4-NC incorporated. Polymeric nanoparticles can be a strategy employed for decreased cytotoxicity, increasing the stability and solubility of substances, as well as improving the efficacy of 4-NC.

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