INTRODUÇÃO: Sistemas nanométricos carreadores de fármacos, ao alcançarem a circulação sanguínea, se concentram em seus sítios de ação (\"drug-targeting\"), evitando tecidos saudáveis. O diâmetro médio e a polidispersidade de nanopartículas são parâmetros relevantes, pois podem influenciar no percurso pelo fluxo sanguíneo da partícula e na interação celular. A LDE, uma nanopartícula lipídica que mimetiza a lipoproteína de baixa densidade (LDL), é capaz de carrear fármacos como o quimioterápico paclitaxel para tecidos com alta taxa de proliferação celular, como por exemplo, lesões ateroscleróticas e tecidos neoplásicos. Assim, é relevante investigar a influência de diferentes tamanhos da LDE na captação celular e na eficácia terapêutica em aterosclerose experimental. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a influência de duas faixas de tamanhos da nanopartícula lipídica carreadora do quimioterápico paclitaxel (LDE-paclitaxel), na captação celular e na resposta terapêutica do tratamento da aterosclerose em coelhos submetidos à dieta rica em colesterol. MÉTODOS: A associação LDE-paclitaxel foi preparada por emulsificação por alta pressão. A separação da LDE-paclitaxel original em LDE-paclitaxel grande e LDE-paclitaxel pequena foi feita por ultracentrifugação por gradientes de densidade. Nos estudos com células endoteliais HUVEC foram avaliados citotoxicidade, internalização celular e detecção de apoptose/necrose. Para estudo em animal, foram utilizados coelhos New Zealand machos, com aterosclerose induzida por dieta, divididos em dois grupos: LDE-paclitaxel-grande (n=9) e LDE-paclitaxel-pequena (n=10). O tratamento com LDE-paclitaxel foi iniciado após 4 semanas da dieta. Aortas dos coelhos foram coletadas para análise macro e microscópica das lesões ateroscleróticas. RESULTADOS: A LDE-paclitaxel original foi caracterizada com diâmetro médio de 75nm; após a ultracentrifugação, a LDE-paclitaxel grande apresentou diâmetro médio de 83nm e a LDE-paclitaxel pequena de 40nm. Os ensaios de citotoxicidade mostraram que, após incubação por 24 horas, a LDE-paclitaxel pequena alcançou o IC50 com menor concentração que a LDE-paclitaxel grande. No ensaio de internalização, a LDE-paclitaxel pequena foi internalizada em menores concentrações e em menor tempo em comparação com as partículas da LDE-paclitaxel original ou LDE-paclitaxel grande. Nos ensaios para detecção de apoptose/necrose, LDE-paclitaxel, independentemente do tamanho, aumentou a porcentagem de células necróticas. A LDE-paclitaxel pequena também aumentou a percentagem de células apoptóticas, em comparação às outras partículas. No estudo in vivo, não houve diferença entre os tratamentos LDE-paclitaxel grande e LDEpaclitaxel pequena: a razão área de lesão/área total foi igual entre os grupos, assim como a quantificação de macrófagos e de células de músculo liso na íntima das aortas. CONCLUSÃO: O tamanho da LDE, apesar de ser um relevante parâmetro físico-químico, não influenciou no efeito antiaterosclerótico da associação LDE-paclitaxel. Portanto, em relação ao tamanho das partículas, a LDE-paclitaxel original, que possui ambas as populações, é eficienteno tratamento da aterosclerose experimental induzida por dieta rica em colesterol / INTRODUCTION: As nanometric drug carriers enter the blood circulation, they concentrate on their action sites, avoiding healthy tissue. The average diameter and polydispersity of nanoparticles are relevant parameters because they have influence on the particles course through the blood flow and on cell interaction. LDE, a lipid nanoparticle that mimics low-density lipoprotein (LDL), is capable of carrying chemotherapeutic drugs such as paclitaxel, for tissues with a high rate of cell proliferation, such as atherosclerotic lesions. Thus, it is important to investigate the influence of different sizes in the cellular uptake of LDE and therapeutic efficacy in experimental atherosclerosis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of two size ranges of the lipid nanoparticle carrier of the chemotherapeutic drug paclitaxel (LDE-paclitaxel) in cellular uptake and therapeutic response in experimental atherosclerosis. METHODS: LDEpaclitaxel was prepared by emulsification by high energy. The separation of original-LDE-paclitaxel in large-LDE-paclitaxel particles and small-LDEpaclitaxel particles was performed by ultracentrifugation by density gradients. In studies with HUVEC endothelial cells, cytotoxicity, cell internalization and detection of apoptosis/necrosis were assessed. In in vivo study, New Zealand male rabbits, with atherosclerosis induced by cholesterol-rich diet, were divided into two groups: large-LDE-paclitaxel (n=9) and small-LDE-paclitaxel (n=10). Treatment with LDE-paclitaxel started after 4 weeks of diet. Aortas of the rabbits were collected for macroscopic and microscopic analysis of atherosclerotic lesions. RESULTS: The original-LDE-paclitaxel was characterized with an average diameter of 75nm. After ultracentrifugation, the large-LDE-paclitaxel showed average diameter of 83nm and small-LDE-paclitaxel 40nm. The cytotoxicity assay showed that, after incubation for 24 hours, small-LDE paclitaxel reached the IC50 in lower concentration than large-LDE paclitaxel. In internalization assays, small-LDE-paclitaxel was internalized in lower concentrations and shorter time as compared with the original and large particles. LDE-paclitaxel, independently of particle size, increased the percentage of necrotic cells. Small-LDE-paclitaxel was also able to increase the percentage of apoptotic cellsas compared with the original and large particles. In experimental study, there was no difference between large-LDE-paclitaxel and small-LDE-paclitaxel treatment: lesion area / total area ratio was similar between groups as well as the quantification of macrophages and smooth muscle cells of the intima of aortas.CONCLUSION: The size of the LDE, although an important physicochemical parameter, did not influence the antiatherosclerotic effect of LDE-paclitaxel. Therefore, with respect to particle size, the original-LDE-paclitaxel that has both populations is efficient to treat experimental atherosclerosis induced by a cholesterol-rich diet

Submitted by Luanna Matias (lua_matias@yahoo.com.br) on 2015-03-25T16:19:05Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Lívia Palmerston Mendes - 2012.pdf: 4748282 bytes, checksum: 95e0ba08ba139d722a516556a62d965e (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luanna Matias (lua_matias@yahoo.com.br) on 2015-03-26T12:41:01Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Lívia Palmerston Mendes - 2012.pdf: 4748282 bytes, checksum: 95e0ba08ba139d722a516556a62d965e (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T12:41:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Lívia Palmerston Mendes - 2012.pdf: 4748282 bytes, checksum: 95e0ba08ba139d722a516556a62d965e (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-09-20 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Nanostructured polymeric and lipid systems are capable of improving therapeutic index of encapsulated drugs, especially when it comes to antitumor drugs. In this work, co-encapsulation of paclitaxel (PTX) and genistein (GEN) was obtained by developing a multilayered nanocarrier for controlled release of drugs. Nanocapsules (NC) encapsulating PTX were obtained by interfacial deposition of preformed polymer method. They were further coated with a phospholipid bilayer entrapping GEN and their physical-chemical properties were characterized. Coated nanoparticles presented an entrapment efficiency of about 98% for both drugs. Particles were in the range of 150 nm and showed a monomodal distribution. Multiple light scattering analyses presented an increase of only 2% of the backscattering profile both in the top and in the bottom of the sample, indicating a slight sedimentation and creaming behaviors, both reversible phenomena. In vitro drug release showed that GEN was completely released within 48 hours, whereas in that same period, less than 10% of PTX was released and reached almost 70% after 60 days of analysis. The results suggest that we have developed a biodegradable device for a sustained release of GEN and PTX in different stages. In vivo antitumor activity assays with Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT) bearing mice evaluated intra-tumoral administration of the developed formulation in three different concentrations of PTX in the presence or absence of GEN. Results presented more than 90% tumor inhibition in EAT-bearing mice compared to the control group when a dose of nanostructured PTX about 5 times lower than the equivalent dose used in conventional chemotherapy was used. When a low dose of PTX (0.2 mg/kg/day) was used in the treatment, 11% tumor inhibition was achieved, but when associated with a dose of 12 mg/kg/day of GEN, there was 44% tumor inhibition and a decrease of about 58% in VEGF levels compared to animals treated with blank nanoparticles. The antiangiogenic effect of GEN was evident when associated with PTX, inhibiting formation of new vascular network formed by tortuous and congested vessels in peritoneal region of mice when compared with groups treated only with PTX. Co-encapsulation of GEN and PTX in a controlled-release multicompartimental nanosystem promoted additive effect of antiangiogenic activity associated with antitumor effect, intending to be a formulation with high potential for anticancer treatment. / Sistemas poliméricos e lipídicos nanoestruturados são capazes de melhorar o índice terapêutico dos fármacos encapsulados, principalmente quando se trata de fármacos antitumorais. Neste trabalho a co-encapsulação do paclitaxel (PTX) e da genisteína (GEN) foi obtida através do desenvolvimento de nanocápsulas poliméricas (NC) recobertas por bicamada lipídica para a liberação controlada desses fármacos. NC contendo PTX encapsulado foram obtidas através do método de deposição interfacial do polímero pré-formado. Em seguida, as NC foram recobertas por bicamada lipídica contendo GEN e suas propriedades físicoquímicas foram caracterizadas. As NC recobertas mostraram eficiência de encapsulação de aproximadamente 98% para ambos os fármacos, apresentandose na faixa de 150 nm, com distribuição monomodal. Análise das NC recobertas por multiple light scattering a 25 °C por 24 horas apresentou aumento de apenas 2% no perfil de backscattering tanto no topo quanto no fundo da amostra, indicando sutil sedimentação e cremagem, ambos fenômenos reversíveis. A cinética de liberação in vitro mostrou que a GEN foi completamente liberada nas primeiras 48 horas, enquanto que nesse mesmo período, menos de 10% do PTX foi liberado, atingindo 70% de liberação após 60 dias de análise. Esses resultados demonstram a obtenção de um dispositivo biodegradável para liberação controlada de GEN e PTX em diferentes estágios. Nos ensaios de atividade antitumoral in vivo em camundongos portadores do tumor ascítico de Ehrlich, foi avaliada a administração intra-tumoral da formulação desenvolvida com 3 concentrações diferentes de PTX na presença ou ausência de GEN. A inibição de mais de 90% do tumor comparada a um grupo controle foi alcançada com uma dose de PTX cerca de 5 vezes menor que a dose equivalente utilizada na quimioterapia convencional com PTX. Quando uma baixa dose de PTX (0,2 mg/kg/dia) foi usado para o tratamento, foi obtida uma inibição tumoral de 11%, mas, quando associada a uma dose de 12 mg/kg/dia de GEN, houve 44% de inibição do tumor e uma diminuição de cerca de 58% nos níveis do fator de crescimento vascular endotelial (VEGF) em comparação com animais tratados com nanopartículas sem fármaco. O efeito antiangiogênico da GEN foi evidente quando associada ao PTX, inibindo a formação de nova rede vascular formada por vasos tortuosos e congestos na região peritoneal quando em comparação com grupos tratados apenas com PTX. A co-encapsulação de GEN e PTX em um nanosistema multicompartimental de liberação controlada promoveu efeito combinado da atividade antiangiogênica aliada à atividade antitumoral, mostrando-se uma formulação com grande potencial para tratamento antineoplásico.

Introdução: A doença vascular do coração transplantado, consiste em um processo inflamatório proliferativo que compromete o sucesso a longo prazo do transplante cardíaco e não há prevenção ou tratamentos efetivos. Uma nanoemulsão lipídica (LDE) pode carregar agentes quimioterápicos na circulação e concentrá-los nos enxertos cardíacos dos coelhos. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar os efeitos do paclitaxel combinado a LDE;do metotrexate combinado ao LDE e a associação de ambos quimioterápicos ao LDE nos corações transplantados. Método: 28 coelhos alimentados com dieta com teor de 0,5% de colesterol e submetidos a transplante cardíaco herotópico foram tratados com ciclosporina (dose 10 mg/kg/ dia por via oral) e alocados em 4 grupos de 7 animais.Um grupo recebeu a associação de Metotrexate e LDE endovenosa (4 mg/kg/semana); segundo grupo recebeu por via endovenosa a combinação de Paclitaxel e LDE; o terceiro grupo recebeu a associação de LDE com metotrexate e paclitaxel; grupo controle que recebeu somente solução salina intravenosa. Os animais foram sacrificados 6 semanas após o procedimento. Foram realizadas análises da morfologia,histologia,imunohistoquímica e análise da expressão gênica do enxerto e dos corações nativos. Resultado: Em comparação com o grupo controle,coelhos transplantados e tratados com paclitaxel associado ao LDE apresentaram redução em 50% de estenose em artérias coronárias. Já nos grupos que usaram metotrexate associado a LDE ou paclitaxel combinado com metotrexate e associado a LDE, houve redução em 18% da estenose coronariana em relação ao grupo controle,mas a diferença não apresentou significância estatística.Nos três grupos tratados, houve redução do infiltrado macrofágico. No grupo que recebeu metotrexate associado a LDE,a expressão gênica de fatores pró-inflamatórios( TNF-alfa; MCP1; IL 18; VCAM-1 e MMP-12) foi reduzida drasticamente; enquanto a expressão de agentes anti-inflamatórios(IL 10 por exemplo) aumentou. Nos outros dois grupos (LDE+paclitaxel e LDE+paclitaxel e metotrexate) não houve influência consistente na expressão de genes pró e anti-inflamatórios. Conclusão: A associação paclitaxel e LDE promoveu melhora importante na vasculopatia dos enxertos.A associação metotrexate e LDE e a metotrexate mais palcitaxel e LDE reduziram a estenose de coronárias porém sem significância estatística. O infiltrado macrofagocítico foi reduzido nos três grupos tratados. Tais resultados podem servir de ponte para novos ensaios clínicos / Background: Coronary allograft vasculopathy is an inflammatory-proliferative process that compromises the long-term success of heart transplantation and currently has no effective prevention and treatment. A lipid nanoemulsion (LDE) can carry chemotherapeutic agentsin the circulation and concentrates them in the heart graft in rabbits. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of paclitaxel (PACLI) binded tire parentesis to LDE, methotrexate (MTX) binded to LDE and the association of both particles in transplanted heart. Methods: Twenty eight rabbits fed 0,5% cholesterol diet and submitted to heterotopic heart transplantation were treated with cyclosporine A (10mg/kg/daily orally) and allocated to four groups of 7 animals. One group was treated with intravenous LDE-MTX (4mg/kg B.W., weekly); a second with LDE-paclitaxel, the third one with association of LDE-PACLI with LDE-MTX and the control group received only weekly intravenous saline solution. Animals were sacrificed 6 weeks later for morphometric, histological, immunohistochemical and gene expression analysis of the graft and native hearts. Results: Compared to controls, grafts of LDE-PACLI treated rabbits showed 50%reduction of coronary stenosis and in the LDE-MTX and LDE-MTX/PACLIstenosiswas around 18% less than control but this difference was not statistically significant. In the 3 treatment groups macrophage infiltration was decreased. In LDE-MTX group, gene expression of pro-inflammatory factors TNF-?, MCP-1, IL-18 and VCAM-1, and MMP-12 was strongly diminished whereas expression of anti-inflammatory IL-10 increased. In the other two treatment, groups (LDE-PACLI and LDE-PACLI/MTX) there was not a consistent influence in pro and anti-inflammatory gene expression. Conclusions: LDE-PACLI promoted strong improvement of the cardiac allograft vasculopathy. LDE- MTX and LDE -MTX/PACLI decreased coronary stenosis but without statistic significance. Macrophage infiltration was decrease in the three treatment groups. This new preparation maybe candidate for future clinical trials

Introdução: A Doença Vascular do Enxerto (DVE), um processo envolvendo fatores de natureza inflamatória e proliferativa, é a principal causa de morte após o Transplante Cardíaco (TxC), com incidência acima de 50 % ao fim do quinto ano. É possível que a intervenção farmacológica nesses fatores possa resultar na inibição da proliferação de células musculares lisas vasculares e melhora da DVE. Neste sentido, em trabalho anterior desta Instituição, o paclitaxel, agente antiproliferativo usado no tratamento do câncer, foi capaz de regredir as lesões ateromatosas em coelhos com aterosclerose induzida por dieta rica em colesterol. Naquele trabalho, o paclitaxel foi concentrado nas lesões utilizando-se uma nanopartícula lipídica, parecida com a lipoproteína de baixa densidade (LDL), mas sem a parte protéica, denominada LDE. Tendo em vista as dificuldades do tratamento da DVE em pacientes e da grande importância dessa doença para o êxito do procedimento, novas alternativas terapêuticas devem ser procuradas, e o uso do paclitaxel associado à LDE pode ser uma rota interessante, tendo em vista que as bases inflamatórias e proliferativas da DVE são semelhantes às da doença cardiovascular aterosclerótica, onde a LDE-paclitaxel mostrou-se eficiente. Objetivos: Verificar se o tratamento com LDE-Paclitaxel reduz a incidência e o grau de DVE de coelhos submetidos a transplante cardíaco heterotópico. Analisar a biodistribuição da LDE em coelhos submetidos a transplante cardíaco heterotópico. Método: TxC heterotópico em posição cervical foi realizado utilizando-se 21 coelhos da raça New Zealand vermelhos como doadores e 21 coelhos brancos como receptores (peso ± 3 kg). Os coelhos receptores receberam dieta com acréscimo de 0,5 % de colesterol e ciclosporina A na dose de 10 mg/kg/dia via oral como imunossupressor. Foram divididos em 2 grupos: um grupo, constituído de 11 animais, foi tratado com LDE-Paclitaxel na dose de 4 mg/kg/semana, durante 6 semanas, por via endovenosa. O outro grupo (controle) compôs-se de 10 animais tratados com 3 mL de solução fisiológica por via endovenosa, semanalmente, durante 6 semanas. A biodistribuição da LDE foi determinada em 4 animais do grupo controle, injetando-se a LDE marcada com éter de colesterol radioativo 24 h antes do sacrifício, seguindose a contagem de radioatividade nos corações e outros tecidos após extração lipídica. Após o sacrifício dos animais, retiraram-se os corações nativo e transplantado para análise histológica com coloração H/E e Verhoeff-van Gieson. A área transversal das artérias coronárias foi estimada pela medida da lamina elástica interna e da área do lúmen. A porcentagem de estenose foi calculada da diferença entre área do lúmen do vaso e a área da lamina elástica interna. Análise estatística com ANOVA e o teste T, com valor p <= 0,05 considerado significante. Resultados: A captação da LDE pelo coração transplantado foi quase 4 vezes maior do que no coração nativo (p<=0,0001). Nos animais tratados com LDE-paclitaxel, houve uma dramática melhora no status das artérias coronárias dos corações transplantados, ocorrendo um acentuado aumento de 3 vezes na área da luz dos vasos (p<=0,031) e de redução da estenose em 45% (p<=0,0008). Conclusões: A LDE é capaz de concentrar-se no coração transplantado, o que possibilita o direcionamento do paclitaxel para o enxerto. O tratamento com LDE-paclitaxel reduziu acentuadamente a DVE, o que pode abrir uma nova perspectiva para o controle da doença vascular do enxerto. / Introduction: Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy (CAV), a process involving factors of inflammatory and proliferative nature, is the leading cause of death after heart transplantation (HT), with incidence above 50% after the fifth year. It is possible that pharmacological intervention on these factors may result in inhibiting the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and improves the CAV. Thus, in previous studies of this institution, paclitaxel, an antiproliferative agent used in cancer treatment, was able to recede the atheromatous lesions in rabbits with atherosclerosis induced by high cholesterol diet. In that study, paclitaxel was concentrated in the lesions using a lipid nanoparticle, similar to low density lipoprotein (LDL) but without the protein part, called LDE. Given the difficulties of the treatment of CAV in HT patients and the great importance of this disease to the success of the procedure, new therapeutic alternatives must be sought, and the use of paclitaxel associated to LDE can be an interesting route, given that the bases inflammatory and proliferation of CAV are similar to those of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, where the LDE-paclitaxel was efficient. Objectives: To determine whether treatment with LDE-paclitaxel reduces the incidence and degree of CAV in rabbits undergoing heterotopic heart transplantation. To analyze the biodistribution of LDE in rabbits undergoing heterotopic heart transplantation. Methods: Heterotopic HT in cervical position was performed using 21 New Zealand red rabbits as donors and 21 white rabbits as recipients (weight ± 3 kg). The receptors rabbits were fed regular chow with added 0.5% cholesterol and with cyclosporine A, 10 mg / kg / day orally as immunosuppressants. They were divided into two groups: one consisting of 11 animals was treated with LDE-paclitaxel at a dose of 4 mg / kg / week for 6 weeks intravenously. The other group (control) was composed of 10 animals treated with 3 ml of saline intravenously weekly for six weeks. The biodistribution of LDE was determined in four control animals, by injecting the LDE labeled with radioactive cholesteryl ether 24 h before sacrifice, followed by radioactivity count in the hearts and other tissues after lipid extraction. After sacrificing the animals, we excised the native and transplanted hearts for histological staining with H / E and Verhoeff-van Gieson. The cross-sectional area of the coronary arteries was estimated by measuring the internal elastic lamina and the lumen area. The percentage of stenosis was calculated from the difference between the area of the vessel lumen and the area of internal elastic lamina. Statistical analysis with ANOVA and T test with p value <= 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The uptake of LDE for the transplanted heart was almost fourfold higher than in the native heart (p<=0.0001). In animals treated with LDE-paclitaxel, there was a dramatic improvement in the status of the coronary arteries of the transplanted hearts, indicating by a marked increase of three times of the vascular lumen area (p<=0.031) and reduction of stenosis in 45% (p<=0.0008). Conclusions: The LDE is able to concentrate on the transplanted heart, which enables the targeting of paclitaxel to the graft. Treatment with LDE-paclitaxel markedly reduced CAV in the transplanted heart, which may open a new perspective for control of Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy.

Em estudos anteriores, mostramos que uma nanoemulsão artificial (NEm) de composição semelhante à da lipoproteína de baixa densidade se liga a receptores de lipoproteínas de baixa densidade após sua injeção na corrente sanguínea. Como tais receptores estão superexpressos em células com altas taxas de proliferação, como ocorre no cancer e na aterosclerose, a NEm pode ser utilizada como veículo para direcionar drogas a estas células, diminuindo sua toxicidade e aumentando sua ação farmacológica. Recentemente, reportamos que a associação de um derivado do agente antiproliferativo paclitaxel, o oleato de paclitaxel (OPTX) à NEm reduziu em 60% a área lesionada de aortas de coelhos submetidos à dieta rica em colesterol. Neste estudo, testamos o efeito sinérgico da terapia combinada do OPTX-NEm com um derivado do metotrexato, o di-dodecil metotrexato (DMTX), também associado à NEm. O MTX, além de sua ação antiproliferativa, também possui propriedades imunossupressoras. Coelhos machos da raça Nova Zelândia foram submetidos à dieta enriquecida com 1% de colesterol durante 8 semanas. A partir da quinta semana de consumo da dieta, 8 animais foram injetados semanalmente com solução salina por via endovenosa (grupo controle) e 8 receberam o tratamento combinado de OPTX-NEm (4mg/Kg) com DMTX-NEm (4mg/Kg), por 4 semanas. Ao final das 8 semanas, os animais foram sacrificados. As aortas dos animais foram retiradas, abertas longitudinalmente, fixadas em formalina tamponada a 10% e coradas com Escarlate R para a análise macroscópica da lesão. Os arcos aórticos foram seccionados em fragmentos de 5mm, embebidos em parafina e os cortes realizados foram corados com hematoxilina-eosina, para a determinação da área das camadas íntima e média. O tratamento combinado de OPTX-NEm com DMTX-NEm reduziu a área das lesões em 82%, em comparação ao grupo controle, e a razão da área da lesão/área total diminuiu de 0,82±0,08 para 0,08±0,06 (p<0,01). Por meio das avaliações da variação do consumo de ração, peso corporal e contagem de leucócitos totais (p>0,05), pode-se afirmar que os tratamentos não apresentaram toxicidade significativa, exceto pela queda na contagem de eritrócitos (p<0,05). Como conclusão, a quimioterapia combinada de OPTX e DMTX associados à NEm como veículo mostrou-se eficaz na redução da área de lesão aterosclerótica em coelhos e a toxicidade relacionada aos fármacos foi nitidamente reduzida. / In previous studies we have shown that an artificial nanoemulsion (NEm) that resemble LDL composition are taken-up by LDL receptors after injection into the bloodstream. As those receptors are upregulated in cells with higher proliferation rates, as occurs in cancer and atherosclerosis, NEm can be used as vehicle to direct drugs against those cells, diminishing toxicity and increasing pharmacological action. Recently, we reported that association of antiproliferative agent paclitaxel derivative, paclitaxel oleate (OPTX) to NEm reduced by 60% the lesion area of cholesterol-fed rabbits. In this study, the combined chemotherapy of OPTX-NEm with a methotrexate derivative, di-dodecil methotrexate (DMTX), also associated with NEm, was tested for synergistic effects. MTX, besides antiproliferative action, has also immunosuppressant properties. Male New Zealand rabbits were fed a 1% cholesterol diet for 60 days. Starting from day 30, 8 animals were treated with 4 weekly I.V. saline solution injections (control group) and 8 with combined OPTX-NEm (4 mg/kg) plus DMTX-NEm (4 mg/kg) for additional 30 days. On day 60, the animals were sacrificed for analysis. Aorta was excised, open longitudinally, placed in 10% buffered formalin and stained in Scarlet R for lesion macroscopic analysis. Segments of 5mm of the aortic arch were embedded in paraffin and sections were taken and stained in hematoxylin-eosin for intima and media area measurement. In comparison with controls, treatment with combined OPTX-NEm plus DMTX-NEm reduced the lesion area by 82% and the lesion/total area ratio was decreased from 0,82±0,08 to 0,08±0,06 (p<0.01). Except for decrease in erythrocyte count (p<0.05), treatments were devoid of significant toxicity, as evaluated by food intake, body weight and leucocyte count (p>0.05). In conclusion, this novel approach consisting in combined chemotherapy of OPTX and DMTX using NEm as a drug-targeting vehicle showed effective lesion area regression in rabbits and marked toxicity reduction.

La voie orale suscite un intérêt pour l'administration des médicaments anticancéreux, qui sont encore administrés essentiellement par voie parentérale. En effet, la biodisponibilité des principes actifs est fortement limitée par leurs propriétés physico-chimiques et des facteurs physiologiques. L'utilisation de systèmes à base de lipides et de nanoparticules polymères peuvent se montrer très performants pour surmonter certaines limitations. L'objectif de ce travail a consisté à développer deux familles de systèmes dispersés pour la voie orale contenant dans leur phase interne de l'huile de copaïba servant de véhicules à des médicaments anticancéreux comme le paclitaxel. Dans la première partie du travail a été consacrée au développement et à la validation de méthodes d’analyses de l’huile de copaiba par chromatographie en phase gaseuse et de dosage du paclitaxel dans l'huile de copaïba. Dans la deuxième partie du travail, des microémulsions d'huile de copaïba/eau ont été formulée en proposant une approche originale basée sur la complémentarité chimique des composés de l'huile et des tensioactifs. Cette approche a permis l'obtention de microémulsion contenant des fractions volumiques importantes de l'huile essentielle de copaïba (19.6%) tout en maintenant les concentrations en tensioactifs faible (13.7%). Du paclitaxel a pu être incorporé dans les microémulsions sans perturber notablement les caractéristiques du system. La troisième partie du travail a été consacré au développement de nanocapsules mucoadhésives contenant de l'huile de copaïba. La mise en œuvre d’un plan d’expérience a contribué à la formulation de nanocapsules incorporant du paclitaxel pouvant être marquée par une sonde fluorescente. La stabilité des nanocapsules a été étudiée dans des milieux gastrique et intestinaux simulés. Leur mucoadhésion a été évaluée sur des fragments de muqueuse intestinale prélevés chez le rat. Les résultats de ces travaux ont conduit au développement de deux formulations de paclitaxel dans des nanosystèmes originaux qui pourront par la suite être évalués pour en étudier leur capacité à délivrer l'agent anticancéreux par voie orale. / Anticancer drug are still mainly administered by the parenteral route. Oral delivery is limited the physicochemical properties of drugs and physiological. Systems based on lipids and polymeric nanoparticles may overcome these limitations. The aim of our project was to develop dispersed systems containing copaiba oil in their internal phase as vehicle for oral administration of paclitaxel, an anticancer drug, paclitaxel. The work was carried on in three parts. At first, methods of analysis of copaiba oil and of dosage of paclitaxel in this oil were developed and validated based on gas chromatography and HPLC respectively. Then, copaiba oil/water microemulsion was formulated from a new approach based on the pairing of chemical properties of the oil components and the surfactants. Stable microemulsion containing remarkably high amount of copaiba essential oil (volume fraction 19.6%) and a low surfactant concentration (13.7%) were obtained and could incorporate paclitaxel. Finally, an experimental design approach was proposed to develop mucoadhesive nanocapsules encapsulating copaiba oil, paclitaxel and that can be labeled with a fluorescent. These systems were tested for their ability to concentrate paclitaxel on the gut mucosa by evaluating their mucoadhesion using a ex vivo model based on the Ussing chambers. The nanosystems proposed in this work are ready for an evaluation for their capacity to deliver this anticancer drug by the oral route.

La technique du laser femtoseconde (fs) a été précédemment utilisée pour la production de nanoparticules d'or dans un environnement aqueux biologiquement compatible. Au cours de ce travail de maîtrise, cette méthode a été investiguée en vue d'une application pour la fabrication de nanocristaux de médicament en utilisant le paclitaxel comme modèle. Deux procédés distincts de cette technologie à savoir l'ablation et la fragmentation ont été étudiés. L'influence de la puissance du laser, de point de focalisation, et de la durée du traitement sur la distribution de taille des particules obtenues ainsi que leur intégrité chimique a été évaluée. Les paramètres ont ainsi été optimisés pour la fabrication des nanoparticules. L’évaluation morphologique et chimique a été réalisée par microscopie électronique et spectroscopie infrarouge respectivement. L'état cristallin des nanoparticules de paclitaxel a été caractérisé par calorimétrie differentielle et diffraction des rayons X. L'optimisation du procédé de production de nanoparticules par laser fs a permis d'obtenir des nanocristaux de taille moyenne (400 nm, polydispersité ≤ 0,3). Cependant une dégradation non négligeable a été observée. La cristallinité du médicament a été maintenue durant la procédure de réduction de taille, mais le paclitaxel anhydre a été transformé en une forme hydratée. Les résultats de cette étude suggèrent que le laser fs peut générer des nanocristaux de principe actif. Cependant cette technique peut se révéler problématique pour des médicaments sensibles à la dégradation. Grâce à sa facilité d'utilisation et la possibilité de travailler avec des quantités restreintes de produit, le laser fs pourrait représenter une alternative valable pour la production de nanoparticules de médicaments peu solubles lors des phases initiales de développement préclinique. Mots-clés: paclitaxel, nanocristaux, laser femtoseconde, ablation, fragmentation / Femtosecond (fs) laser ablation and fragmentation, a novel technique based upon the breakdown of material using laser energy was previously used for the production of fine gold nanoparticles in suspension. This technique has been newly investigated for the fabrication of paclitaxel nanocrystals in aqueous solution. In this work, we report the fabrication and characterization of paclitaxel nanocrystals generated by fs laser technology. Two distinct methods of this technology have been explored: ablation and fragmentation. The influence of the laser power, focusing position and treatment time on the particle size, size distribution and chemical integrity of the drug has been studied. Morphology and chemical composition of the finest paclitaxel nanocrystal formulation was studied by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction analyses were employed to evaluate the polymorphic state of the paclitaxel nanocrystals. Optimal laser fabrication parameters have been established for the fabrication of uniformly small sized paclitaxel nanocrystals. Those optimal conditions generated finely-sized paclitaxel nanoparticles (400 nm, PDI ≤ 0.3) with a considerable degradation. The drug remained crystalline upon nanonization at high power, though the anhydrous crystals were converted to a partially hydrated form. These findings suggest that drug nanocrystals could be produced using the fs laser technology; however, this technique may be inappropriate for drugs sensitive to degradation. Moreover, the simple fabrication of drug nanocrystals using the fs laser fragmentation presents a great asset for the intial phases of preclinical development of many poorly soluble drug candidates, which are not as sensitive as paclitaxel. Keywords: paclitaxel, nanocrystals, femtosecond, ablation, fragmentation

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science. Johannesburg 2015. / Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynaecological cancer. About 90% of ovarian cancers are epithelial (ovarian carcinomas), thought to arise from the ovarian surface epithelium. Diagnosed usually at clinically advanced stages, many patients show poor response to chemotherapy, with resistance and recurrent disease being prevalent. siRNA technology is currently being explored in clinical trials as a form of targeted therapeutic strategy in the disease. RBBP6 is a 250kD protein that enhances MDM2-mediated ubiquitination of p53 and also plays a role in cell cycle regulation and cell differentiation. It is upregulated in numerous cancers such as lung, oesophageal, colorectal and cervical cancer. RBBP6 suppresses p53 binding to DNA thereby inhibiting p53-dependent gene transcription. RBBP6 was knocked down using 30 nM siRNA in RMG-1 cells for 48 hours, after which the cells were treated with 50 nM paclitaxel and 0.5μM camptothecin for 24 hours. xCELLigence real time cell analysis was used to evaluate cell proliferation. qPCR and western blot were used to evaluate both gene expression and protein expressions respectively, of Bax, Bcl-2, MDM2, p53 and p21. Flow cytometry was used to determine the mode of cell death elicited apoptosis and also analyse changes in cell cycle progression. qPCR and Western blot analyses showed that RBBP6 expression reduced by approximately 57%. There was a significant upregulation of p53 and a significant downregulation of Bcl-2 in siRBBP6 transfected cells (p<0.05). Knockdown of RBBP6 resulted in a 37±5.8% cell death. There was a significant increase in cell death in paclitaxel and siRBBP6 co-treated cells (81.6±0.79%) as compared to cells treated with paclitaxel only (76.±1.14%). siRNA-mediated knock down of RBBP6 induces cell death in RMG-1 ovarian carcinoma cells. In addition, paclitaxel-induced cell death in RMG-1 cells is potentiated by RBBP6 siRNA transfection. A combination of chemotherapy with paclitaxel or camptothecin and RBBP6 siRNA could be a possible therapeutic strategy in combatting ovarian carcinomas.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo produzir 3,6-O, O&acute;-dimisritoilquitosana (QDM) com baixo grau m&eacute;dio de substitui&ccedil;&atilde;o ((GS) &#773; &#8804; 10%) a partir da rea&ccedil;&atilde;o de quitosana com cloreto de miristo&iacute;la, de maneira a conferir car&aacute;ter anfif&iacute;lico &agrave;s cadeias polim&eacute;ricas. Neste estudo foram empregadas diferentes quitosanas de partida, a saber, quitosana de origem comercial (QC), que apresenta baixo grau m&eacute;dio de acetila&ccedil;&atilde;o ((GA) &#773; = 5 %) e baixa massa molar m&eacute;dia viscosim&eacute;trica ((Mv) &#773; = 87,000 g/mol), e quitosana DAIUS (QD), produzida a partir da desacetila&ccedil;&atilde;o de beta-quitina assistida por irradia&ccedil;&atilde;o de ultrassom de alta intensidade, que apresenta( GA) &#773; = 15 % e (Mv) &#773; = 300,000 g/mol. Para obten&ccedil;&atilde;o dos derivados QDM, diferentes raz&otilde;es molares quitosana/cloreto de miristo&iacute;la (Q/CM) foram empregadas (1:0,075; 1:0,1; 1:0,2 e 1:0,5), e as rea&ccedil;&otilde;es foram executadas por 1 h a 25 &deg;C. As caracter&iacute;sticas estruturais e morfol&oacute;gicas das amostras geradas neste trabalho foram determinadas pelo emprego de espectroscopias de resson&acirc;ncia magn&eacute;tica nuclear e no infravermelho e difra&ccedil;&atilde;o de raios-X. A solubilidade das amostras foi investigada por espectroscopia UV/vis&iacute;vel e a estabilidade t&eacute;rmica foi estudada atrav&eacute;s de an&aacute;lise termogravim&eacute;trica. A partir da an&aacute;lise de espectroscopia no infravermelho, foi poss&iacute;vel evidenciar a ocorr&ecirc;ncia da rea&ccedil;&atilde;o de acila&ccedil;&atilde;o seletiva dos grupos OH das quitosanas, atrav&eacute;s da presen&ccedil;a da banda observada em 1740 cm-1, referente &agrave; deforma&ccedil;&atilde;o axial de carbonila de &eacute;ster, resultante da rea&ccedil;&atilde;o de O-acila&ccedil;&atilde;o. A banda em 1577 cm-1 referente a N-acila&ccedil;&atilde;o n&atilde;o foi evidenciada. Na segunda etapa deste estudo as amostras QCM1 ((DS) &#773; = 6,6%) e QCM4 ((DS) &#773; = 11 %), que apresentaram concentra&ccedil;&otilde;es cr&iacute;ticas de agrega&ccedil;&atilde;o (CAC) 8,9 &times; 10-3 mg/ mL e 13,2 &times; 10-3 mg/ mL, respectivamente, foram empregadas nos estudos de encapsula&ccedil;&atilde;o e libera&ccedil;&atilde;o de paclitaxel e camptotecina, f&aacute;rmacos hidrof&oacute;bicos anti-c&acirc;ncer insol&uacute;veis em &aacute;gua. A an&aacute;lise de microscopia eletr&ocirc;nica de transmiss&atilde;o (MET) mostrou que as micelas de QCM apresentaram formas aproximadamente esf&eacute;ricas, enquanto que o espalhamento din&acirc;mico de luz (DLS) permitiu a determina&ccedil;&atilde;o do di&acirc;metro m&eacute;dio das micelas carregadas e vazias, que variou no intervalo 280 nm - 481 nm, enquanto o potencial zeta foi &#8805; +30 mV. As micelas de QCM foram capazes de encapsular o paclitaxel e a camptotecina com elevada efici&ecirc;ncia de encapsula&ccedil;&atilde;o (EE > 60 %), como confirmado por an&aacute;lises de HPLC e UV-vis. Os estudos sobre a citotoxicidade das micelas em rela&ccedil;&atilde;o &agrave;s c&eacute;lulas Caco-2 e HT29-MTX mostraram que estas n&atilde;o apresentaram citotoxicidade e que a encapsula&ccedil;&atilde;o diminuiu a toxicidade de paclitaxel e camptotecina. Os estudos de permea&ccedil;&atilde;o de paclitaxel e a camptotecina encapsulados em micelas de DMQ atrav&eacute;s da monocultura de Caco-2 e do modelo de co-cultura Caco-2 / HT29-MTX confirmaram o potencial das micelas na melhoria da absor&ccedil;&atilde;o intestinal dos f&aacute;rmacos. Os estudos de libera&ccedil;&atilde;o com ambos f&aacute;rmacos mostraram perfis de libera&ccedil;&atilde;o sustentada. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que as micelas de QCM podem ser carreadoras promissoras para encapsular paclitaxel e camptotecina. / The aim of this work was to produce 3,6-O,O\'-dimyristoyl chitosan (DMC) with low average degree of substitution ((DS) &#773; &#8804; 10%) from the reaction of chitosan with myristoyl chloride, in order to confer amphiphilic characteristics to the polymer chains. In this study, different chitosans were used, namely commercial chitosan (QC), which possesses low average degree of acetylation ((GA) &#773; = 5%) and a low viscosity average molecular weight ((Mv) &#773; = 87,000 g/mol), and chitosan QD, produced from the ultrasound assisted deacetylation of beta-chitin, which presents (GA) &#773; = 15% and (Mv) &#773; = 300,000 g/mol. Different molar ratios chitosan / myristoyl chloride (Q/CM) were used (1: 0.075, 1: 0.1, 1: 0.2 and 1: 0.5) to obtain the DMCh derivatives, and the reactions were carried out at 25 0C for 1 h. The structural and morphological characteristics of the samples produced in this work were determined by infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The solubility of the samples was investigated by UV/visible spectroscopy and the thermal stability was studied by thermogravimetric analysis. From the infrared spectroscopy analysis, it was possible to observe a band at 1740 cm-1, which refers to the axial deformation of the carbonyl moiety of carboxylic ester, showing the occurrence of O-acylation. The band at 1577 cm-1, which refers to N-acylation, was not evidenced. Then, the samples DMC1 ((DS) &#773; =6,6% ) and DMC4 ((DS) &#773; =11% ), which presented critical aggregation concentrations of 8.9&times;10-3 mg/mL and 13.2&times;10-3 mg/mL, respectively, were employed in the studies of encapsulation and release of the water-insoluble anti-cancer hydrophobic drugs, paclitaxel and camptothecin. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses showed that DMC micelles presented roughly spherical shapes, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) allowed the determination of the mean diameter of charged and empty micelles, which varied between 280 nm and 481 nm, while the zeta potential, was &#8805; +30 mV. DMC micelles were able to encapsulate paclitaxel and camptothecin with high encapsulation efficiency (EE> 60%), as confirmed by HPLC and UV-vis analyses. Furthermore, the micelles did not exhibit cytotoxicity toward Caco-2 and HT29-MTX cells, and the encapsulation decreased the toxicity of paclitaxel and camptothecin. Permeability studies of paclitaxel and camptothecin encapsulated into DMC micelles through Caco-2 monoculture and Caco-2 / HT29-MTX co-culture models confirmed the potential of micelles on the improvement of intestinal absorption of hydrophobic drugs. The release studies with both drugs showed sustained release profiles. Hence, the results suggest that the DMC micelles may be promising carriers for encapsulating paclitaxel and camptothecin.