Two studies were conducted to determine the relative effect of various combinations of antioxidants on vitamin A oxidation and isomerization in nonfat dry milk (NDM). In the first study, one lot of pasteurized unfortified skim milk was divided, fortified with vitamins A and D and one of 11 antioxidant treatments, and spray dried. A control batch from the same lot was also fortified with vitamins A and D and spray dried. Samples were analyzed for total vitamin A bioactivity after zero, one, and two weeks of storage. After two weeks at 50°C, the only NDM samples that did not experience significant vitamin A loss were those treated with butylated hydroxytoluene, either alone at 0.57 ppm or at 0.29 ppm in combination with 250 ppm ascorbic acid. The control sample was significantly different from both of these treatments, and retained only 17% of its original retinol activity equivalents. Isomer composition changed over the two weeks of storage, with an increase of the 13-cis, 9,13-di-cis and the 9-cis isomers as well as a decrease in the all-trans isomer. In the second study, two lots of pasteurized, vitamin A & D fortified, condensed skim milk were divided into four batches, three of which were spiked with an antioxidant treatment: 250 ppm ascorbic acid + 1 ppm propyl gallate, 250 ppm ascorbic acid + 1 ppm butylated hydroxyanisole, or 2 ppm propyl gallate; the fourth batch was a control. Each of the eight batches was homogenized, spray dried and stored in the absence of light at 30°C for 3 months. Vitamin A and riboflavin were analyzed before spray drying, and after 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks. Two treatments had significant higher vitamin A than the control, the 250 ppm ascorbic acid + 1 ppm butylated hydroxyanisole treatment and the 2 ppm propyl gallate treatment. Limited vitamin A degradation occurred in all samples during the study timeframe, although the overall degree of retinol isomerization began and remained high in all samples, with cis isomers accounting for approximately 23% of the total μg of retinol after 12 weeks. There were no significant differences in riboflavin content between any of the antioxidant treatments and no significant degradation in riboflavin over time. Antioxidants appear to be an effective means of reducing vitamin A oxidation and isomerization in nonfat dry milk. Butylated hydroxytoluene in combination with ascorbic acid was the most effective antioxidant blend observed. Antioxidants may be less effective at protecting against degradation of vitamin A if isomerization has already taken place.

La pharmacopée Cris est riche en plantes médicinales et plusieurs d’entre elles sont étudiées par notre laboratoire pour leur potentiel antidiabétique. Certaines espèces ont démontré leur capacité à stimuler la protéine kinase activée par l’AMP (AMPK), une enzyme qui favorise la translocation de transporteurs de glucose à la membrane (effet hypoglycémiant). L’AMPK stimule également d’autres fonctions, telle l’oxydation des graisses, dans le but de rétablir l’énergie cellulaire. Ce projet a comme objectifs d’évaluer, premièrement, le stress métabolique induit par huit des extraits dans des cellules musculaires et des hépatocytes, effet qui serait responsable de l’activation de l’AMPK. Ce stress peut être déterminé en mesurant l’acidification du milieu extracellulaire ainsi que la déplétion du contenu en ATP des cellules suite aux traitements. Le deuxième objectif est de mesurer l’efficacité des extraits à réduire le contenu en gras (oxydation des graisses) et à ainsi normaliser la résistance à l’insuline dans des hépatocytes rendus insulino-résistants. Les hépatocytes sont rendus résistants à l’insuline (condition fortement lié à l’obésité) via traitement avec un acide gras saturé, le palmitate. Les résultats montrent que la majorité des extraits semble induire un stress métabolique de courte durée dans les cellules. Parmi les extraits, seul un a réussi à faire diminuer significativement le taux de triglycérides intracellulaire suite au traitement au palmitate sans toutefois améliorer la sensibilité à l’insuline. En conclusion, le potentiel hypoglycémiant des extraits serait du à leur capacité à affecter la respiration mitochondriale (stress métabolique). Toutefois, leur capacité à améliorer la sensibilité à l’insuline n’a pu être établie. / Cree pharmacopeia is rich in medicinal plants and many of them are studied by our laboratory for their antidiabetic potential. Some of the species tested have shown to activate the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), an enzyme responsible for the translocation of glucose transporters to the cell membrane (hypoglycaemic activity). AMPK is also known to activate other cellular functions, like fat oxidation, in order to restore cell energy loss. The objectives of this study are, first, to measure the metabolic stress induced by eight of the species in muscular and liver cells, an effect believed to be responsible for the AMPK activation. Metabolic stress is evaluated by measuring extracellular medium acidification and cellular ATP depletion. The second objective is to assess the capacity of the extracts to clear intracellular fat (fat oxidation) and, by doing this, restore insulin sensitivity in insulin-resistant driven hepatocytes. To become insulin-resistant (a condition strongly linked to obesity), the hepatocytes are treated with a saturated fatty acid, palmitate. The results show that most of the extracts seem to increase the metabolic stress in muscular cells and hepatocytes for a short period of time. Among all extracts, only one has significantly reduced intracellular triglycerides in palmitate treated hepatocytes, an effect not followed by an increase in insulin sensitivity. In conclusion, the species tested in this study seem to exert their hypoglycaemic potential by affecting mitochondrial respiration (metabolic stress). However, the experimentations have not clearly shown the capacity of the species to restore insulin sensitivity in insulin-resistant liver cells.

No description available.

Les acides gras saturés (AGS) altèrent la fonctionnalité des organites dans de nombreux types cellulaires. Il a été proposé que ce processus, également nommé lipointoxication, puisse être responsable de plusieurs pathologies humaines telles que le diabète de Type 2.Au niveau cellulaire, l'accumulation d'AGS est associée à une augmentation du taux de saturation des phospholipides (PL) membranaires, les composants majoritaires des membranes des organites, mais également du taux de céramides, impliqués dans l'induction de l'apoptose.Dans une première partie de ce travail, nous avons étudié, chez le modèle cellulaire simple Saccharomyces cerevisiae, la contribution relative des PL saturés et des céramides à la cytotoxicité des AGS. Nous avons pu démontrer que les céramides agissaient à des étapes précoces de la voie de sécrétion, alors que les PL saturés impactaient des étapes plus tardives en altérant en particulier la formation de vésicules de sécrétion.Parallèlement, nous avons également constaté que le taux d'AGS était significativement augmenté dans les PL membranaires des patients atteints d'une maladie génétique, la mucoviscidose. La mutation la plus fréquente responsable de cette maladie, résulte en la rétention de la protéine correspondante dans le réticulum endoplasmique. Des molécules pharmacologiques, capables de corriger le trafic de la protéine à sa destination finale ont été isolées in vitro, mais des limitations importantes ont pu être observées lors des tests cliniques. Nous proposons dans le présent manuscrit que la lipointoxication liée aux AGS pourrait être un écueil important à l'utilisation des correcteurs actuels pour le traitement de la mucoviscidose. / Saturated fatty acids (SFA) have been reported to alter organelle integrity in many cell types. This process, also known as lipotoxicity, has been proposed to be responsible for several human pathologies such as type 2 diabetes.At the cellular level, SFA accumulation is associated with an increase of the saturation rate of membrane phospholipids (PL), the major components of organelle membranes, and an increase of ceramides levels, implicated in apoptosis induction.In the first part of this work, we took advantage of a simple yeast-based model to study the relative contributions of saturated PL and ceramides to SFA cytotoxicity. We demonstrated that ceramides act early in the secretory pathway, while saturated PL impact the later steps, and particularly the formation of secretory vesicles.In parallel, we observed that SFA amounts were significantly increased in the membrane PL of cystic fibrosis (CF) patient cells. The most common mutation responsible for this genetic disease results in the retention of the corresponding protein in the endoplasmic reticulum. Pharmacological agents, which correct the mistrafficking of the protein, have been isolated in vitro, but they did not show significant improvements in clinical trials. We propose in the present manuscript, that SFA-related lipointoxication could be an important bottleneck for the use of these pharmacological agents in clinical trials.

Un déséquilibre de la balance énergétique constitue la principale cause du développement des pathologies métaboliques telles que l’obésité et le diabète de type 2. Au sein du cerveau, l’hypothalamus joue un rôle primordial dans le contrôle de la prise alimentaire et du métabolisme périphérique via le système nerveux autonome. Ce contrôle, repose sur l’existence de différentes populations neuronales au sein de l’hypothalamus médio-basal (MBH), neurones à neuropeptide Y (NPY)/Agouti-related peptide (AgRP), et neurones a proopiomelanocortine (POMC), dont l’activité est directement modulée par les variations des taux circulants des nutriments tels que le glucose et les acides gras (FA). Alors que les mécanismes de détection et le métabolisme intracellulaire du glucose ont été largement étudiés, l’implication du métabolisme intracellulaire des FA dans leurs effets centraux, est très peu comprise. De plus, on ignore si le glucose, module le métabolisme intracellulaire des acides gras à longue chaine (LCFA) dans le MBH. Le but de notre première étude est, de déterminer l'impact du glucose sur le métabolisme des LCFA, le rôle de l’AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), kinase détectrice du statut énergétique cellulaire, et d'établir s’il y a des changements dans le métabolisme des LCFA en fonction de leur structure, du type cellulaire et de la région cérébrale. Nos résultats montrent que le glucose inhibe l'oxydation du palmitate via l’AMPK dans les neurones et les astrocytes primaires hypothalamiques, in vitro, ainsi que dans les explants du MBH, ex vivo, mais pas dans les astrocytes et les explants corticaux. De plus, le glucose augmente l'estérification du palmitate et non de l’oléate dans les neurones et les explants du MBH, mais pas dans les astrocytes hypothalamiques. Ces résultats décrivent le devenir métabolique de différents LCFA dans le MBH, ainsi que, la régulation AMPK - dépendante de leur métabolisme par le glucose dans les astrocytes et les neurones, et démontrent pour la première fois que le métabolisme du glucose et des LCFA est couplé spécifiquement dans les noyaux du MBH, dont le rôle est critique pour le contrôle de l'équilibre énergétique. Le deuxième volet de cette thèse s’est intéressé à déterminer les mécanismes intracellulaires impliqués dans le rôle de la protéine de liaison ACBP dans le métabolisme central des FA. Nous avons démontré que le métabolisme de l’oléate et non celui du palmitate est dépendant de la protéine ACBP, dans les astrocytes hypothalamiques ainsi que dans les explants du MBH. Ainsi, nos résultats démontrent qu’ACBP, protéine identifiée originellement au niveau central, comme un modulateur allostérique des récepteurs GABA, agit comme un régulateur du métabolisme intracellulaire des FA. Ces résultats ouvrent de nouvelles pistes de recherche liées à la régulation du métabolisme des acides gras au niveau central, ainsi que, la nouvelle fonction de la protéine ACBP dans la régulation du métabolisme des FA au niveau du système nerveux central. Ceci aiderait à identifier des cibles moléculaires pouvant contribuer au développement de nouvelles approches thérapeutiques de pathologies telles que l’obésité et le diabète de type 2. / An imbalance of energy balance is the main cause of the development of metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Within the brain, the hypothalamus plays an important role in the control of food intake and peripheral metabolism, via the autonomic nervous system. This control relies on the existence of different neuronal populations in the medio-basal hypothalamus (MBH), including neuropeptide Y (NPY), agouti-related peptide (AgRP) and proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons, the activity of which, is directly modulated by changes in the circulating levels of nutrients such as glucose and fatty acids (FA). While mechanisms governing the detection and the intracellular metabolism of glucose have been extensively studied, the involvement of FA intracellular metabolism, in their central effects is poorly understood. It is currently unknown if glucose regulates long chain fatty acids (LCFA) metabolism in the MBH. The aim of our first study was to determine the impact of glucose on LCFA metabolism, assess the role of AMP-activated Kinase (AMPK), a sensor of cellular energy status, and to establish if changes in LCFA metabolism, and its regulation by glucose, vary as a function of LCFA type, cell type and brain region. We show that glucose inhibits palmitate oxidation via AMPK in hypothalamic neuronal cell lines, primary hypothalamic astrocyte cultures and MBH slices, ex vivo, but not in cortical astrocytes and slice preparations. In addition, our results show that glucose increases palmitate but not oleate esterification into neutral lipids, in neurons and MBH slices, but not in hypothalamic astrocytes. These findings reveal the metabolic fate of different LCFA in the MBH, demonstrate AMPK-dependent glucose regulation of LCFA oxidation in both astrocytes and neurons and established for the first time the metabolic coupling of glucose and LCFA as a specific feature of the MBH, whose role is critical for the control of energy balance. During the second part of this thesis, we were interested to determine the intracellular mechanisms involved in the role of Acyl-CoA binding protein (ACBP), in the central metabolism of FA. We have shown that the metabolism of oleate but not palmitate is ACBP -dependent in hypothalamic astrocytes and MBH slices. Thus, our results demonstrate That ACBP, a protein originally identified as an allosteric modulator of GABA receptor peptide, acts as a regulator of intracellular metabolism of FA. These results open a new avenues of research related to the central regulation of fatty acid metabolism and the new function of ACBP protein in the regulation of FA metabolism in the central nervous system, which could help to identify molecular targets that may contribute to the development of new therapeutic approaches of diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo sintetizar o palmitato de isopropila, éster emoliente, empregando como biocatalisador lipases microbianas imobilizadas em partículas de poli(estireno-co-divinilbenzeno) (STY-DVB-M) obtidas por meio da técnica de polimerização em suspensão e magnetizadas por co-precipitação de íons de Fe +2 e Fe +3 em meio básico. Inicialmente, a influência da concentração do agente de suspensão e da agitação na distribuição granulométrica do polímero sintetizado foi avaliada por planejamento experimental 2 2, com triplicata no ponto central. As polimerizações que resultaram nas maiores quantidades de partículas com tamanhos apropriados para utilização como suporte para imobilização (entre 80 e 24 mesh), foram obtidas empregando as seguintes condições experimentais: 1% de agente de suspensão (PVA) e 400 rpm de agitação. O suporte obtido foi utilizado para imobilizar a lipase de Candida rugosa (LCR) e lipase de Penicillium camemberti (LG) via adsorção física e os biocatalisadores resultantes aplicados em reações de esterificação do ácido palmítico com isopropanol em meio heptano. Para cada biocatalisador foi adotado um planejamento experimental estrela rotacional 22, com triplicata no ponto central para avaliar a influência da concentração de biocatalisador (% m/v) e da razão molar (ácido:álcool) no rendimento de esterificação. Nas condições otimizadas em 12 h de reação foram obtidos 75,60 e 88,53% de rendimento de esterificação, respectivamente, para a LCR e LG imobilizada em STY-DVB-M. A quantidade de água formada durante o bioprocesso não foi considerada fator relevante para interferir no progresso da síntese. O biocatalisador obtido pela LG imobilizada em STY-DVB-M foi empregado em biorreator de tanque agitado (280 mL), na condição ótima, em um experimento com ampliação de escala, atingindo 85,68% de rendimento em 12 horas de reação. No entanto, foi observado cisalhamento do suporte em função da agitação mecânica, optando-se pela realização do bioprocesso em biorreator de leito fixo (dimensões: 11 mm de diâmetro interno x 16,6 mm de comprimento) com recirculação do meio reacional (1,5 mL.min-1). A operação do sistema nesta configuração foi impossibilitada pela evaporação e/ou percolação do solvente. Assim, foram realizadas reações em reator de leito fixo em meio isento de solvente nas seguintes razões molares: 1:3, 1:4 e 1:6 (ácido:álcool), cujos melhores resultados foram obtidos na razão molar de 1:4, apresentando 56% de rendimento, 215,88 g.L-1 do palmitato de isopropila e produtividade de 26,87 g.L-1.h-1, decorridas 8h de reação com vazão de reciclo de 1,5 mLmin-1. O emprego de peneira molecular no reservatório do substrato proporcionou um acréscimo de aproximadamente 7% na formação do éster. Essa mesma condição experimental (1:4 em meio isento de solvente) foi testada em reator de tanque agitado, atingindo produtividade de 33,40 g.L-1.h-1 em 8h de reação. No entanto, em função da desvantagem do cisalhamento do suporte constatada neste tipo de biorreator, concluiu-se que o biorreator de leito fixo foi a configuração mais adequada, para a condução do bioprocesso estudado, apresentando viabilidade do processo enzimático empregando lipase imobilizada em suporte híbrido magnetizado para a síntese do palmitato de isopropila. / The aim of this study was to synthesize isopropyl palmitate, an emollient ester, using as biocatalyst microbial lipase immobilized on magnetic copolymer. The support was prepared by suspension polymerization technique using styrene and divinylbenzene monomers in the presence of magnetite particles synthesized by co-precipitation of Fe+2 and Fe+3. The influence of the suspending agent concentration and the mechanical agitation on the granulometric distribution of the synthesized polymer was assessed by a 22 factorial design with triplicate at central point. The statistical analysis indicated that the optimal experimental conditions to obtain the largest amount of particles with suitable size (between 80 and 24 mesh) to be used as immobilizing support were attained at 1% suspending agent (PVA) at 400 rpm stirring. The resulting support was used to immobilize Candida rugosa lipase (LCR) and Penicillium camemberti lipase (LG) by physical adsorption and applied in the esterification reaction of palmitic acid with isopropyl alcohol in presence of solvent (heptane). For each biocatalyst a central composite 22 experimental design with triplicate at central point was performed to determine the influence of biocatalyst concentration (% m/v) and molar ratio (acid: alcohol) on the reaction yield. Under the optimal conditions higher performance was achieved by LG immobilized on STY-DVB-M (88.53%) than LCR immobilized on STYDVB-M (75.60%) with shaking at 12 hours reaction. For both reactions the amount of water formed as byproduct was not found to be a relevant factor that interferes in the synthesis progress. The most activity immobilized biocatalyst (LG STY-DVB-M) was used in agitated tank bioreactor (280 mL), under optimized conditions, in an experiment with scale-up, reaching 85.68% yield in 12 hours. However, it has been observed that the support was low mechanical shear and therefore an attempted was made to run the reaction in a packed bed bioreactor (dimensions: 11 mm internal diameter x 16,6 mm length) with recirculation of the reaction medium (1,5 mL.min-1). The system could not be operated under this configuration because of solvent evaporation and/or percolation. Thereby, the reactions were carried out in packed bed reactor using solvent-free medium under the following molar ratios: 1:3, 1:4 and 1:6 (acid: alcohol). The best performance (56% yield, 215.88 g L-1 of isopropyl palmitate and 26.87 gL-1.h-1 of productivity) was attained running the reactor with substrate at molar ratio of acid to alcohol of 1:4 for 8 hours with recycle rate of 1,5 mL.min-1. The use of a molecular sieve in the substrate reservoir resulted in an increase of approximately 7% of ester formation. By comparison, esterification run under the same experimental condition (1:4 in solvent-free medium) was carried out in a stirred tank reactor and slight higher productivity (33.40 g.L-1.h-1) was achieved. However, due the shear limitation of the support, it was concluded that the most suitable configuration for this bioprocess is the packed bed bioreactor, thereby showing that the enzymatic process is feasible using lipase immobilized on a magnetized hybrid support for isopropyl palmitate synthesis.

O objetivo desta dissertaÃÃo foi sintetizar derivados de vitamina A por rota enzimÃtica, como alternativa à rota quÃmica, que à caracteristicamente mais agressiva ao meio ambiente. A sÃntese do palmitato de retinila resultaria em produto com melhor aceitaÃÃo de mercado, jà que à mais estÃvel do que o Ãster que foi utilizado como substrato, acetato de retinila. Jà a sÃntese de adipato de retinila, tinha como principal finalidade, disponibilizar um novo derivado de vitamina A. Para ambos, visava-se a aplicaÃÃo nas indÃstrias farmacÃutica, cosmÃtica e alimentÃcia. Nesse contexto, utilizou-se lipase de Candida antarctica tipo B imobilizada (Novozyme 435 com 571,48 UI/g  55,47) e os substratos acetato de retinila, Ãcidos palmÃtico e adÃpico. AlÃm destes, peneira molecular (PM) 3Ǻ tambÃm foi adicionada, jà que as reaÃÃes propostas liberam Ãgua para o meio reacional, desfavoredendo a sÃntese do Ãster desejado. Dois planejamentos foram realizados para se avaliar a sÃntese de palmitato de retinila, ambos em volume reacional total de 2 mL. No primeiro, trÃs variÃveis foram analisadas: proporÃÃo entre os substratos, solvente e temperatura. A quantidade de acetato de retinila foi mantida em 0,1 mmol e a do Ãcido palmÃtico variando entre 0,1 e 0,5 mmol. Levando em consideraÃÃo o coeficiente de partiÃÃo do Ãcido utilizado, foram testados tolueno e hexano. As temperaturas variaram entre 25 e 40ÂC, de acordo com o planejamento fatorial 23 blocado com ponto central. No segundo, estudou-se a influÃncia da quantidade de lipase (25, 50 e 75 mg) e PM (20, 50, 80 mg) em tolueno e hexano, conforme planejamento fatorial 32. Ensaios em maior escala foram realizados nÃo apenas para o palmitato, o qual foi submetido a teste de estabilidade tÃrmica, mas tambÃm para o adipato, que por nÃo ser comercializado precisou ser separado da reaÃÃo e identificado por ressonÃncia magnÃtica nuclear. Com uma anÃlise estatÃstica dos resultados, pÃde-se observar que os parÃmetros que tiveram efeito significativo no primeiro planejamento, foram a temperatura e a interaÃÃo desta com a razÃo molar entre os substratos. No segundo, tanto a enzima como a relaÃÃo quadrÃtica da PM foram significantes no rendimento de sÃntese com tolueno, e apenas a enzima, quando utilizado o hexano. A separaÃÃo do palmitato de retinila foi realizada em coluna de sÃlica C18, tendo sido avaliada em calorimetria exploratÃria diferencial (do inglÃs, differencial screening calorimetry - DSC) e observado eventos tÃrmicos por volta de 6,54ÂC. Quanto ao adipato de retinila, nenhum procedimento de separaÃÃo foi eficaz para a separaÃÃo da mistura formada entre o mesmo e o adipato de diretinila. / The main objective of this work was to synthesize vitamin A derivatives through an enzymatic route, as an alternative to chemistry route, more aggressive to the environment. The conversion of retinyl acetate into retinyl palmitate would result in a product with better market acceptance, since it is more stable than the ester used as substrate. Retinyl adipate synthesis, on the other hand, was studied in order to prepare a new vitamin A derivative. Both Vitamin A derivatives synthesized in this work were aiming the industrial production of cosmetics and foods. In this context, immobilized Candida antarctica type B lipase (Novozyme 435 with 571,48 UI/g  55,47) was used to catalyze the conversion of the substrates retinyl acetate, palmitic and adipic acids. In addition to these, molecular sieves was also added since the proposed reactions release water to the reaction media, which is not favorable to the desired ester synthesis. The retinyl palmitate synthesis was investigated by two factorial experimental design, using a total reactional volume of 2 mL. In the first, three variables were analyzed: rate between substrates, type of solvent and temperature. Retinyl acetate was kept in 0,1 mmol and palmitic acid varied between 0,1 and 0,5 mmol. Considering the acid partition coefficient, toluene and hexane were tested as solvents. The temperatures varied between 25 and 40ÂC, following a 23 factorial experimental design blocked with central points. In the second design, the influence of lipase (25, 50 e 75 mg) and molecular sieves (20, 50, 80 mg) amounts were studied using toluene or hexane as solvent, in accordance with a 32 factorial design. Experiments in a larger scale were performed not only to the produce retinyl palmitate, which was submitted to termic stability tests, but also to retinyl adipate, which is not commercially available and thereof it was recovered from the reactional media and identified by nuclear magnetic resonance. The statistical analysis of the results allowed the observation of significant effects. In the first planning, temperature and their interaction with the molar rate between the substrates were the significant variables. In the second, enzyme and the molecular sieves quadratic relation were significant in the yield of synthesis with toluene, but only the enzyme was significant when hexane was utilized. The retinyl palmitate separation was performed in silica C18 column and the purified sample was analyzed by differential scanning calorimetric â DS with a thermal event around 6.54ÂC. In the case of retinyl adipate, no separation procedure was effective since there is a mixture formed between retinyl and diretinyl adipates.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo sintetizar o palmitato de isopropila, éster emoliente, empregando como biocatalisador lipases microbianas imobilizadas em partículas de poli(estireno-co-divinilbenzeno) (STY-DVB-M) obtidas por meio da técnica de polimerização em suspensão e magnetizadas por co-precipitação de íons de Fe +2 e Fe +3 em meio básico. Inicialmente, a influência da concentração do agente de suspensão e da agitação na distribuição granulométrica do polímero sintetizado foi avaliada por planejamento experimental 2 2, com triplicata no ponto central. As polimerizações que resultaram nas maiores quantidades de partículas com tamanhos apropriados para utilização como suporte para imobilização (entre 80 e 24 mesh), foram obtidas empregando as seguintes condições experimentais: 1% de agente de suspensão (PVA) e 400 rpm de agitação. O suporte obtido foi utilizado para imobilizar a lipase de Candida rugosa (LCR) e lipase de Penicillium camemberti (LG) via adsorção física e os biocatalisadores resultantes aplicados em reações de esterificação do ácido palmítico com isopropanol em meio heptano. Para cada biocatalisador foi adotado um planejamento experimental estrela rotacional 22, com triplicata no ponto central para avaliar a influência da concentração de biocatalisador (% m/v) e da razão molar (ácido:álcool) no rendimento de esterificação. Nas condições otimizadas em 12 h de reação foram obtidos 75,60 e 88,53% de rendimento de esterificação, respectivamente, para a LCR e LG imobilizada em STY-DVB-M. A quantidade de água formada durante o bioprocesso não foi considerada fator relevante para interferir no progresso da síntese. O biocatalisador obtido pela LG imobilizada em STY-DVB-M foi empregado em biorreator de tanque agitado (280 mL), na condição ótima, em um experimento com ampliação de escala, atingindo 85,68% de rendimento em 12 horas de reação. No entanto, foi observado cisalhamento do suporte em função da agitação mecânica, optando-se pela realização do bioprocesso em biorreator de leito fixo (dimensões: 11 mm de diâmetro interno x 16,6 mm de comprimento) com recirculação do meio reacional (1,5 mL.min-1). A operação do sistema nesta configuração foi impossibilitada pela evaporação e/ou percolação do solvente. Assim, foram realizadas reações em reator de leito fixo em meio isento de solvente nas seguintes razões molares: 1:3, 1:4 e 1:6 (ácido:álcool), cujos melhores resultados foram obtidos na razão molar de 1:4, apresentando 56% de rendimento, 215,88 g.L-1 do palmitato de isopropila e produtividade de 26,87 g.L-1.h-1, decorridas 8h de reação com vazão de reciclo de 1,5 mLmin-1. O emprego de peneira molecular no reservatório do substrato proporcionou um acréscimo de aproximadamente 7% na formação do éster. Essa mesma condição experimental (1:4 em meio isento de solvente) foi testada em reator de tanque agitado, atingindo produtividade de 33,40 g.L-1.h-1 em 8h de reação. No entanto, em função da desvantagem do cisalhamento do suporte constatada neste tipo de biorreator, concluiu-se que o biorreator de leito fixo foi a configuração mais adequada, para a condução do bioprocesso estudado, apresentando viabilidade do processo enzimático empregando lipase imobilizada em suporte híbrido magnetizado para a síntese do palmitato de isopropila. / The aim of this study was to synthesize isopropyl palmitate, an emollient ester, using as biocatalyst microbial lipase immobilized on magnetic copolymer. The support was prepared by suspension polymerization technique using styrene and divinylbenzene monomers in the presence of magnetite particles synthesized by co-precipitation of Fe+2 and Fe+3. The influence of the suspending agent concentration and the mechanical agitation on the granulometric distribution of the synthesized polymer was assessed by a 22 factorial design with triplicate at central point. The statistical analysis indicated that the optimal experimental conditions to obtain the largest amount of particles with suitable size (between 80 and 24 mesh) to be used as immobilizing support were attained at 1% suspending agent (PVA) at 400 rpm stirring. The resulting support was used to immobilize Candida rugosa lipase (LCR) and Penicillium camemberti lipase (LG) by physical adsorption and applied in the esterification reaction of palmitic acid with isopropyl alcohol in presence of solvent (heptane). For each biocatalyst a central composite 22 experimental design with triplicate at central point was performed to determine the influence of biocatalyst concentration (% m/v) and molar ratio (acid: alcohol) on the reaction yield. Under the optimal conditions higher performance was achieved by LG immobilized on STY-DVB-M (88.53%) than LCR immobilized on STYDVB-M (75.60%) with shaking at 12 hours reaction. For both reactions the amount of water formed as byproduct was not found to be a relevant factor that interferes in the synthesis progress. The most activity immobilized biocatalyst (LG STY-DVB-M) was used in agitated tank bioreactor (280 mL), under optimized conditions, in an experiment with scale-up, reaching 85.68% yield in 12 hours. However, it has been observed that the support was low mechanical shear and therefore an attempted was made to run the reaction in a packed bed bioreactor (dimensions: 11 mm internal diameter x 16,6 mm length) with recirculation of the reaction medium (1,5 mL.min-1). The system could not be operated under this configuration because of solvent evaporation and/or percolation. Thereby, the reactions were carried out in packed bed reactor using solvent-free medium under the following molar ratios: 1:3, 1:4 and 1:6 (acid: alcohol). The best performance (56% yield, 215.88 g L-1 of isopropyl palmitate and 26.87 gL-1.h-1 of productivity) was attained running the reactor with substrate at molar ratio of acid to alcohol of 1:4 for 8 hours with recycle rate of 1,5 mL.min-1. The use of a molecular sieve in the substrate reservoir resulted in an increase of approximately 7% of ester formation. By comparison, esterification run under the same experimental condition (1:4 in solvent-free medium) was carried out in a stirred tank reactor and slight higher productivity (33.40 g.L-1.h-1) was achieved. However, due the shear limitation of the support, it was concluded that the most suitable configuration for this bioprocess is the packed bed bioreactor, thereby showing that the enzymatic process is feasible using lipase immobilized on a magnetized hybrid support for isopropyl palmitate synthesis.

Os retinóides têm sido amplamente utilizados na clínica dermatológica e nos produtos cosméticos com finalidades preventivas e reparadoras dos efeitos indesejáveis do envelhecimento cutâneo. Considerando que a concentração de retinóides, como por exemplo, o ácido retinóico ou o palmitato de retinila, pode influenciar na eficácia e segurança de uso dos mesmos em formulações tópicas, é de fundamental importância o desenvolvimento e avaliação dos efeitos benéficos e/ou colaterais de formulações dermocosméticas contendo diferentes concentrações de ácido retinóico (0,025%, 0,05% e 0,1%) e palmitato de retinila (0,25%, 0,5% e 1,0%), visando a obtenção de uma concentração que proporcione a máxima eficácia possível e risco mínimo à pele. Assim, o presente trabalho tem por objetivos avaliar a influência de diferentes concentrações de retinóides (ácido retinóico ou palmitato de retinila) em formulações dermocosméticas com finalidades antienvelhecimento, na pele de camundongos sem pêlo, por estudos histopatológicos, morfométricos, estereológicos e por Bioengenharia Cutânea. Para tal foram preparadas três formulações de géis creme à base de hidroxietilcelulose (HEC) e microemulsão de silicone e octanoato de octila (formulações de nos 1 e 3) e à base de complexo lipídico contendo álcool batílico e lecitina de soja, HEC e octanoato de octila (formulação de nº 2) as quais foram submetidas a testes preliminares de estabilidade. A formulação de nº 1 (F1) foi considerada a mais estável e, portanto, selecionada como veículo para a avaliação dos efeitos do ácido retinóico e do palmitato de retinila na pele de camundongos sem pêlo. Para a realização do ensaio biológico, amostras das formulações, acrescidas ou não (veículo) de 0,025; 0,05 ou 0,1% ácido retinóico ou 0,25; 0,5 ou 1,0% de palmitato de retinila foram aplicadas no dorso de camundongos sem pêlo. Após cinco dias da aplicação diária destas formulações, foram obtidas medidas de índice de eritema pelo equipamento Mexameter® MX16 e medidas do conteúdo aquoso do estrato córneo pelo equipamento Corneometer® CM825. Em seguida, os camundongos foram mortos e posteriormente foram colhidos fragmentos de pele das áreas que receberam aplicação das formulações, bem como da área que não foi aplicada nenhuma formulação (controle) e, a seguir, obtidos cortes histológicos para a realização dos estudos histopatológicos, morfométricos e estereológicos. De acordo com as metodologias empregadas, foi possível observar que, na avaliação do conteúdo aquoso do estrato córneo, somente as formulações que continham ácido retinóico em diferentes concentrações, provocaram mudanças significativas, reduzindo este conteúdo, ou seja, ocasionou um ressecamento na superfície da pele. Apenas as formulações contendo 0,025 e 0,1% de ácido retinóico e 1,0% de palmitato de retinila provocaram um aumento no índice de eritema. Além disso, tanto o ácido retinóico quanto o palmitato de retinila, atuaram na epiderme, porém de modo e intensidade diferentes, sendo que, o ácido retinóico teve um efeito mais pronunciado em relação às variáveis estudadas. As três diferentes concentrações de ácido retinóico e de palmitato de retinila ocasionaram aumento significante da espessura das camadas epiteliais, sem alteração da camada córnea. O ácido retinóico e o palmitato de retinila atuaram ainda aumentando os volumes nuclear, citoplasmático e celular, um dos fatores que ocasionou aumento da espessura do epitélio. Finalizando, ao analisar todas as variáveis histopatológicas, morfométricas e estereológicas, bem como o índice de eritema e o conteúdo aquoso do estrato córneo estudados, podemos sugerir que as formulações que continham as concentrações intermediárias, tanto do ácido retinóico (0,05%) quanto do palmitato de retinila (0,5 %), foram as que apresentaram melhores resultados, principalmente no que se refere a uma relação risco / benefício adequada e aceitável. / Retinoids has been widely used in dermatological clinic and in cosmetics products with preventive purposes as well as for the repairmen of the cutaneous aging undesirable effects. Considering that the concentration of retinoids, i.e., the retinoic acid or the retinyl palmitate, can influence their efficacy and safety in topical formulations, the development and evaluation of the beneficial and/or collateral effect of dermocosmetic formulations containing different concentrations of retinoic acid (0.025%, 0.05% e 0.1%) and retinyl palmitate (0.25%, 0.5% e 1.0%) is very important, aiming at the attainment of a concentration that provides to the maximum possible efficacy and minimum risk to the skin. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different concentrations of retinoids (retinoic acid or retinyl palmitate) in dermocosmetics formulations with antiaging purposes, in hairless mice, using histopathological, morphometric and stereologic studies and Skin Bioengineering Techniques. For this purpose, three gel cream formulations were developed, containing hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) and silicone microemulsion and octyl octanoate (formulations nº 1 and 3) and a complex lipidic based formulation containing batyl alcohol and lecithin, HEC and octyl octanoate (formulation nº 2), which were submitted to preliminary stability tests. The formulation nº1 (F1) was considered the most stable, therefore, it was selected as the vehicle for the evaluation of the effects of the retinoic acid and the retinyl palmitate in hairless mice skin. For the accomplishment of the biological assay, samples of the formulations, supplemented or not (vehicle) of 0.025, 0.05 or 0.1% retinoic acid or 0.25, 0.5 or 1.0% retinyl palmitate were applied in the dorsal skin of hairless mice. After five days of daily application of these formulations, the erythema index was measured by reflectance spectrophotometry using a Mexameter® MX16 as well as the water content of the stratum corneum using Corneometer® CM825. After that, the hairless mice were sacrificed and later skin fragments were obtained for each area that received application of the formulations, as well as of the area that was not applied any formulation (control) and, after that histologic sections were obtained and submitted to histopathological, morphometric and stereologic studies. In accordance with the used methodologies, it was possible to observe that in the evaluation of the water content of the stratum corneum, only the formulations that contained retinoic acid in different concentrations provided significant changes, enhancing skin surface dryness. Only the formulations containing 0.025 and 0.1% of retinoic acid and 1.0% of retinyl palmitate provided an increase in erythema index. Moreover, both retinoic acid and retinyl palmitate acted in the epidermis, however in different intensity and way, since retinoic acid had more pronounced effects in relation to the studied variables. The three different concentrations of retinoic acid and retinyl palmitate caused a significant increase of the epithelial layers thickness, without alteration of the horny layer. Retinoic acid and retinyl palmitate also increased the nucleus, cytoplasmic and cell volumes, which was one of the factors that influenced the increase of the epithelium thickness. Finishing, when analyzing all the histopathological, morphometric and stereologic variables, as well as the erythema index and the water content of the stratum corneum studied, we can suggest that the formulations that contained the intermediate concentrations (such as 0.05% of retinoic acid and 0.5% of retinyl palmitate) presented the best results, mainly when an adequate and acceptable risk/ benefit relationship is considered.

The aim of this study was to develop drug delivery system based on poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) to achieve personalized treatment of selected skin disorders, like photo-aging, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Dead Sea Water (DSW) and Retinyl Palmitate (RP) were used as active agents and they were loaded in PLGA NPs prepared either as spheres or capsules by o/w or w/o/w methods. MgCl2 and bovine serum albumin (BSA) served as model active compounds. The diameter of the NPs was found to be in the range of 280 - 550 nm. The entrapment efficiency (E.E.) was less than 1% for RP, DSW and MgCl2, and 41% for BSA. Loading of Cl- together with BSA doubled the E.E. value of Cl- . In situ release studies showed a burst in the first day and more than 85% of the chloride content was released within a week. When the macromolecule BSA was encapsulated, a much slower and triphasic release profile was observed which continued for up to 80 days. In vitro tests were performed using L929 fibroblast cells. Results of MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) test revealed that none of the NPs were cytotoxic. Additionally, all particles were hemocompatible with hemolytic activity &lt / 1.5%. L929 fibroblast and Saos 2 human osteosarcoma cells were used to study the uptake of NPs by the cells. Particles accumulate near the nucleus. The characterization and cell viability tests, and drug release behavior indicate the suitability of these NPs for further testing to develop a patient specific skin diseases treatment approach.