O objetivo desta pesquisa foi o desenvolvimento, avaliação da estabilidade e da eficácia de formulações cosméticas contendo acetil hexapeptídeo-3 (AHP) ou acetil tetrapeptídeo-5 (ATP) ou mistura de di e tripeptídeos (DTP). Para tal, foram desenvolvidas 6 formulações à base hidroxietilcelulose (HEC), metilfenil polissiloxano (MFP) e álcool batílico e lecitina de soja (ABL) (F1), ou de HEC, MFP, ésteres de polietilenoglicol com cadeia alquílica com 12 a 20 carbonos (EP) (F2), ou de polímero de acrilatos (PA), MFP e ABL (F3) ou de PA, MFP e EP (F4), ou de HEC e MFP (F5) ou de PA e MFP (F6), contendo ou não (veículo) 10% de AHP, ou 10% de ATP ou 4% de DTP, as quais foram submetidas a um estudo de estabilidade física por determinação da reologia e a uma avaliação sensorial. Para o estudo de eficácia dos peptídeos objeto de estudo as formulações foram aplicadas nos antebraços, na face, na região dos olhos e da boca de 60 voluntárias, sendo realizadas medidas do conteúdo aquoso do estrato córneo, da perda de água transepidérmica (TEWL), do micro-relevo cutâneo e das propriedades mecânicas da pele (anisotropia), antes (basal), após 2 horas da aplicação única (efeitos imediatos) e após 15 e 30 dias de uso contínuo (efeitos a longo prazo) das formulações. Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente pelo teste paramétrico análise de variância. Nos testes de estabilidade física, as formulações de nos 1, 2 e 5 foram consideradas as mais estáveis e as formulações de nº 5 e 6 foram as que apresentaram melhor sensorial, sendo, portanto, selecionada a formulação de nº 5 como veículo para os estudos de eficácia. Na avaliação dos efeitos imediatos na pele, observou-se que as formulações estudadas proporcionaram um aumento significativo no conteúdo aquoso do estrato córneo dos antebraços, enquanto que, somente as formulações acrescidas dos peptídeos provocaram um aumento significativo neste conteúdo na face. Em relação ao micro-relevo cutâneo, as formulações contendo ou não os peptídeos provocaram uma redução do parâmetro Ser (aspereza da pele) e Rt (rugosidade) nos antebraços e a formulação contendo DTP provocou um efeito imediato significativo no parâmetro Sesm (textura da pele). Na avaliação dos efeitos a longo prazo, as formulações ocasionaram uma diminuição significativa na TEWL e as acrescidas dos peptídeos objetos de estudo proporcionaram um aumento significativo no conteúdo aquoso do estrato córneo na região dos olhos, enquanto que nos antebraços e na região da boca todas as formulações acrescidas ou não dos peptídeos ocasionaram um aumento nesse parâmetro. Em relação ao micro-relevo cutâneo, a aplicação das formulações contendo os peptídeos, na região da boca, provocou um aumento significativo nos valores de Sesm. A aplicação das formulações contendo os peptídeos objeto de estudo, nos antebraços ocasionou uma diminuição significativa da anisotropia da pele. A formulação nº 5 contendo os peptídeos objeto de estudo, apresentou efeitos imediatos na hidratação, aspereza, rugosidade e textura da pele e, efeitos a longo prazo, na hidratação, textura e anisotropia da pele, mostrando a importância do emprego destes peptídeos em produtos cosméticos com finalidades hidratantes e antienvelhecimento. / The aim of this study was the development, evaluation of the stability and the efficacy of cosmetic formulations containing acetyl hexapeptide-3 (AHP), or acetyl tetrapeptide-5 (ATP) or mixture of di- and peptides (DTP). For this purpose the 6 following formulations (F) were developed: F1- containing hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), methylphenyl polysiloxane (MPPS), batyl alcohol, and lecithin (BAL); F2- HEC, MPPS and C12-C20 PEG-8 alkyl ester (AE); F3- acrylate copolymer (AC), MPPS and BAL; F4- AC, MPPS and AE; F5- HEC and MPPS and F6- AC and MPPS, which were supplemented or not (vehicle) with 10% of AHP or 10% of ATP or 4% of DTP and submitted to the evaluation of physical stability by the determination of the rheologic behavior and also to the sensorial analysis. For clinical efficacy studies, formulations were applied to the volar forearm and to the face skin (eye corner and cheek region), of 60 female volunteers. Skin conditions in terms of skin moisture, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin mechanical properties (anisotropy) and skin microrelief, before and after 2 hours (immediate effects) and after 15 and 30-day period of daily application (long term effects). Results obtained were statistically analyzed using the ANOVA parametric test. In the rheological study, the formulations number 1, 2, and 5 were considered more stable than the others. Moreover, the formulations number 5 and 6 showed the best sensorial attributes, and for this reason the formulation number 5 was selected for the efficacy study. The evaluation of immediate effects of formulations showed that the application of the formulations studied in the volar forearm increased the water content of the stratum corneum, while only the formulations containing the peptides provoked an increased in this content, when face skin was analyzed. When the volar forearm skin microrelief was analyzed, the application of all the formulations studied provoked a significant decrease in skin roughness (Ser) and depth of roughness (Rt), furthermore only the formulation supplemented with the DTP showed a significant increase in the skin smoothness (Sesm). In the evaluation of long term effects, all formulations provoked a significant reduction in TEWL values and the formulations containing the peptides studied provoked a significant increase in the water content of the stratum corneum of eye corner; when the volar forearms and the cheek region were analyzed, all the formulations containing or not the peptides studied, provoked an increase in this parameter. When the skin microrelief was analyzed, only the formulation supplemented with AHP or ATP or DTP, provoked a significant increase in the skin smoothness (Sesm), when applied in the cheek region. The application of formulations containing the peptides studied in the volar forearms provoked a significant decrease in the skin anisotropy. The formulation nº 5 (F5) containing the peptides studied, showed immediate effects on skin hydration, roughness and smoothness, and also long-term effects on skin hydration, smoothness and mechanical properties, which demonstrated the importance of the use of these peptides in cosmetic formulations with hydration and anti-aging purposes.

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi o desenvolvimento, avaliação da estabilidade e da eficácia de formulações cosméticas contendo acetil hexapeptídeo-3 (AHP) ou acetil tetrapeptídeo-5 (ATP) ou mistura de di e tripeptídeos (DTP). Para tal, foram desenvolvidas 6 formulações à base hidroxietilcelulose (HEC), metilfenil polissiloxano (MFP) e álcool batílico e lecitina de soja (ABL) (F1), ou de HEC, MFP, ésteres de polietilenoglicol com cadeia alquílica com 12 a 20 carbonos (EP) (F2), ou de polímero de acrilatos (PA), MFP e ABL (F3) ou de PA, MFP e EP (F4), ou de HEC e MFP (F5) ou de PA e MFP (F6), contendo ou não (veículo) 10% de AHP, ou 10% de ATP ou 4% de DTP, as quais foram submetidas a um estudo de estabilidade física por determinação da reologia e a uma avaliação sensorial. Para o estudo de eficácia dos peptídeos objeto de estudo as formulações foram aplicadas nos antebraços, na face, na região dos olhos e da boca de 60 voluntárias, sendo realizadas medidas do conteúdo aquoso do estrato córneo, da perda de água transepidérmica (TEWL), do micro-relevo cutâneo e das propriedades mecânicas da pele (anisotropia), antes (basal), após 2 horas da aplicação única (efeitos imediatos) e após 15 e 30 dias de uso contínuo (efeitos a longo prazo) das formulações. Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente pelo teste paramétrico análise de variância. Nos testes de estabilidade física, as formulações de nos 1, 2 e 5 foram consideradas as mais estáveis e as formulações de nº 5 e 6 foram as que apresentaram melhor sensorial, sendo, portanto, selecionada a formulação de nº 5 como veículo para os estudos de eficácia. Na avaliação dos efeitos imediatos na pele, observou-se que as formulações estudadas proporcionaram um aumento significativo no conteúdo aquoso do estrato córneo dos antebraços, enquanto que, somente as formulações acrescidas dos peptídeos provocaram um aumento significativo neste conteúdo na face. Em relação ao micro-relevo cutâneo, as formulações contendo ou não os peptídeos provocaram uma redução do parâmetro Ser (aspereza da pele) e Rt (rugosidade) nos antebraços e a formulação contendo DTP provocou um efeito imediato significativo no parâmetro Sesm (textura da pele). Na avaliação dos efeitos a longo prazo, as formulações ocasionaram uma diminuição significativa na TEWL e as acrescidas dos peptídeos objetos de estudo proporcionaram um aumento significativo no conteúdo aquoso do estrato córneo na região dos olhos, enquanto que nos antebraços e na região da boca todas as formulações acrescidas ou não dos peptídeos ocasionaram um aumento nesse parâmetro. Em relação ao micro-relevo cutâneo, a aplicação das formulações contendo os peptídeos, na região da boca, provocou um aumento significativo nos valores de Sesm. A aplicação das formulações contendo os peptídeos objeto de estudo, nos antebraços ocasionou uma diminuição significativa da anisotropia da pele. A formulação nº 5 contendo os peptídeos objeto de estudo, apresentou efeitos imediatos na hidratação, aspereza, rugosidade e textura da pele e, efeitos a longo prazo, na hidratação, textura e anisotropia da pele, mostrando a importância do emprego destes peptídeos em produtos cosméticos com finalidades hidratantes e antienvelhecimento. / The aim of this study was the development, evaluation of the stability and the efficacy of cosmetic formulations containing acetyl hexapeptide-3 (AHP), or acetyl tetrapeptide-5 (ATP) or mixture of di- and peptides (DTP). For this purpose the 6 following formulations (F) were developed: F1- containing hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), methylphenyl polysiloxane (MPPS), batyl alcohol, and lecithin (BAL); F2- HEC, MPPS and C12-C20 PEG-8 alkyl ester (AE); F3- acrylate copolymer (AC), MPPS and BAL; F4- AC, MPPS and AE; F5- HEC and MPPS and F6- AC and MPPS, which were supplemented or not (vehicle) with 10% of AHP or 10% of ATP or 4% of DTP and submitted to the evaluation of physical stability by the determination of the rheologic behavior and also to the sensorial analysis. For clinical efficacy studies, formulations were applied to the volar forearm and to the face skin (eye corner and cheek region), of 60 female volunteers. Skin conditions in terms of skin moisture, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin mechanical properties (anisotropy) and skin microrelief, before and after 2 hours (immediate effects) and after 15 and 30-day period of daily application (long term effects). Results obtained were statistically analyzed using the ANOVA parametric test. In the rheological study, the formulations number 1, 2, and 5 were considered more stable than the others. Moreover, the formulations number 5 and 6 showed the best sensorial attributes, and for this reason the formulation number 5 was selected for the efficacy study. The evaluation of immediate effects of formulations showed that the application of the formulations studied in the volar forearm increased the water content of the stratum corneum, while only the formulations containing the peptides provoked an increased in this content, when face skin was analyzed. When the volar forearm skin microrelief was analyzed, the application of all the formulations studied provoked a significant decrease in skin roughness (Ser) and depth of roughness (Rt), furthermore only the formulation supplemented with the DTP showed a significant increase in the skin smoothness (Sesm). In the evaluation of long term effects, all formulations provoked a significant reduction in TEWL values and the formulations containing the peptides studied provoked a significant increase in the water content of the stratum corneum of eye corner; when the volar forearms and the cheek region were analyzed, all the formulations containing or not the peptides studied, provoked an increase in this parameter. When the skin microrelief was analyzed, only the formulation supplemented with AHP or ATP or DTP, provoked a significant increase in the skin smoothness (Sesm), when applied in the cheek region. The application of formulations containing the peptides studied in the volar forearms provoked a significant decrease in the skin anisotropy. The formulation nº 5 (F5) containing the peptides studied, showed immediate effects on skin hydration, roughness and smoothness, and also long-term effects on skin hydration, smoothness and mechanical properties, which demonstrated the importance of the use of these peptides in cosmetic formulations with hydration and anti-aging purposes.

NMR spectroscopy is a very powerful technique for the characterization of structure and dynamics of a variety of systems starting from small organic molecules to large biological macromolecules. In solids, the study of protons becomes more interesting because they are very sensitive to inter-molecular packing and are directly involved in hydrogen-bonding and aromatic π-π interactions, etc. The present thesis is devoted essentially to utilizing information from proton resonances obtained using multinuclear and multiple-quantum approaches. The thesis has two parts. The first part deals with methodological developments in the area of solid-state NMR, relevant to the study of rigid powder samples as well as partially ordered liquid crystalline materials. Methods have been proposed to investigate the structure of small molecules at moderate spinning frequencies and thermotropic liquid crystals at static conditions. Proton detected heteronuclear experimental methods based on both first and second-order cross polarization at moderate and ultra-fast magic angle spinning rates are also proposed. The second part of the thesis deals with the application of both newly proposed and existing solid state NMR methods to the study of several biologically relevant systems. These include the study of several designed as well as naturally occurring peptides. The use of first-principles calculations based on GIPAW method for supporting the experimentally obtained results has also been made. The thesis is divided into five chapters. In the second chapter, a new pulse sequence to correlate Double Quantum (DQ) proton frequencies to carbon Single Quantum (SQ) chemical shifts in the solid state has been proposed. In this sequence, named as MAS-J-1H (DQ)-13C-HMQC, the correlation between 1H and 13C is achieved through scalar coupling, while the double-quantum coherence among protons is generated through dipolar couplings. This experiment is particularly suited for the study of 13C in natural abundance. The advantages of the technique with applications to alanine, histidine and a model liquid crystalline material have been demonstrated. The assignment of 13C spectra of partially ordered systems has also been considered. In this case the assignment of the spectrum is a major challenge due to the interplay of anisotropic order and chemical shift parameters. The DQ-SQ correlation experiment described in the thesis has been applied to a well known liquid crystal and also to a novel thiophene based liquid crystal and the local order parameters of the liquid-crystal have been obtained. The thesis also presents results on the azelaic acid -isonicotinamide co-crystal as well as the drug ibuprofen obtained by using novel methodologies. In the case of the former, the problem of overlap of resonances was overcome with the use of the REVERSE-CP approach to separate out the carbon attached protons from the rest of the protons. Subsequently, by the use of several combined approaches, the structural features were identified. A new heteronuclear correlation pulse sequence for solids under fast MAS conditions has also been tested. With low r.f powers, a second-order dipolar term mediated transfer of magnetization between I and S spin known as second order cross-polarization (SOCP) was exploited to obtain the entire spin system connectivity. Both carbon detected and proton detected experiments have been carried out and their utility evaluated. Similar approaches to shed light on the structure and conformation of a set of proline and pseudoproline based designed β-turn peptides that are used as templates for understanding protein folding have been made. Results of studies on two biologically important forms of the short-chain peptides namely glutathione reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) tripeptides are also presented.