Nanoemulsão de óleo de algodão contendo fitol para potencial atividade leishmanicida

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is one of the most important neglected tropical diseases worldwide, with thousands of cases reported annually. It is caused by protozoa of the Leishmania spp. genus, transmitted by the vector, the sandfly. It is an endemic disease that mainly affects underdeveloped countries. The current treatment options for leishmaniasis are quite limited, as the available drugs can cause toxic effects in patients and have a high cost, resulting in low treatment adherence in most cases. In this context, nanotechnology emerges as a promising field, offering a viable alternative for drug delivery systems through the development of nanoemulsions (NE). Additionally, there is a search for active principles that can contribute to the treatment of the disease, such as phytol, a compound belonging to the class of diterpenes found in the chlorophyll of plants or algae, with several described pharmacological properties, and cottonseed oil, both natural products with similar properties. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop a stable NE containing phytol and cottonseed oil using the phase inversion emulsification technique. The physical-chemical characteristics, particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), and stability over time were evaluated, as well as macroscopic aspects. The developed formulations, including those with the incorporation of phytol at a concentration of 100 mg/g, maintained a particle size < 200 nm and PDI < 0.3. Therefore, the developed systems showed promise as a possible alternative in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. However, further tests and studies are necessary to refine the formulation and evaluate its effectiveness.