NEW MICRO AND NANOPARTICLE MATERIALS DERIVED FROM SILK FIBROIN FOR DELIVERY OF MINOXIDIL
Alopecia; Silk fibroin; Minoxidil; Nanoparticles; Natural polymer.
Alopecia is a chronic condition that leads to continuous hair loss, causing psychological impacts on patients. Therefore, one of the treatments available in conventional form is topical Minoxidil at doses of 2% and 5%, which in some patients presented undesirable side effects due to the propylene glycol present in the formulations. In this sense, fibroin-based nanoparticulate materials could improve the conventional formulations of this drug, since it can increase skin penetration, drug solubility and reduce undesirable effects. In addition, fibroin is a natural polymer that has biocompatible, biodegradable properties, and few immunological responses, making it a promising polymeric matrix or membrane for the delivery of this drug in nanoparticles. Thus, the main objective is to optimize fibroin nanocapsules to be used as a controlled release system for Minoxidil to increase the therapeutic efficacy of the drug. For this, we will use the desolvation method together with experimental design to obtain the nanoparticles. Thus, the main objective is to optimize fibroin nanocapsules to be used as a controlled release system for Minoxidil to increase the therapeutic efficacy of the drug. To do this, we will use the desolvation method together with experimental design to obtain the nanoparticles. To perform the analyses of the empty nanocapsules and those with Minoxidil, we will use scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), as well as perform a study of cytotoxicity and controlled release of Minoxidil. Therefore, in this study, we hope to obtain a delivery system for topical Minoxidil that reduces side effects, facilitates the penetration of Minoxidil through the skin barrier and promotes an increase in the accumulation capacity of Minoxidil in hair follicles.