Banca de DEFESA: MARIANA FARIAS ALVES DA SILVA

Uma banca de DEFESA de DOUTORADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : MARIANA FARIAS ALVES DA SILVA
DATE: 16/04/2026
TIME: 14:00
LOCAL: HÍBRIDO - AUDITÓRIO DA FACULDADE DE FARMÁCIA E VIDEOCONFERÊNCIA
TITLE:

In vitro antiproliferative activity evaluation of functionalized nanoparticles containing phytol and methotrexate.

KEY WORDS:

co-nanoencapsulation; specific targeting; HeLa cells.

PAGES: 167
BIG AREA: Ciências da Saúde
AREA: Farmácia
SUMMARY:

Despite advances in oncological therapy, the selective delivery of drugs to tumor tissues still faces limitations due to low specificity and side effects. Methotrexate (MTX) is a chemotherapeutic agent capable of binding to folate receptors (FR), which are frequently overexpressed in cancer cells. Strategies combining chemotherapeutics with natural compounds in nanostructured systems can enhance therapeutic efficacy. In this study, co-encapsulated and functionalized nanoparticles containing MTX and phytol, a bioactive compound with anticancer potential, were developed, evaluating their antiproliferative activity in FR expressing lineages, such as HeLa cells. The nanoparticles were obtained by nanoprecipitation followed by solvent evaporation. Characterization included particle diameter, polydispersity index (PdI), zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency (EE), and morphology via scanning electron microscopy. Biological assays comprised cytocompatibility tests in L929 fibroblasts, as well as cytotoxicity and clonogenicity assays in HeLa cells. The nanoparticles presented a mean size of 250 nm, PdI below 0.2 (indicating homogeneity), physical stability, and spherical morphology, with EE exceeding 80% for both actives. The functionalized systems proved cytocompatible with L929 cells at a concentration of 5 µg/mL of the polymeric matrix and exhibited a marked antiproliferative effect on HeLa cells, with 63% cell death within 24 hours (MTT assay). After 8 days, the absence of colony formation indicated loss of clonogenic potential and prolonged cytotoxic effects. These findings highlight the potential of the MTX–phytol co encapsulated system as a promising approach for targeted antineoplastic therapies.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - 1639820 - ARNOBIO ANTONIO DA SILVA JUNIOR
Interno - 1178187 - ERYVALDO SOCRATES TABOSA DO EGITO
Interno - 1544647 - MATHEUS DE FREITAS FERNANDES PEDROSA
Externo ao Programa - 2195251 - HUGO ALEXANDRE DE OLIVEIRA ROCHA - UFRNExterna à Instituição - ANDRÉIA BAGLIOTTI MENEGUIN - UNESP
Externo à Instituição - FABIO ROCHA FORMIGA - FIOCRUZ