Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: GABRIELA BONINI TEIXEIRA

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : GABRIELA BONINI TEIXEIRA
DATE: 19/03/2026
TIME: 15:00
LOCAL: Instituto de Tecnologia
TITLE:

DEVELOPMENT OF NANOEMULSIONS CONTAINING GOLD AND SILVER BIMETALLIC NANOPARTICLES (Au-Ag) FOR THE TREATMENT OF CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS

KEY WORDS:

Bimetallic nanoparticles; Gold; Silver; Cutaneous leishmaniasis;

PAGES: 70
BIG AREA: Engenharias
AREA: Engenharia de Materiais e Metalúrgica
SUMMARY:

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease of great public health relevance, especially in endemic regions, characterized by ulcerative skin lesions and significant limitations in currently available treatments, such as high toxicity, low therapeutic adherence, and risk of parasite resistance. In this context, the application of nanotechnology to dermatology emerges as a promising alternative for the development of more effective, safe, and targeted topical therapeutic systems.

This work proposes the development, characterization, and preclinical evaluation of nanoemulsions containing bimetallic gold and silver nanoparticles, with emphasis on core-shell (Ag@Au) structures, obtained exclusively by a controlled chemical route, aiming at topical application in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. The choice of the synthetic route is based on the need for high experimental reproducibility and precise control of the physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles, such as size, morphology, composition, and colloidal stability, parameters directly related to the biological performance and dermatological safety of the system.

The synthesized nanoparticles will be characterized by spectroscopic, structural, and morphological techniques, including UV–Vis spectroscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopy (TEM/SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta potential. These analyses will allow correlation of the nanoparticles' structural properties with their biological behavior. Biological evaluation will include cytotoxicity assays in cutaneous cell lines, such as HaCaT keratinocytes and fibroblasts, as well as in vitro antileishmanial activity tests against promastigote and amastigote forms of Leishmania spp.

Furthermore, the Au–Ag nanoparticles will be incorporated into topical oil-in-water nanoemulsion systems to improve the stability, dispersion, and skin penetration of the nanoparticles, favoring controlled and localized release of the therapeutic agent. The developed systems are expected to exhibit relevant antileishmanial activity, an adequate safety profile, and potential for topical application, contributing to the advancement of nanotechnology approaches in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - 3103346 - JOAO VICTOR NICOLINI
Interna - ***.971.395-** - Helen Conceição Ferraz - UFRJ
Externa ao Programa - 3145590 - DANIELA COSENTINO GOMES - UFRRJExterna à Instituição - FRANCCESCA FORNASIER