Desenvolvimento e caracterização de microemulsões para veiculação de RNA interferente na pele

Abstract

The gene therapy has emerged as a promising tool to handle, replace, remove or introduce genes into an organism for treatment of disease. Among the nucleic acids with therapeutic potential are the small interference molecules (siRNA) capable of causing the removal of messenger RNAs (mRNA) or to silence genes. The main challenge is the placement of these molecules for efficient transfection into target cells. The microemulsions have been widely used as carriers for topical drugs. They are colloidal systems with high solubilizing capacity and ability to control the rate of release of active molecules. Therefore, this study developed microemulsions containing siRNA for future topical application as a nanocosmetic. Two pseudoternary phase diagram were obtained using an aqueous phase of propylene glycol and water, Span 80 and Tween 80 as the mixture of surfactants and the canola oil as the oil phase. One received 5% polyethyleneimine (PEI) to aqueous phase to the synthesis of a polymeric system. The selected formulations were evaluated for conductivity, refractive index (RI), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), droplet size, X-ray diffraction (XRD), polarized light microscopy (PLM) and stability, showing microemulsions of the type W/O. Furthermore, were performed studies of encapsulation efficiency and release of siRNA, which showed a great performance of the microemulsions as carriers of the interfering molecules. The presence of PEI provided strong electrostatic interaction with polynucleotides in order to not favor his release and reduced droplet size. The cytotoxicity assay demonstrated the cytoprotective effect of the formulations applied. The systems behaved as Newtonian fluids and low viscosity which facilitates topical application. Therefore, microemulsions are promising vehicles of siRNA for the purpose of skin therapy, with possible technological and socio-economic impact, given that this methodology has not been applied in the field of cosmetics.