Evaluation of skin permeation of bromelain using in vitro diffusion experiment

Abstract

Bromelain is a set of proteolytic enzymes found in various parts such as bark, stem, leaves and fruit of pineapple (Ananas comosus), and other species of the family Bromeliaceae. Due to its fibrinolytic, anti-inflammatory and healing properties, it is used in treating diseases related to blood clotting, angina, indigestion and respiratory problems. Hydrogels are tridimensional networks, capable of retain small molecules, such as proteins and drugs, in their structure. Hydrogels show various functional properties proposed to biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. Among those applications, hydrogel use as a drug delivery system is at the most interest at scientific researches. Studies showed that hydrogels are excellent candidates for biomolecules encapsulation, such as peptides and proteins, providing a controlled and sustained drug release system.Bacterial nanocellulose, as well as hydrogels, presents properties that make its use on biomedical and pharmaceutical fields a quite interesting. Due to its production process, bacterial nanocellulose is considered a biocompatible material. Its nanofibrilar structure is an ideal matrix for medical devices, as an aid in healing skin lesions or in tissue engineering, assisting cell regeneration. The incorporation of bioproducts, with biological properties, in hydrogels and bacterial nanocellulose has an extended application on biotechnological field, specially, on microbiology, medical-pharmaceutical (through skin lesions recuperation), chemical, cosmetic, nutrition and others. Therefore, studies aiming bromelain application in hydrogels and nanocellulose membranes are highly promising from a scientific and technologic standpoint. (AU)