Polymeric nanocarriers and photoactive compounds in diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases

Abstract

This research project to master´s degree is associated directly to the FAPESP thematic project entitled "Use of nanocarriers containing photosensitizing drugs and other actives applied to cell therapy and treatment of diseases of the central nervous system", with FAPESP process number 2013/50181-1, which contribute in a complementary form to development of activity plan approved by FAPESP. It is estimated that of all diseases, approximately 6.3% are Neurological, however, with aging of the population, this number tends to increase, and there are a need to the development of effective treatments. Neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease and brain tumor known as glioblastoma are considered two of the most aggressive Neurological disease, the first show a median survival life expectation of 10 years and the second of it reach maximum of 12 to 15 months. Currently, there have only few treatment of this neurodegenerative disease, but there is no an effective treatment. For glioblastoma, which is highly resistant to chemotherapy, after chirurgic procedures there are a need to develop a more effective therapy. Studies have shown the importance of nanostructures drug delivery system that direct and control the release of drugs into the bloodstream, targeting the treatment of many diseases such as Parkinson, Alzheimer and Glioblastoma. This project aims not only develop nanostructured polymeric formulations as also perform the application of this drug on in vitro cellular models for Alzheimer disease, glioblastoma and anaplastic astrocytoma. Thus, the studies proposed seem to be very relevant, since the use of new technologies for the treatment of a disease already explored in the scientific world, but with small success, seems to be the main point to the discovery of new therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's, glioblastoma and astrocytoma neoplasm. In short, this project proposes evaluate objectively the wide range of application of the proposed therapeutic, leaving no doubt as the potential of the Photodynamic Therapy when we join the Nanotechnology, the Photoprocess and Cell Therapy for the treatment of these diseases.