Permeação transdérmica de formulações tópicas contendo hormônios sexuais e ecotoxicidade aquática de micro e nanopartículas de titanato de bário

Abstract

In Chapter 1, we aimed to evaluate the performance of the transdermal permeation of Pentravan vehicle for transdermal delivery of coumpounded systems containing progesterone (P), estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3), alone or as a combination of E2 + E3 (Biest). An experimental model of female excised human skin was used to predict the permeation and the retention of the active substances in all skin layers. Moreover, the manufacturing process for formulations were evaluated for content uniformity of the emulsions. The eco-friendly methods developed for quantification of female sex hormones in transdermal emulsions were appropriate, which has been proven through validation studies. The evaluation of the coumpounding process for the emulsions showed that the vacuum packaging currently used by pharmacies are suitable for use, and the use of roll mill played a key role in the uniformity of content for Eemuls and Biest. The in vitro release rates of the drugs from their formulations were adequately high, and all formulations followed pseudo-first order kinetics, typical of semisolid product. The ex vivo permeation study showed that all the formulations were able to promote transdermal absorption of hormones comparable to those currently practiced by industrialized products. In chapter 2, two particles of barium titanate (BT), micro- and nanosized, were evaluated for their impact on aquatic environments. A detailed characterization of the materials was carried out. We used two algae (Chlorella vulgaris and Euglena gracilis) and a cyanobacterium (Anabaena flos-aquae) as model-organisms for assessing toxicity. Both BT MP (microparticle) and BT NP (nanoparticle) were negative, easily aggregated, with a release rate of Ba2+ ions to media that did not exceed 1.5%. BT has a statistically significant toxic effect on cell growth and viability of C. vulgaris, from 1 ppm, which appears to be mediated by oxidative stress induced by the particles themselves or by Ba2+ ions released into the culture medium. BT has a very low toxic effect on the growth of A. flos-aquae, but both particles affect cell viability since the lowest concentration tested, which occurs by indirect effect on the cells. BT has a statistically significant toxic effect on cell growth and viability of E. gracilis, from 1 ppm, related to the effect of endocytosed particles in such an amount that a rupture of their membranes was caused. BT was able to stress all test-organisms, which was evidenced by the increase in superoxide dismutase activity, decreased photosynthetic efficiency and the decreased intracellular ATP levels. The behavior of BT in means of synthetic and natural culture was different, and the most pronounced toxic effects occurred when growth was given in water from the River Seine. The size of BT did not influence the effects on the growth of microorganisms - although growth inhibition has been more pronounced with the nanomaterial.