ResumoO objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver e caracterizar filmes biodegradáveis à base de xilana extraída de sabugo de milho com potencial uso como uma nova matéria-prima para embalagens biodegradáveis. Para tanto, os filmes foram produzidos através da secagem das dispersões filmogênicas com diferentes concentrações de xilana (150 mg, 300 mg, 600 mg), e glicerol (5%, 10%, 15%), com ou sem adição de gelatina (1000 mg). A caracterização avaliou a morfologia, espessura, solubilidade, biodegradabilidade e opacidade. Os filmes com melhores propriedades foram testados como biocobertura em uvas 'Itália' em duas condições de temperatura: ambiente (25 °C) e refrigerada (4 °C). Os parâmetros de perda de massa e acidez objetivaram avaliar sua eficácia. Os resultados mostraram que os filmes a base de xilana/gelatina apresentaram os melhores aspectos macroscópicos. Além disso, o aumento da concentração de xilana fez decrescer sua solubilidade. Conclui-se que a eficácia dos filmes como bioembalagem foi dependente da concentração de xilana na formulação e do período de avaliação. Palavras-chave: bioembalagens, filmes biodegradáveis, gelatina, xilana. AbstractThe aim of this work was to develop and characterize biodegradable films of xylan from corn cobs with potential use as biodegradable package. The films were produced by casting the film-forming dispersions with different amounts of xylan (150mg, 300mg, and 600mg), and glycerol (5%, 10%, and 15%), with or without gelatin (1000mg). The thickness, solubility, biodegradability, opacity, and morphology of the films were evaluated. The best films were selected to be used for covering grapes 'Italia' stored at two conditions, room temperature (25 °C) and under refrigeration (4 °C). We evaluated the water loss and acidity. The results showed that the xylan/gelatin films present the best macroscopic aspect. Furthermore, increase in the xylan concentration decreased the solubility of the films. We demonstrated that the efficiency of the films was dependent on the xylan content in the formulation and on the period of time used for evaluation.

This work describes the preparation and evaluation of safe xylan-based microparticles prepared by cross-linking polymerization using sodium trimetaphosphate. The resulting microparticles were evaluated for morphology, particle size, polymer-cross-link agent interaction, and in vitro toxicity. The microparticles showed narrow monodisperse size distributions with their mean sizes being between 3.5 and 12.5 µm in dried state. FT-IR analyzes confirmed the interaction between sodium trimetaphosphate and xylan during the cross-linking process with formation of phosphate ester bonds. Additionally, the X-ray diffraction patterns and FT-IR analyzes suggested that little or no cross-linking agent remained inside the microparticles. Furthermore, the in-vitro studies using Artemia salina and human erythrocytes revealed that the microparticles are not toxic. Therefore, the overall results suggest that these xylan microparticles can be used as a platform for new drug delivery system.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of nanoparticles (nanospheres and nanocapsules) of the promising antifungal 2-amino-thiophene (6CN10) and 6CN10 complexed with 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (6CN10:HP-β-CD) in vitro and compared with free drug against Candida and Cryptococcus, using a microdilution method to measure susceptibility. The Candida and Cryptococcus clinical strains were identified using phenotypic methods and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF). To measure in vitro antifungal susceptibility, we used microdilution trials. Serial drug or nanoparticle dilutions were prepared according to the CLSI M27-A3 guidelines. Anti-biofilm activity was verified for Cryptococcus neoformans. All Candida isolates were sensitive to the free drug (MIC = 41.66-333.33 μg/mL) and were able to grow even at the higher concentration tested for all 6CN10 nanoparticles. However, the Cryptococcus neoformans strains presented MIC values of 0.32-83.33 μg/mL for 6CN10 nanoparticles, and MIC values of 0.1-0.2 μg/mL for 6CN10:HP-β-CD nanoparticles, i.e., 3333 times more active than the free drug (MIC values 166.66-333.33 μg/mL), and presenting activity greater than that of the reference drug amphotericin B (MIC = 0.5-0.125 μg/mL). 6CN10:HP-β-CD nanosphere also showed high antibiofilm potential. The in vitro study showed that the nanoparticles allowed better drug efficiency against Cryptococcus than did the free drug. These results suggest that 6CN10-loaded nanoparticles may become a future alternative for cryptococcosis and candidiasis therapy. In vivo experiments are essential prior to clinical use.