Browsing by Author "Blanco Llamero, Cristina"
Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
- Results Per Page
- Sort Options
Item Biomedical and Nutritional Applications of Lactoferrin.(International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics, 2023) Coccolini, Carlotta; Berselli, Elisa; Blanco Llamero, Cristina; Fathi, Faezeh; P. P. Oliveira, M. BeatrizLactoferrin (Lf) is a glycoprotein belonging to the transferrin family, which can be found in mammalian milk. It was first isolated from bovine milk in the 1930s, and later in the 1960s, it was determined from human milk. This multifunctional protein has the specific ability to bind iron. It plays various biological roles, such as antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anti-tumour, anti-obesity, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities. There are several studies describing its use against in various cancer cell lines (e.g., liver, lung and breast) and the glycoprotein has even been reported to inhibit the development of experimental metastases in mice. Previous studies also suggest Lf-mediated neuroprotection against age-related neurodegenerative diseases and it is also expected to attenuate aging. More recently, Lf has been proposed as a potential approach in COVID-19 prophylaxis. In this review, we discuss the recent developments about the biological activities of this pleiotropic glycoprotein that will reason the exploitation of its biomedical and supplementary nutritional value.Item Layer-by-layer assembly: A versatile approach for tailored biomedical films and drug delivery.(Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology, 2024) L.S. dos Santos, Victoria; C. Araújo, Rayssa; S. Lisboa, Erika; M. Lopes, André; L. de Albuquerque-Júnior, Ricardo; C. Cardoso, Juliana; Blanco Llamero, Cristina; A. Deshpande, Tanvi; O.W. Anderson, Henning; Priefer, Ronny; B. Souto, Eliana; Severino, PatríciaLayer-by-layer (LbL) assembly has revolutionized the field of biomedical engineering by enabling the precise design and fabrication of thin multilayer films with diverse functionalities. This article provides a comprehensive review of the applications of LbL assembly in drug delivery, antimicrobial action, wound healing, and tissue engineering. The LbL technique involves the sequential adsorption of oppositely charged materials onto a substrate, facilitating the incorporation of different chemical species through electrostatic interactions and other driving forces. This approach offers remarkable control over film properties such as porosity, mass, and thickness, and provides the flexibility to incorporate multiple components within the film structure. In drug delivery applications, LbL-produced films have demonstrated exceptional potential for controlled and sustained release of therapeutic agents, minimizing dosing frequency and improving patient compliance. Studies successfully report incorporated antimicrobials, anticancer agents and growth factors into LbL assemblies, demonstrating their effectiveness in targeted drug delivery and combating microbial infections. In addition, LBL assembly has emerged as a promising approach for wound healing strategies. By incorporating bioactive molecules and growth factors, these films promote tissue regeneration, angiogenesis and accelerated wound closure, thereby improving the overall wound healing process. In the field of tissue engineering, LbL-produced films provide a versatile platform for constructing bioactive structures that mimic the extracellular matrix and support cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation. This versatile approach has significant implications for the development of tissue substitutes and regenerative therapies. This review also emphasizes the influence of LbL assembly methods on film properties, including thickness and porosity, and highlights the effect of various parameters such as pH, solvent, ionic strength, and temperature on film formation.Item Microemulsion of essential oil of Citrus aurantium var. dulcis for control of Aleurocanthus woglumi and evaluation of selectivity against Aschersonia aleyrodis and Ceraeochrysa cornuta.(Crop Protection, 2024) Oliveira, Joseane de Jesus; Dos Passos, Eliana M.; Alves, Suely M.; Sarmento, Victor H.V.; Bjerk, Thiago R.; Cardoso, Juliana C.; Blanco Llamero, Cristina; Souto, Eliana B.; Severino, Patrícia; Da Costa Mendonça, MarceloThe aim of this study was to develop a microemulsion from the essential oil of Citrus aurantium var. dulcis (EOCA) as an alternative to synthetic pesticides, and to evaluate its efficacy against Aleurocanthus woglumi and selectivity towards the natural enemies Aschersonia aleyrodis and Ceraeochrysa cornuta. Chemical composition of the essential oil determined by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry revealed limonene, myrcene, linalool and α-pinene as major components. The microemulsion was prepared using a ternary diagram illustrating the composition of water, essential oil, surfactant (procetyl AWS) and co-surfactant (ethanol). Selected microemulsions were characterized by polarized light microscopy, revealing to be isotropic with a Newtonian behaviour when measuring the shear stress against shear rate. The mean droplet size of microemulsions ranged from 53.69 nm to 2.22 μm. The insecticidal activity was evaluated by assessing three application routes, namely, contact, systemic and translaminar. Selectivity of microemulsions was determined by the percentage of growth inhibition (PGI) of fungi on A. aleyrodis and by contact on eggs and larvae of C. cornuta. The oil (LC50 = 36.07 mg/mL) in its pure form had a lower insecticidal effect on A. woglumi than the microemulsions (LC50 = 18.65 mg/mL). The microemulsions showed systemic insecticidal activity with approximately 90% mortality at 72 h (LC90 = 55.50 mg/mL). On A. aleyrodis, the microemulsion interfered with biomass production, which was concentration dependent. At a concentration of 15.68 mg/mL, a 91% inhibition of biomass production were observed. In the selectivity experiments against C. cornuta, the microemulsions were selective for eggs and larvae, and did not interfere with its predatory capacity.