Isabella Macário Ferro Cavalcanti

Bio: Isabella Macário Ferro Cavalcanti is an academic researcher from Federal University of Pernambuco. The author has contributed to research in topics: Antimicrobial & Medicine. The author has an hindex of 10, co-authored 49 publications receiving 379 citations. Previous affiliations of Isabella Macário Ferro Cavalcanti include Oswaldo Cruz Foundation.

Antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of quercetin against clinical isolates of Staphyloccocus aureus and Staphylococcus saprophyticus with resistance profile

Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the antibacterial and antibiofilm properties of quercetin against clinical isolates of Staphyloccocus aureus and Staphylococcus saprophyticus with resistance profile. The antibacterial activity of quercetin was performed by the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) through the microdilution method according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). The percentage of inhibition of Staphylococcus spp. biofilm, after treatment with sub-inhibitory concentrations of quercetin (MIC/2 and MIC/4), was evaluated by the violet crystal assay. Quercetin showed an antimicrobial activity against clinical isolates of methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) (MIC = 250 µg/ml), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) (MIC = 500 µg/ml), vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA) (MIC = 125 and 150 µg/ml), S. saprophyticus resistant to oxacillin (MIC = 62.5 to 125 µg/ml), vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA) and S. saprophyticus resistant to oxacillin and vancomycin (MIC = 500 to 1000 µg/ml). At MIC/2 and MIC/4 the quercetin inhibit 46.5 ± 2.7% and 39.4 ± 4.3% of the S. aureus biofilm, respectively, and 51.7 ± 5.5% and 46.9 ± 5.5% of the S. saprophyticus biofilm, respectively. According to the results of this study, it was noticed that the quercetin presented an antibacterial activity against strains of Staphylococcus spp. with resistance profile and also inhibited the bacterial biofilm production even in sub-inhibitory concentrations.

Enhanced antiproliferative activity of the new anticancer candidate LPSF/AC04 in cyclodextrin inclusion complexes encapsulated into liposomes.

Abstract: LPSF/AC04 (5Z)-[5-acridin-9-ylmethylene-3-(4-methyl-benzyl)-thiazolidine-2,4-dione] is an acridine-based derivative, part of a series of new anticancer agents synthesized for the purpose of developing more effective and less toxic anticancer drugs. However, the use of LPSF/AC04 is limited due to its low solubility in aqueous solutions. To overcome this problem, we investigated the interaction of LPSF/AC04 with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CyD) and hydroxypropyl-γ-cyclodextrin (HP-γ-CyD) in inclusion complexes and determine which of the complexes formed presents the most significant interactions. In this paper, we report the physical characterization of the LPSF/AC04–HP-CyD inclusion complexes by thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, infrared spectroscopy absorption, Raman spectroscopy, 1HNMR, scanning electron microscopy, and by molecular modeling approaches. In addition, we verified that HP-β-CyD complexation enhances the aqueous solubility of LPSF/AC04, and a significant increase in the antiproliferative activity of LPSF/AC04 against cell lines can be achieved by the encapsulation into liposomes. These findings showed that the nanoencapsulation of LPSF/AC04 and LPSF/AC04–HP-CyD inclusion complexes in liposomes leads to improved drug penetration into the cells and, as a result, an enhancement of cytotoxic activity. Further in vivo studies comparing free and encapsulated LPSF/AC04 will be undertaken to support this investigation.

A systematic review on nanoencapsulation of food bioactive ingredients and nutraceuticals by various nanocarriers

Abstract: Today, there is an ever-growing interest on natural food ingredients both by consumers and producers in the food industry. In fact, people are looking for those products in the market which are free from artificial and synthetic additives and can promote their health. These food bioactive ingredients should be formulated in such a way that protects them against harsh process and environmental conditions and safely could be delivered to the target organs and cells. Nanoencapsulation is a perfect strategy for this situation and there have been many studies in recent years for nanoencapsulation of food components and nutraceuticals by different technologies. In this review paper, our main goal is firstly to have an overview of nanoencapsulation techniques applicable to food ingredients in a systematic classification, i.e., lipid-based nanocarriers, nature-inspired nanocarriers, special-equipment-based nanocarriers, biopolymer nanocarriers, and other miscellaneous nanocarriers. Then, application of these cutting-edge nanocarriers for different nutraceuticals including phenolic compounds and antioxidants, natural food colorants, antimicrobial agents and essential oils, vitamins, minerals, flavors, fish oils and essential fatty acids will be discussed along with presenting some examples in each field.

Epidemiology and control of human gastrointestinal parasites in children

Abstract: Parasites found in the human gastrointestinal tract can be largely categorized into two groups, protozoa and helminths. The soil-transmitted helminths (Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm and Trichuris trichiura) are the most prevalent, infecting an estimated one-sixth of the global population. Infection rates are highest in children living in sub-Saharan Africa, followed by Asia and then Latin America and the Caribbean. The current momentum towards global drug delivery for their control is at a historical high through the efforts of numerous initiatives increasingly acting in coordination with donors, governments and local communities. Together, they have delivered enormous quantities of drugs, especially anthelmintics to children through nationwide annual or biannual mass drug administration largely coordinated through schools. However, a much larger and rapidly growing childhood population in these regions remains untreated and suffering from more than one parasite. Mass drug administration has profound potential for control but is not without considerable challenges and concerns. A principal barrier is funding. Stimulating a research and development pipeline, supporting the necessary clinical trials to refine treatment, in addition to procuring and deploying drugs (and sustaining these supply chains), requires substantial funding and resources that do not presently exist. Limited options for chemotherapy raise concerns about drug resistance developing through overuse, however, satisfactory pharmaco-epidemiology and monitoring for drug resistance requires more developed health infrastructures than are generally available. Further, the limited pharmacopeia does not include any effective second-line options if resistance emerges, and the research and development pipeline is severely depressed. Herein, we discuss the major gastrointestinal protozoa and helminths reviewing their impact on child health, changing epidemiology and how this relates to their control.