CEDEFAR - GPNANO
CENTER OF DEVELOPMENT AND PHARMACEUTICAL ASSAYS
RESEARCH GROUP OF PHARMACEUTICAL NANOTECHNOLOGY
ABOUT
The CEDEFAR laboratory has been engaged in the development of pharmaceutical analytical assays since 2000, with experience in drug equivalence assays. In addition, it provides services to the pharmaceutical industries in the area of drug analysis. The lab also supports the undergraduate course of Pharmacy at Federal University of Ceará. Since 2018, GPNANO, group of pharmaceutical nanotechnology, has joined the lab, contemplating the development of drug nanocarriers, physicochemical characterization, in vitro (cell culture) and in vivo assays. The lab is coordinated by Professors Luís Carlos Brígido de Moura and Dr. Josimar Eloy. The principal investigators of GPNANO are Professors Josimar Eloy (UFC) and Raquel Petrilli (Unilab). GPNANO is associated to the graduate program of pharmaceutical sciences.
RESEARCH
CEDEFAR-GPNANO area of expertise is pharmaceutical nanotechnology, with projects encompassing a variety of delivery systems of different compositions (lipid, polymeric, inorganic). The nanoparticles are thoroughly characterized, involving analyses of particle size, zeta potential, drug quantification, thermal analyses, electron microscopy, drug release etc. The systems are evaluated in vitro and in vivo (cytotoxicity, cell uptake, skin penetration, cancer xenografts etc). Our main interest is to develop multifunctional nanoparticles for cancer treatment. We particularly explore the strategies of nanoparticle functionalization with monoclonal antibody and other moieties for selective drug delivery to cancer. Furthermore, we are interested in the potential of stimuli-responsive materials for enhancing drug delivery from nanoparticles. CEDEFAR-GPNANO has two main research interests, focusing on cancer treatment: drug nanocarriers for parenteral and for skin delivery (using physical penetration enhancers). Our research is carried out by undergraduate students and graduate students (Master’s and PhD).
NEWS
ACKNOWLEGEMENTS
FUNDING
