The new product is made up of microparticles capable of adhering to the intestinal mucosa. The method consists of encapsulating the active ingredient of valsartan with two natural and abundant polymers
Abandoning treatment is one of the greatest difficulties in controlling high blood pressure and heart failure. It is estimated that only two in ten adults diagnosed with high blood pressure have the chronic disease under control, according to the Society of Cardiology of the State of São Paulo (Socesp). An alternative to increasing adherence to treatment may be the technology developed by researchers at the Faculty of Chemical Engineering (QEF) from Unicamp. The invention is capable of prolonging the therapeutic effect of valsartan, one of the main antihypertensives, reducing side effects and benefiting patients, especially those who continuously use the drug.
The new product is made up of microparticles capable of adhering to the intestinal mucosa. The method consists of encapsulating the active ingredient of valsartan in a mixture of two natural and abundant polymers: alginate, from seaweed, and sericin, a protein that coats the silkworm cocoon. Changing the form of release of valsartan maintains effective treatment for longer.
The particles formed in the blend – the name used for the mixture of polymers – are gastro-resistant, that is, they pass through the stomach without being digested. The microspheres carrying the active ingredient reach the intestine intact, thus avoiding unnecessary irritation of the stomach mucosa. This generates greater comfort for the patient and facilitates the reduction of necessary dosages throughout the day, as they guarantee delivery to the site of action.
“The limit recommended by Anvisa, the National Health Surveillance Agency, for the release of drugs in the stomach is 10%. Our particles were well below this, releasing only 4% at this stage”, says professor, Melissa Gurgel Adeodato Vieira. The researcher has been exploring the potential of sericin and alginate for environmental and health purposes since 2014.
According to the research group, the particles also promote a more uniform release of the drug. This avoids peaks in concentration and absorption of valsartan that can cause symptoms such as dizziness and excessive decrease in blood pressure. The release of valsartan by sericin and alginate particles resulted in a prolongation of the active release time when compared to the conventional pharmaceutical form.
“We were able to have a much longer curve, of up to twenty-three hours, for the drug to reach 100% release. With this, we minimize side effects and increase the administration time between one dose and another, improving adherence to treatment and reducing costs for the patient”, reports chemical engineer, Caroline Santinon, citing the results of the tests. vitro.
Read article in full published on the Unicamp Innovation Agency website.
