DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CARBOPOL HYDROGELS CONTAINING NANOSTRUCTURED LIPID CARRIERS WITH UNSAPONIFIABLE FRACTION OF ANNATTO

Bixa orellana L., popularly known as annatto, has sparked interest in research focused on the development of herbal medicines, especially due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and healing properties, which are associated with the presence of bioactive compounds capable of promoting tissue regeneration. Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLCs) are based on the premise of increasing encapsulation efficiency and drug retention time during storage, consisting of a binary mixture of solid and liquid lipids. In this context, the present study aimed to develop and characterize Carbopol-based hydrogels containing the unsaponifiable fraction of annatto nanoencapsulated in NLCs, aiming at potential topical applications in the treatment of cutaneous lesions. The NLCs were evaluated for physicochemical stability over 90 days, considering the parameters of mean particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential. The developed hydrogels were evaluated for organoleptic characteristics, pH, and spreadability. The NLC formulations showed a mean particle size between 106 and 161 nm, a polydispersity index below 0.2, and a zeta potential of up to -18 mV, indicating good stability throughout the evaluated period. The formulated hydrogels exhibited a stable appearance, a pH compatible with cutaneous application, and good spreadability, especially in the formulations containing the unsaponifiable fraction of annatto. Thus, the results obtained indicate that the developed formulations present promising physicochemical characteristics for topical pharmaceutical use, with potential application in skin healing processes.

This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001.