Nanosistemas inovadores com reposicionamento de fármacos para o tratamento de doenças periodontais

This project aims to develop, characterize, and validate a proof of concept for an innovative therapy for periodontal diseases (PDs), based on the combination of bimetallic oxide nanoparticles with antibacterial and antioxidant activity, capable of releasing a repositioned drug (a tetracycline, TC, selected for its immunomodulatory capacity), associated with a monoclonal antibody (tocilizumab, TCZ).

The developed therapy aims to surpass current therapies through the following innovations:

• Production of biodegradable nanoparticles with antibacterial and antioxidant activity, through a green, scalable, and licensable synthesis process;

• Optimization of tetracycline selection for the modulation of periodontal diseases, through a drug repositioning strategy, with potential application in other immuno-inflammatory pathologies;

• Fabrication of a multi-target approach by combining ZnOMgO nanoparticles with a selected tetracycline and tocilizumab, to increase therapeutic effectiveness;

• Validation of biological functionality in an in vitro organotypic model and in a translational animal model of periodontal diseases.