Veterinary shampoo with antiparasitary action incorporated with polymer nanoparticles containing praziquantel: Development and stability study

Abstract

The study of parasitosis in domestic animals has become a priority in recent decades, since there is a very close relationship between these animals and humans. Health care for these animals should be included in the routine, aiming to reduce the risk of them becoming vectors of some diseases, which is a public health problem in Brazil and in underdeveloped countries. One of the most widely used antiparasitics is praziquantel, a drug that acts directly on the permeability of the cell membrane of cestodes and trematodes, causing severe spasms and paralysis in the muscles of the worms. The drug, despite being broad-spectrum, has an extremely permeable structure (lipophilic character), has problems due to low solubility in water, a limiting factor for a good bioavailability of the active ingredient, having its significant effect at high doses. An alternative to increase the bioavailability of the drug is the use of polymers in the development of delivery systems in the form of polymeric nanoparticles. In addition, veterinary treatment can use "shampotherapy" as an alternative, as it allows a topical therapy with a dermatological treatment of the animal due to the permeation of active components through all layers of the skin. Thus, in the present work, an innovative formulation of transparent shampoo incorporated with poly n-butylcyan acrylate (PBCA) nanoparticles containing praziquantel was developed. The development of the shampoo was carried out using the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices for Veterinary Products), giving rise to 3 samples: the first containing only the shampoo, the second with the drug praziquantel previously dissolved in alcohol and the last with the polymeric nanoparticles of praziquantel. The methodology used was the evaluation of the organoleptic characteristics, pH, density and viscosity analyses, in order to verify if the formulation remains stable for effective and safe use. At the end of the analyses, a potential innovative product was obtained, which maintained the stability characteristics, indicating that the ideal parameters for the purpose of the product were respected.     Keywords: parasitosis, polymeric nanoparticles, bioavailability.