Tucuma (Astrocaryum vulgare) fat: an Amazonian material as a pharmaceutical input for lipid nanoparticle production

Native Amazon palm trees have been target of research and product development especially because of their oil and fat. Tucuma-do-Para (Astrocaryum vulgare) is a palm tree from which is possible to extract fruit seed fat. This article studied its physico-chemical characterization and analyzed its feasibility of use as raw material for nanostructured lipid nanoparticle (NLC) in pharmaceuticals. Through acidity, refraction and iodine indexes it was possible to determine that the fat has good quality and is in accordance with the literature. Ultraviolet spectrum scanning did not show peaks in region of dienes and trienes, compounds which appear when fat is decomposing. Infrared spectra and nuclear magnetic resonance determined spectral identity of the fat, confirming it is composed mainly by saturated groups. Fatty acid profile by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometer evidenced components in greater quantity: lauric and myristic acids in saturated part and oleic acid in unsaturated part. These acids have pharmacotechnical importance as permeation agents of active substances. Tucuma fat has thermal stability up to 350 degrees C and melting point of 35 degrees C. To reach nanostructured lipid carriers preparation it was necessary to increase its melting point by mixing it with carnauba wax. Through X-ray diffraction in crystallized tucuma fat/carnauba wax mixture it was possible to identify stable beta '-form which is the ideal form for production of stable nanostructured lipid carriers. From this lipidic mixture of tucuma fat/carnauba wax in 1:1 ratio, 9 formulations of nanostructures lipid carriers were prepared, from which 3 formulations were distinguished by their excelente particle size and polydispersity index values.