Melatonin Nanoparticles Adsorbed to Polyethylene Glycol Microspheres as Activators of Human Colostrum Macrophages

Abstract EN

The effectiveness of hormones associated with polymeric matrices has amplified the possibility of obtaining new drugs to activate the immune system.

Melatonin has been reported as an important immunomodulatory agent that can improve many cell activation processes.

It is possible that the association of melatonin with polymers could influence its effects on cellular function.

Thus, this study verified the adsorption of the hormone melatonin to polyethylene glycol (PEG) microspheres and analyzed its ability to modulate the functional activity of human colostrum phagocytes.

Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry analyses revealed that melatonin was able to adsorb to the PEG microspheres.

This system increased the release of superoxide and intracellular calcium.

There was an increase of phagocytic and microbicidal activity by colostrum phagocytes when in the presence of melatonin adsorbed to PEG microspheres.

The modified delivery of melatonin adsorbed to PEG microspheres may be an additional mechanism for its microbicidal activity and represents an important potential treatment for gastrointestinal infections of newborns.