Aedes mosquito-borne diseases remain a significant global health threat, necessitating effective control strategies. This study introduces monoterpenes-based nanohydrogels for potential use as repellents against Aedes aegypti, the primary dengue vector worldwide. We formulated hydrogels using cymene- and myrcene-based nanoemulsions with different polymers: chitosan, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and carbopol^®. Our evaluations of rheological, texture, and bioadhesive properties identified CMC hydrogel as the most promising gelling agent for topical application, exhibiting sustained monoterpene release over 12 h with low skin permeation and high retention in the stratum corneum. Myrcene-loaded CMC hydrogel achieved a 57% feeding deterrence compared to 47% with cymene hydrogel in the mosquito membrane-feeding model. Molecular docking studies revealed interactions between myrcene and an essential amino acid (Ile116) in the Ae. aegypti odorant-binding protein 22 (AeOBP22), corroborating its higher repellent efficacy. These findings suggest that myrcene-loaded CMC hydrogels offer a promising, minimally invasive strategy for personal protection against Ae. aegypti and warrant further investigation to optimize monoterpene concentrations for vector control.

Breast cancer, a highly prevalent malignancy among women, continues to pose a significant global health challenge, as conventional therapies are often limited by adverse effects. This study developed and evaluated nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) encapsulating fatty acid amides (FAAs) semi-synthesized from andiroba oil and combined with silk fibroin (SF) as a novel therapeutic strategy. Methods: FAAs were synthesized via direct amidation and characterized by GC-MS, FT-IR, and ¹³C NMR. These fatty acid amides were then incorporated into NLCs containing SF. The formulation was evaluated for its physicochemical stability, cell selectivity, and cytotoxicity against 4T1 murine breast cancer cells and healthy human fibroblasts. Results: The NLC-FAA/SF formulation exhibited physicochemical stability (average particle size: 136.9 ± 23.6 nm; zeta potential: −8.3 ± 12.0 mV; polydispersity index: 0.19 ± 0.04), indicating a monodisperse and stable system. In vitro cytotoxicity assays demonstrated high selective activity against 4T1 murine breast cancer cells (IC₅₀ = 0.18 ± 0.06 μg/mL) and negligible toxicity to healthy human fibroblasts. Molecular docking studies revealed favorable interactions between the FAAs and cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, with unsaturated FAAs showing higher binding scores and stability, suggesting their potential as cannabinoid receptor ligands. These findings highlight NLC-FAA/SF as a promising, selective, and effective nanoplatform for breast cancer treatment, warranting further investigation into its mechanism of action and in vivo efficacy.

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, resulting in multiple motor and cognitive impairments. Among the hypotheses proposed for its etiology, oxidative stress mediated by the enzyme monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) stands out, as it is directly associated with dopamine metabolism. In this context, the search for molecules with potential antiparkinsonian activity and low toxicity, particularly those of natural origin, has been extensively investigated using computational approaches. In the present study, a pharmacophore-based virtual screening was carried out on molecules belonging to the alkaloid and flavonoid groups, followed by the evaluation of their pharmacokinetic, toxicological, and biological activity profiles, as well as ligand–receptor interaction analysis through molecular docking. The results indicated that palmatine, genistein, ZINC00597214, and ZINC72342127 exhibited superior performance compared to the other analyzed structures, considering all evaluated criteria. Therefore, this study, through in silico methodologies, demonstrated the antiparkinsonian potential of several chemical structures, attributable to their inhibitory activity on the MAO-B enzyme. Further experimental investigations, both in vitro and in vivo, are necessary to more comprehensively characterize the properties of these molecules, with the ultimate goal of developing new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by progressive dopaminergic degeneration and chronic neuroinflammation. The cannabinoid type 2 receptor (CB2R) has emerged as a promising therapeutic target due to its immunomodulatory effects without the psychotropic activity associated with CB1. This integrative review summarizes advances in the rational design, computational modeling, and preclinical evaluation of selective CB2 agonists for neuroprotection in PD. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, studies published between 2000 and 2025 were screened across major scientific databases. Thirty-eight articles met the inclusion criteria, comprising computational analyses and in vivo preclinical models. Evidence consistently shows that CB2 activation reduces microglial-driven neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and dopaminergic loss. Progress in structure-based drug design, molecular docking, QSAR models, and cryo-EM data has guided the development of ligands with improved selectivity, affinity, and pharmacokinetic profiles. Despite the significant potential, clinical translation remains limited. Emerging strategies, including natural-product-based scaffolds, artificial intelligence workflows and allosteric modulation, represent promising directions for the next generation of CB2-targeted therapies.