Rafaela Figueiredo Rodrigues

Dr. Rafaela Figueiredo Rodrigues


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

6Years (2021-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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6 November 2021 in Polymers
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RRRafaela Figueiredo Rodrigues
Rafaela Figueiredo Rodrigues
JNJuliana Barbosa Nunes
Juliana Barbosa Nunes
SASandra Agostini
Sandra Agostini
PSPaloma Freitas dos Santos
Paloma Freitas dos Santos
JCJuliana Cancino-Bernardi
Juliana Cancino-Bernardi
Vanessa Bergamin Boralli MarquesVanessa Bergamin Boralli Marques
Vanessa Bergamin Boralli Marques
This study offers a novel oral pregabalin (PG)-loaded drug delivery system based on chitosan and hypromellose phthalate-based polymeric nanocomposite in order to treat neuropathic pain (PG-PN). PG-PN has a particle size of 432 ± 20 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.238 ± 0.001, a zeta potential of +19.0 ± 0.9 mV, a pH of 5.7 ± 0.06, and a spherical shape. Thermal and infrared spectroscopy confirmed nanocomposite generation. PG-PN pharmacokinetics was studied after a single oral dose in male Wistar rats. PG-PN showed greater distribution and clearance than free PG. The antinociceptive effect of PG-PN in neuropathic pain rats was tested by using the chronic constriction injury model. The parameter investigated was the mechanical nociceptive threshold measured by the von Frey filaments test; PG-PN showed a longer antinociceptive effect than free PG. The rota-rod and barbiturate sleep induction procedures were used to determine adverse effects; the criteria included motor deficit and sedative effects. PG-PN and free PG had plenty of motors. PG-PN exhibited a less sedative effect than free PG. By prolonging the antinociceptive effect and decreasing the unfavorable effects, polymeric nanocomposites with pregabalin have shown promise in treating neuropathic pain.

15 January 2024 in Antibiotics
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Journal Article
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JSJuliana Savioli Simões
Juliana Savioli Simões
RRRafaela Figueiredo Rodrigues
Rafaela Figueiredo Rodrigues
BZBruno Zavan
Bruno Zavan
RERicardo Murilo Pereira Emídio
Ricardo Murilo Pereira Emídio
RSRoseli Soncini
Roseli Soncini
Vanessa Bergamin Boralli MarquesVanessa Bergamin Boralli Marques
Vanessa Bergamin Boralli Marques
Sepsis can trigger acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which can lead to a series of physiological changes, modifying the effectiveness of therapy and culminating in death. For all experiments, male Wistar rats (200–250 g) were split into the following groups: control and sepsis-induced by endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS); the control group received only intraperitoneal saline or saline + CEF while the treated groups received ceftriaxone (CEF) (100 mg/kg) IP; previously or not with sepsis induction by LPS (1 mg/kg) IP. We evaluated respiratory mechanics, and alveolar bronchial lavage was collected for nitrite and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) quantification and cell evaluation. For pharmacokinetic evaluation, two groups received ceftriaxone, one already exposed to LPS. Respiratory mechanics shows a decrease in total airway resistance, dissipation of viscous energy, and elastance of lung tissues in all sepsis-induced groups compared to the control group. VEGF and NOx values were higher in sepsis animals compared to the control group, and ceftriaxone was able to reduce both parameters. The pharmacokinetic parameters for ceftriaxone, such as bioavailability, absorption, and terminal half-life, were smaller in the sepsis-induced group than in the control group since clearance was higher in septic animals. Despite the pharmacokinetic changes, ceftriaxone showed a reduction in resistance in the airways. In addition, CEF lowers nitrite levels in the lungs and acts on their adverse effects, reflecting pharmacological therapy of the disease.

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RPRodrigo Vicentino Placido
Rodrigo Vicentino Placido
RRRafaela Figueiredo Rodrigues
Rafaela Figueiredo Rodrigues
LCLellis H. Costa
Lellis H. Costa
TKTaila Kawano
Taila Kawano
MJMilton Kennedy Aquino Júnior
Milton Kennedy Aquino Júnior
Vanessa Bergamin Boralli MarquesVanessa Bergamin Boralli Marques
Vanessa Bergamin Boralli Marques
Drug resistance remains a major challenge in epilepsy, and overexpression of ATP-binding cassette transporters, particularly P-glycoprotein (P-gp), at the blood–brain barrier (BBB) has been consistently implicated in limiting central nervous system drug exposure. Genetic experimental models suitable for investigating molecular regulation and functional alterations of P-gp in epilepsy remain scarce. This study evaluated P-gp expression and functional alterations in the Wistar Audiogenic Rat (WAR), a genetic model of epilepsy exhibiting phenotypic heterogeneity. WAR animals were classified into refractory epilepsy (WAR-RE) or temporal lobe epilepsy (WAR-TLE) phenotypes and compared with non-epileptic Wistar controls. Fexofenadine, a well-established in vivo P-gp probe substrate, was administered orally, and plasma pharmacokinetic parameters were determined. P-gp expression at the BBB was assessed by immunohistochemistry in hippocampal regions. WAR-RE animals exhibited significantly increased systemic exposure to fexofenadine, characterized by higher area under the curve and prolonged half-life, alongside reduced apparent clearance, compared with control animals (p < 0.05). In contrast, WAR-TLE animals showed greater interindividual variability without statistically significant differences. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed increased P-gp expression in hippocampal microvessels in both WAR phenotypes. These findings demonstrate that the WAR model displays molecular upregulation of P-gp at the BBB, accompanied by functional alterations in the disposition of a prototypical P-gp substrate. Although direct brain drug concentrations were not assessed, the integration of systemic pharmacokinetics with transporter expression supports the use of WAR as a genetic proof-of-concept model for studying P-gp regulation and transporter-mediated drug disposition in epilepsy. This model provides a valuable molecular framework for future investigations addressing transporter modulation and mechanisms underlying pharmacoresistance.