Agaricus brasiliensis mushroom betaglucans solutions: Physicochemical properties and griseofulvin solubilization by self-assembly micro-nano particles formation

Polysaccharides constituted predominately of β-(1→6)-glucans were isolated from Agaricus brasiliensis and studied in aqueous medium. It was obtained an intrinsic viscosity value [η] of 5.31 mL/g and average viscosimetric molar mass (Mv) of 3.9×104 g/mol. The rheological study under the conditions of low and high shear rate demonstrated a predominant Newtonian behaviour showing a tendency to shear thinning flow behaviour at low shear rates. Physico-chemical parameters such as superficial tension (γ), critical micelle concentration (cmc) and superficial pressure (Л), as well as free Gibbs energy of micellization (ΔG) and the entropy of micellization (ΔS) showed similar characteristic to those found for other polysaccharides with surface tension properties. From the observed surfactant properties of the isolated polysaccharide it was evaluated its capacity to solubilize the drug griseofulvin. AFM images have shown that the glycoproteic complex may dissolve the drug forming self assembly particles with sizes ranging from nano to micrometers. The preliminary tests showed the feasibility of the use of the glucan solutions as solubilizing medium for griseofulvin.

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