## 3 Results and Discussion
The \(\alpha\)-Toc spectrum shows important bands that characterize the oil, such as the bands 2845 cm\({}^{-1}\) and 2782 cm\({}^{-1}\) (CH\({}_{2}\) stretch vibration), 1269 cm\({}^{-1}\) (C-O ethers), and 1058 cm\({}^{-1}\) (phenyl elongation) [46]. When observing the CGNPs, it is not possible to identify differences between them and CG, as they present the same unmodified bands, which suggests total encapsulation of \(\alpha\)-Toc, corroborating the E.E. and the ZP. These data stand out from a previous study that tried to encapsulate a mix of oils and it was possible to identify the main bands of each component of the nanocapsule produced; however, they only had 13.4% of E.E. [47]. On the other hand, another study that obtained E.E. above 95% showed the FTIR spectrum of the complex with a slight difference in the intensity, suggesting the influence of oil concentration and E.E. in the results [48]. The CGNPs+10 analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (Figure 6) was produced by nanoprecipitation and presented a spherical shape with good delimitation, and without roughness. They have size uniformity (Figure 6B) by the PDI, and an average size around 150 nm (Figure 6A), being a little smaller than those observed by DLS. In addition, white spots can be seen inside the particles, which suggests the \(\alpha\)-Toc inside them. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c} \hline \hline
**Sample/Parameters** & **D\({}_{0.1}\)** & **D\({}_{1/2}\)** & **MRTD** & **The Residue (\%)** \\ \hline CGNPs+10 & 272.23 & 312.44 & 330.82 & 12.47 \\ CGNPs+25 & 277.28 & 312.13 & 330.79 & 11.56 \\ CGNPs+50 & 265.29 & 308.23 & 327.87 & 0.0 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 2: Parameters of the CGNPs third stage degradation with different concentrations of \(\alpha\)-tocopherol. D\({}_{0.1}\): initial decomposition temperature; D\({}_{1/2}\): temperature values for the 50 wt.%; MRTD: the temperature for the maximum rate of decomposition; Residue: residue obtained at 600 \({}^{\circ}\)C.  
To understand the behavior mechanism of CGNPs, the duration of \(\alpha\)-Toc delivery, and based on the results obtained previously, CGNPS+10 was chosen for in vitro release analysis. Figure 7 shows the amount \(\alpha\)-Toc from CGNPs+10 released as a function of time, where it can be seen that in general \(\alpha\)-Toc has a slow, continuous, and gradual release profile, reaching equilibrium after 12 h of release with 15.2% \(\alpha\)-Toc released from CGNPs+10 when reaching that plateau. The CG behavior can be observed in other studies, where even carrying a drug with the same load, the CG requires more time to release a larger volume [11, 39]. Figure 5: (**A**) X-ray diffractogram of the cashew gum particles (CGNPs) with different concentrations of \(\alpha\)-tocopherol (10%, 25% and 50%), and with 20 reflection angle, monitored from 2\({}^{\circ}\) to 70\({}^{\circ}\) at a scan speed of 1\({}^{\circ}\cdot\)min\({}^{-1}\), 40 kV/30 mA; (**B**) FTIR spectrum of cashew gum (CG), \(\alpha\)-tocopherol (\(\alpha\)-TOC), and CGNPs with 10% of \(\alpha\)-tocopherol. Figure 6: Transmission electron microscopy of the cashew gum particles with 10% of \(\alpha\)-tocopherol (CGNPs+10) prepared by nanoprecipitation, on the scale 500 nm (**A**) and 1 \(\upmu\)m (**B**). To determine the drug release mechanism, the R2 mathematical models were statistically analyzed by the SigmaPlot 14.0 software and presented in Table 3. For each sample, the Korsmeyer-Peppas [49], Hixon and Crowel [50], Higuchi [51] and First Order [52] models were analyzed, according to the release data obtained. The Korsmeyer-Peppas model showed the highest value when compared to the other models, R2 = 1, and it is possible to state that this study follows this mechanism model. The Korsmeyer-Peppas model is calculated by Mt/M\(\infty\) = k t\({}^{n}\), where the exponent 'n' determines the release mechanism according to the geometry of the system.