Renata Nunes Oliveira

Mechanical properties and in vitro characterization of polyvinyl alcohol- nano-silver hydrogel wound dressings

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels are materials for potential use in burn healing. Silver nanoparticles can be synthesized within PVA hydrogels giving antimicrobial hydrogels. Hydrogels have to be swollen prior to their application, and the common medium available for that in hospitals is saline solution, but the hydrogel could also take up some of the wounds fluid. This work developed gamma-irradiated PVA/nano-Ag hydrogels for potential use in burn dressing applications. Silver nitrate (AgNO3) was used as nano-Ag precursor agent. Saline solution, phosphate-buffered solution (PBS) pH 7.4 and solution pH 4.0 were used as swelling media. Microstructural evaluation revealed an effect of the nanoparticles on PVA crystallization. The swelling of the PVA-Ag samples in solution pH 4.0 was low, as was their silver delivery, compared with the equivalent samples swollen in the other media. The highest swelling and silver delivery were related to samples prepared with 0.50% AgNO3, and they also presented lower strength in PBS pH 7.4 and solution pH 4.0. Both PVA-Ag samples were also non-toxic and presented antimicrobial activity, confirming that 0.25% AgNO3 concentration is sufficient to establish an antimicrobial effect. Both PVA-Ag samples presented suitable mechanical and swelling properties in all media, representative of potential burn site conditions.

Poly(vinyl alcohol)/sulfonated polyester hydrogels produced by freezing and thawing technique: preparation and characterization

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels were obtained by freezing (-22 °C) and thawing (+25 °C) process, resulting in a semi-interpenetrating polymer network (s-IPN) with a sulfonated polyester (PES). The cryo-gels samples were analysed in terms of its water uptake capacity (WU) as a function of pH, temperature and ionic strength. WU of all samples were relatively high, and they showed a reasonable sensitivity to both pH and ionic strength. The pH- and ionic strength dependence is attributed to the dissociation of ionizable groups of PES. The degrees of crystallinity of the cryo-gels, determined by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), are lower than pure PVA. Besides, decrease of glass transition temperature (Tg) of the samples when compared with pure PVA was observed. This results are due interactions between PVA and PES, which lead to an increase on the amorphous content of the hydrogels. Our results show that, despite of changes in the microstructure of the hydrogels due the presence of the polyelectrolyte, the cryo-gels reveal a long-term stability.

FTIR analysis and quantification of phenols and flavonoids of five commercially available plants extracts used in wound healing

Natural products are used in wound healing in order to prevent infection. Propolis is a well known antimicrobial with phenolic compounds and flavonoid content which vary according to the propolis origin. Besides propolis (from both Brazilian and UK sources), pomegranate, dragons blood and sage are possible antimicrobials to be used in biomaterials. The goal of this work was to analyze the amount of phenols and flavonoid compounds in these natural products, their antioxidant activities and the bonds present by FTIR. The FTIR analysis revealed the presence of active compounds in all drug samples. The phenols quantification showed that Brazilian propolis was rich in phenols compared to the other drugs, followed by pomegranate and UK propolis. UK propolis was the most rich in flavonoids, which is expected on account of its origin. Pomegranate, UK propolis and Dragons blood presented the highest antioxidant activity. All samples presented antioxidant activity > 82%.

The increase of surface area of a Brazilian palygorskite clay activated with sulfuric acid solutions using a factorial design

Palygorskite is fibrous clay in which the structural tetrahedral and octahedral layers are organized in a way that structural channels are formed, leading to high surface area. However, impurities inside the channels and aggregated ones considerably reduce the available area. In order to increase the surface area, an activation treatment can be considered useful. The goal of this work is the activation of palygorskite from Guadalupe, Piaui, via sulfuric acid treatment using a two-level factorial design. The influence of three parameters (solution molarity, temperature and time) on BET surface area was determined. Moreover, samples were characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and fluorescence (XRF), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The largest surface area (282 m2/g) without considerable changes in clay structure and morphology was found in a sample treated with 5M H2SO4 at 70°C for 1h. The main parameters that favored the improvement of the surface area were the solutions molarity, temperature and their interaction.

Evaluation of metronidazole-loaded poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) membranes to potential application in periodontitis treatment

Guided tissue regeneration is a technique used for periodontium reconstruction. This technique uses barrier membranes, which prevent epithelial growth in the wound site and may also be used to release antibiotics, to protect the wound against opportunistic infections. Periodontal poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) membranes containing metronidazole (a drug used to help in infection control) were produced and characterized. The kinetic mechanism of the metronidazole delivery of leached and nonleached membrane as well as its cytotoxicity and structural integrity were evaluated. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) membranes containing 0.5-2 wt % of the drug and 20 wt % of the plasticizer were manufactured via compression molding. Based on morphological analysis, membranes loaded with 2% metronidazole were considered for detailed studies. The results revealed that metronidazole delivery by the leached membranes seemed to follow the Ficks law. Membranes were noncytotoxic. The amount of metronidazole delivered was in the range of the minimal inhibitory concentration for Porphyromonas gingivalis, and the membranes inhibited the proliferation of these bacteria. Besides, they maintained their mechanical resistance after 30 days of immersion in phosphate buffer at pH 7.4.

Blended Gels of Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose Incorporating Antimicrobials for Absorbance and Wound Healing Applications

Wound healing is frequently enhanced by the application of dressings which maintain a moist environment and provide for absorption of exudates. In many cases, dressings with antibacterial properties are considered beneficial, while barrier properties and mechanical integrity are also important. This chapter initially reviews the role of natural and herbal antimicrobial products including propolis, honey, and Punica granatum (pomegranate) as potential constituents for wound care biohydrogels. The applicability of a wide variety of polysaccharides, including carboxymethyl celluloses, in wound care biomaterials is then considered. Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC) is able to form hydrogels by chemical crosslinking. Where a combination of properties is desired, blending with other polymers may be advantageous. The chapter concludes by examining recent progress with systems that incorporate a natural antimicrobial (propolis) within blended cryogels of NaCMC and poly (vinyl alcohol). PVA and its blends can form strong and relatively stiff hydrogels by a physical crosslinking process which occurs during freeze-thawing cycles. Crystallites are formed which anchor the polymer chains, creating a polymer network that can swell in the presence of fluids or exudates. Such composite gels retain acceptable mechanical properties even when loaded with up to 30% propolis. Dressings containing 15% propolis or more were effective against S. aureus and also exhibited high fluid uptake. Hydrogels containing NaCMC therefore have significant potential to meet the requirements for an effective wound care dressing, particularly when blended with natural antimicrobials and embedded in robust hydrogel matrices such as those of PVA cryogels.