Valorization of cellulose and lignin to produce materials with potential application in the medical and packaging areas

• Grant number: 23/12419-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2024
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Industrial Operations and Equipment for Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Liliane Maria Ferrareso Lona
• Grantee: Liliane Maria Ferrareso Lona
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Química (FEQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Filipe Vargas Ferreira ; Rachel Faverzani Magnago

Abstract

Lignocellulosic materials are low-cost renewable resources that can be valued if properly used alone or as an additive in the synthesis of other materials. In this project, single-use films (with potential application in the packaging area) and two types of biomaterials (to be used in the medical area) will be developed. Nanofibrillated cellulose (CNF), bacterial cellulose (BC) and lignin (L) will be considered. Regarding the materials to be used in the medical field, as a first approach, Gallium ions (Ga+3), which have proven action against bone cancer, will be incorporated into bioactive glass (BG), already widely used in bone tissue engineering, forming Ga-BG. To reduce the fragility of Ga-BG, it will be incorporated into nanofibrillated cellulose. To further increase the functionality of this material, particles of poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA-NPs) carrying curcumin will also be incorporated. The action of curcumin against several types of cancer is also well reported in the literature. In a second approach, bacterial cellulose hydrogels will be produced, which will undergo chemical modification of their surface through phosphorylation, in order to improve the adhesion of hydroxyapatite (HAp) on BC. HAp is already used as a bone substitute in the dental field, with osteoconductive and osteoinductive properties. Finally, calcium oxide (CaO) will be incorporated into the CB/HAp hydrogels, forming CB/HAp/CaO. The combination of the organic structure of BC with inorganic materials (CaO and HAp) can provide characteristics similar to those of bone, and the release of calcium ions can help in the repair of bone tissue. The CB/HAp/CaO hydrogel can be dried to produce a scaffold with high porosity and surface area, which can provide structural support for cell migration, proliferation, and attachment. In the case of films, gelatin and lignin functionalized with quaternary ammonium compounds (CCA) will be used, which makes the lignin hydrophilic and potentially antimicrobial. (AU)

Scientific publications

(6)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DE CARVALHO, GUILHERME RIBEIRO; DELARMELINA, CAMILA; DUARTE, MARTA CRISTINA TEIXEIRA; LONA, LILIANE MARIA FERRARESO. Novel composite film based on cassava starch and poly (diallyldimethylammonium chloride) reinforced with nanocrystalline cellulose for bacteria and coronavirus inactivation. POLYMER BULLETIN, v. 81, n. 15, p. 18-pg., 2024-06-26. (23/12419-8)

DE CARVALHO, GUILHERME RIBEIRO; DELARMELINA, CAMILA; DUARTE, MARTA CRISTINA TEIXEIRA; LONA, LILIANE MARIA FERRARESO. Polyelectrolyte film based on pectin and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) with antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Brazilian Journal of Chemical Engineering, v. N/A, p. 12-pg., 2024-11-05. (23/12419-8)

NETTO, RAFAEL AFFONSO; DE CARVALHO, GUILHERME RIBEIRO; STAFFA, LUCAS HENRIQUE; LONA, LILIANE MARIA FERRARESO. Poly(methyl methacrylate) blends with quaternized polyethyleneimine: A study of morphology, optical, thermal and mechanical properties. EXPRESS POLYMER LETTERS, v. 19, n. 2, p. 15-pg., 2025-02-01. (23/12419-8, 21/09341-1)

DE MELO, EDUARDA CHIABAI RODRIGUES; LONA, LILIANE MARIA FERRARESO; VIEIRA, RONIERIK PIOLI. A Review on the Transformative Effects of Extrusion Parameters on Poly(Butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/Poly(Lactic acid) Blends in 3D Printing. JOURNAL OF POLYMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT, v. N/A, p. 29-pg., 2024-11-19. (23/12419-8, 22/02728-0)

DE MELO, EDUARDA CHIABAI RODRIGUES; LONA, LILIANE MARIA FERRARESO; VIEIRA, RONIERIK PIOLI. Effects of filament extrusion temperature and 3D printing parameters on the structure and mechanical properties of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/poly (lactic acid) blends. POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE, v. N/A, p. 13-pg., 2024-12-30. (23/12419-8, 22/02728-0)

AGUIAR, ANA CAROLINA; BIANCHI, JHONATAN R. O.; LOPES, JOAO HENRIQUE; FERREIRA, FILIPE V.; LONA, LILIANE MARIA FERRARESO. Nanocellulose-Based Capsules with pH Responsiveness for Colon-Targeted Curcumin Delivery. ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS, v. 8, n. 4, p. 13-pg., 2025-01-21. (23/12419-8, 22/03247-6, 20/07956-6, 23/07910-4, 21/09341-1, 21/00980-1)