Modification of the temperature transition profile of thermosensitive nanocomposites
| Grant number: | 15/13958-3 |
| Support type: | Regular Research Grants |
| Duration: | September 01, 2015 - August 31, 2017 |
| Field of knowledge: | Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry |
| Principal Investigator: | Emerson Rodrigues de Camargo |
| Grantee: | Emerson Rodrigues de Camargo |
| Home Institution: | Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil |
| Assoc. researchers: | Luiz Fernando Gorup |
Abstract
The treatment of many degenerative diseases or trauma injuries can be overcome using biomaterials, such as injectable hydrogels that are applicable for noninvasive surgery and exhibit potential action in the regeneration and repair of living tissues. The poly (N-vinylcaprolactam) (PNVCL) combined with poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) forms a biocompatible thermosensitive hydrogel with lower critical solution temperature (LCST) near to the human body temperature. This transition occurs due the change from a hydrophilic soluble state at lower temperature to a hydrophobic agglomerate state when it is heated. In this project, we will prepare a new class of nanocomposite hydrogels combining PNVCL/PVA synthesized by radical copolymerization with mesoporous silica nanofibers obtained by the Stöber method to improve their mechanical properties, and ytterbium trifluoride nanoparticles synthesized by hydrothermal processing to obtain radiopaque materials. Besides ensuring the biocompatibility of these nanocomposites are their use as scaffolds for tissue engineering, we expect to understand the influence of nanoparticles in the LCST and what factors affect the stability of the nanoparticles during the transition between the hydrophilic / hydrophobic phase (AU)