The influence of the nanoparticles of the nanocomposite transition temperature thermosensitive

• Grant number: 15/04954-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2015
• End date: April 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Emerson Rodrigues de Camargo
• Grantee: Igor Silva
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07296-2 - CDMF - Center for the Development of Functional Materials, AP.CEPID

Abstract

Recent years, there have been an increase in the research of regenerative medicine about degenerative diseases or caused by trauma. Many of these studies have been focusing on the development of biomaterials, such as injectable hydrogels for use in noninvasive surgery, that could repair and regenerate spinal cord tissues. Among them, the poly (N-vinylcaprolactam) (PNVCL) can form biocompatible hydrogels with chemical and mechanical properties suitable for use as implants. A promising alternative in biomaterials field is nanocomposites, which can combine the polymer properties with the mechanical strength of bioactive ceramics such as silica nanoparticles. Thereby, in this project nanocomposites will be prepared with PNVCL and different concentrations of SiO2 nanoparticles, in order to obtain biocompatible materials as scaffolds for tissue engineering. To evaluate the morphology, structure, thermo-mechanical properties and the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of hydrogels, nanoparticles and nanocomposites, there will be employed techniques of transmission and scanning electron microscopes, dynamic light scattering, infrared spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TGA) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Finally, the spectroscopic analysis of the LCST transition will be assessed from their thermodynamic parameters. (AU)