PHEMA-PLA applications in tissue engineering

• Grant number: 15/04896-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: September 15, 2015
• End date: March 14, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Rubens Maciel Filho
• Grantee: Marcele Fonseca Passos
• Supervisor: Julio San Román Del Barrio
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Química (FEQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Polímeros (ICTP), Spain
• Associated to the scholarship: 11/18525-7 - IPNs networks of pHEMA-PLA for use in Tissue Engineering, BP.DR

Abstract

Poly (2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) and PLA (lactic acid) are two highly know polymeric materials to medical application due their biocompatibility. However, the L-lactide isomer of PLA has limitations for some purposes: it is a hydrophobic material and degradation rate is low. In order to enhance this process it is possible to develop polymerization strategies, as the adding hydrofilics segments in the PLA´ structure or use copolymerization techniques. So, suitable surface properties can be obtained to attack and cell proliferation. This is an important feature in tissue engineering. In turn, although PHEMA is well tolerable in vivo, it needs functional groups to proteins adsorption. The adding of hydrophobic comonomer can to facilitate this problem. As the PHEMA and PLA have not been combined in current study, the aim this work is enhance PLA’ hydrophilicity and improve the PHEMA' cell adhesion to tissue engineering application. It is new strategy in the synthesis of partially degradable polymer. (AU)