Study of anionic atelocollagen with extract of pomegranate peel

• Grant number: 18/04676-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2018
• End date: May 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Ana Maria de Guzzi Plepis
• Grantee: Leonardo Lobão Folha
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Regenerative medicine has involved the use of biomaterials in the form of scaffolds, which are temporary support structures for cell and tissue growth. These scaffolds must have characteristics such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, toxicity, porosity with interconnected pores, surface for cell adhesion, mechanical integrity and be sterilizable. To do so, we have collagen, which is the main protein of the connective tissues, and its preparations can form three-dimensional porous networks with great water retention capacity, flexibility for the transportation of nutrients and gas and control of the metabolic rate for rapid regeneration tissue. Its physico-chemical properties provide a strong bio-functionality for cell proliferation and differentiation. In this project anionic collagen obtained by alkaline hydrolysis will be used. Anionic collagen can be used in tissue growth and drug delivery systems, but it has a strong propensity to fibrillogenesis at pH 7.4 due to the presence of telopeptides in the molecule.The removal of the telopeptides by an enzymatic route will provide the atelocolágeno, whose fibrilogenesis is slower, being able to generate scaffolds that contain micro or nanofibrils of collagen, resulting in a greater control on the porosity and interconnectivity. Its fragile nature can be improved by the use of natural crosslinking agents such as the ellagitan polyphenols, gallotannins, anthocyanins and catechins found in pomegranate peel extract. The extract has antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, healing of cutaneous lesions properties that may be interesting for regenerative medicine applications.