Thermoresponsible nanocellulose/Poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate] (POEGMA) gels: Preparation, rheology and application in biomedical systems.

• Grant number: 17/12141-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: July 01, 2018
• End date: October 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Nelson Eduardo Duran Caballero
• Grantee: Marcos Mariano
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Studied since the mid-80's, thermoresponsible gels has the capacity to present different rheological properties according its bulk temperature. This ability is based on the structure of its own polymeric chains, which are susceptible to contract after a critical temperature (LCST), being able to present an amphiphilic character. Along the last years, materials prepared from molecules derived from polyethyleneglicol (PEG), such as poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate] (POEGMA), has gain attention due to its huge potential in biomedical applications, since they are biocompactible and can present an LCST very close to human body temperature (i.e. 37oC). However, lower viscosity and higher costs can limit the preparation of its gels. As an option, hidrogels from nanocellulose can be used as option to the preparation of low cost gels that can present great mechanical properties and biocompatibility. At the moment, there are no reports about the utilization of cellulose nanofibers combined with thermoresponsible POEGMA molecules. The project presented here tries to contextualize the recent research in the area, clarify the potential biomedical applications of these materials, suggest preparation routs and characterization, so as study its applications as thermoresponsible gels on controlled drug release of nitric oxide (NO), which plays an important role as antimicrobial agent and in the tissue repair regeneration.