Enhancing the biological performance of a new polymer blend (natural rubber latex and poly lactic acid) through surface modifications for bone regeneration

• Grant number: 18/20089-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): December 01, 2018
• Effective date (End): February 28, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Biomedical Engineering - Bioengineering
• Principal Investigator: Rondinelli Donizetti Herculano
• Grantee: Mariana Biondi Cesar
• Supervisor: Lisbeth Grondahl
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Research place: University of Queensland, Brisbane (UQ), Australia
• Associated to the scholarship: 16/09736-8 - Development and characterization of a new polymer blend (natural rubber latex / polylactic acid) for biomedical applications, BP.IC

Abstract

Natural Rubber Latex (NRL), extracted from the Hevea brasiliensis, has been of great importance due to latex ability to stimulate angiogenesis, cell adhesion and the formation of extracellular matrix. However, the biodegradability of latex is not significant when compared to other polymers used for the development of materials with biomedical applications, which is a major factor for its users do not require medical intervention to remove them. To improve the biodegradability and subsequent bioabsorption of latex membranes, the material was associated with the polylactic acid, a polymer which has properties such as bioreabsorbability and biocompatibility, in addition to biodegradability, low toxicity and low cost is the most studied in biomedical, pharmaceutical and environmental fields. The physical, chemical and biological characterization of the polymeric blend membranes showed that the material has interesting properties to be applied in bone regeneration, due to its desirable mechanical properties, degradation with increase of up to 130% over pure NRL, and absence of cytotoxicity. In addition, the material provides a suitable surface for adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of the osteoblastic cells (MC3T3-E1). Despite this, the hydrophobicity of the polymers is a factor that can disrupt cell adhesion and, therefore, the whole process involving the formation of a new tissue. In this way, surface modification techniques become an alternative to make the material more suitable for the development of cells by promoting an interaction of the material with biological cells and fluids. Two techniques will be used to modify the surface of the material: Gamma radiation to addition of carboxylate groups and the production and incorporation of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles. (AU)