Development and application of thermossensitive hydrogel incorporated with bee propolis and chitosan modified by hyaluronic acid to promote wound healing

• Grant number: 19/25972-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: August 01, 2021
• End date: July 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Biomedical Engineering - Bioengineering
• Principal Investigator: Eliana Aparecida de Rezende Duek
• Grantee: Pâmela Soto Garcia
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas e da Saúde (FCMS). Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC-SP). Sorocaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 22/05157-4 - Characterization of thermosensitive hydrogel incorporated with chitosan modified with hyaluronic acid and bee propolis directed to treat atopic dermatitis, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

The use of bandages made of hydrogel modified with anti-inflammatory and regenerative drugs to assist cutaneous regeneration, as well as benefit inflammatory processes, has a high relevance in medical and tissue engineering fields. In this context, Pluronic®, an biologically inert, synthetic and thermo-responsive hydrogel that may be applied as bioink or bandages, is capable of being modified and added of chemical compounds and drugs to facilitate the healing or ease the symptoms of chronic cutaneous diseases, such as Atopic Dermatitis (AD). AD is a common kind of cutaneous allergy, which is a genetic and chronic condition, characterized by atopic eczema, and is not contagious. The affected individual presents dry skin, with skin rashes, itches and skin crusts. There is no cure to the condition; however there are treatments available to relieve and reduce the symptoms, which are based on continuous application of ointments and swabs to relief of itches and tissue damage. There is not any biomaterial available and acessible to maintain an effective treatment for long periods. Thus, this project intends to develop and apply a bandage manufactured with Pluronic® modified with bee propolis and chitosan with hyaluronic acid to assist AD patients cutaneous regeneration. To achieve this goal, the project has the following steps: (i) the hydrogel development and characterization; (ii) in vitro assays; (iii) in vivo assays and (iv) clinical tests. Characterization of the bandage will include the following techniques: scanning confocal laser microscopy, mucoadhesion force assay, thermogravimetric analysis, atomic force microscopy with infrared, and rheology. In in vitro assays it will be evaluated the bandage efficiency, as well as the optimal concentrations to promote the anti-inflammatory and regenerative satisfactory purposes. In vivo assays will be performed with the animal model for DA to demonstrate the possible efficacy of the developed bandage, therefore it is expected to be observed the cutaneous regeneration. In clinical assays the bandage will be tested in human patients with DA on hospital environment. In sequence, after this step, the bandage will be patented. It is foreseen the product developed to be an effective and low coast alternative for treatment of AD, promoting symptomatic relief and providing cutaneous regeneration. (AU)