Biomimetic materials from Dioscorea/siloxanes aiming application in Tissue Engineering.

• Grant number: 23/02491-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2023
• End date: April 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Hernane da Silva Barud
• Grantee: Bruna Borges Rossi
• Host Institution: Universidade de Araraquara (UNIARA). Associação São Bento de Ensino. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This work aims to develop a composite material from a vegetable material for the production of an inorganic matrix that can be applied in tissue engineering. The research project to be carried out aims to identify the methods for obtaining the composite from a biomimetic material, for the production of an inorganic matrix with potential applicability as scaffolds. More specifically, the organic material to be used as template will be the stem of the yam, genus Dioscorea, which will be manipulated through different synthesis parameters for the addition of siloxanes via sol-gel methodology. With subsequent calcination of the organic matrix, it is expected to obtain an optimized inorganic material, i.e., that the original porosity and architecture are maintained. It is also expected that the final mechanical properties are compatible with the development of an inorganic matrix for application in bone tissue engineering, as a pre-mold for bone grafts. The composites will be characterized by thermal analyses, such as Thermogravimetric (TGA), X-ray Diffractometry (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Absorption Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Microbiological analyses. The structural material to be obtained can be an alternative of high performance, besides being ecologically correct for the substitution of plastics, which brings environmental benefits; being economically viable and that can also impact socially on the solution of public health problems, as in the case of bone defect repairs.