Development of novel cellular platforms based on bacterial cellulose conjugated with peptides: evaluation of its bioactivity and enhancing adhesion and cell proliferation

• Grant number: 23/17580-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: October 01, 2024
• Status: Discontinued
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Biomedical Engineering - Bioengineering
• Principal Investigator: Hernane da Silva Barud
• Grantee: Paula de Abreu Fernandes
• Host Institution: Universidade de Araraquara (UNIARA). Associação São Bento de Ensino. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/11965-3 - Center for the sustainable management of pests, diseases and weeds, AP.CCD
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/04696-7 - Janus bacterial nanocellulose/cellulose acetate-based scaffold functionalized with collagen type I-mimetic peptides for tissue regeneration., BE.EP.MS

Abstract

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is an exopolysaccharide originating from the biosynthesis of bacteria belonging to the genera Komagataeibacter, Agrobacterium and Sarcina, among others. Unlike the plant cellulose, BC is non-toxic, with higher water retention capacity, higher tensile strength, and the presence of a three-dimensional nanofibers network, which resemble the collagen fibers present in the extracellular matrix (ECM). In this sense, several studies have explored the use of BC combined with other biopolymers and/or bioactive molecules, aiming the development of cell culture platforms. Therefore, the present project aims to develop novel cell culture platforms based on BC/type I collagen mimetic peptides, BMP-7 peptides and  whi-L-Lysine peptides, in order to achieve bioactive properties and the ability to promote greater cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of both fibroblasts and osteoblastic cells. After obtaining the cellular platforms, they will be characterized by different physicochemical techniques and in vitro biological assays, including cytotoxicity assay, proliferation, wound healing, adhesion, quantification of osteocalcin and ALP, in addition to the determination of their antimicrobial properties. Thus, it is expected to obtain, without previous reports bifunctional cellular platforms based on BC/peptides which could be used as predictive models in the study of cell-cell interaction, applicable to the screening of new drugs, safety tests of new materials/bioactive substances and in the development of new dressings destined to treatment of hard-to-heal wounds.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

BREIJAERT, TROY C.; FONTES, MARINA; FERNANDES, PAULA DE ABREU; BARUD, HERNANE DA SILVA; RIBEIRO, SIDNEY J. L.; SEISENBAEVA, GULAIM A.. Functionalization of bacterial nanocellulose-based wound dressing for increased drug retention. CARBOHYDRATE POLYMER TECHNOLOGIES AND APPLICATIONS, v. 10, p. 14-pg., 2025-06-01. (21/11965-3, 17/50334-3, 23/17580-1, 23/10811-8)