PRODUCTION OF HYDROXYPROPYLCELLULOSE (HPC)-REINFORCED POLYCAPROLACTONE (PCL) FILAMENTS AND CURCUMIN PARTICLES VIA HOT MELT EXTRUSION (HME)

• Grant number: 24/13674-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2024
• End date: October 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Simone de Fátima Medeiros Sampaio
• Grantee: Maryana Bizarria da Silva
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Lorena , SP, Brazil

Abstract

3D printing plays an important role in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, with emphasis on the fused deposition modeling (FDM) technique. Polycaprolactone (PCL), a semi-crystalline polymer, biodegradable and commonly used in this technique. However, PCL is associated with other polymers to overcome its slow degradation kinetics. Therefore, the present project aims to produce filaments, through the hot melt extrusion (HME), made of PCL reinforced with hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) and with alginate particles loaded with curcumin, produced by the ionic gelation method (IG). . The filaments will be characterized in terms of morphology (SEM), thermal properties (DSC), chemical interactions between components (FTIR), among other techniques. This project will be carried out in partnership with the RAPSODEE Center, located at IMT Mines Albi, in France, with the participation of Dr. Maria Inês Ré. Together with this proposal, we present a letter of acceptance from the partner University, given that, if the project is approved, we will subsequently request a BEPE scholarship for the student to remain at the RAPSODEE Center for four months, carrying out the evaluation of the release kinetics in vitro of the filaments, through dissolution tests in fluids that simulate the physiological environment. At the end of this project, it is expected to obtain PCL-%HPC-%Cur filaments with the potential for 3D printing of devices to combat inflammatory diseases.