Development of Piezoelectric Scaffolds of Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)/Polycaprolactone (PCL) by Airbrush

• Grant number: 24/14126-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Carla Cristina Schmitt Cavalheiro
• Grantee: Ana Paula Bernardo da Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The process of bone regeneration involves complex mechanisms that consider factors such as morphology, biocompatibility, biofunctionality, and osteogenesis, among others. These mechanisms are fundamental for the efficiency of the interaction between living tissue and systems, such as implants, that meet it. For this reason, attention to how the body reacts to the presence of a material is crucial in choosing a substance for the temporary or permanent replacement of a part of living tissue. The search for suitable materials for these applications that are not harmful to the body is one of the significant challenges for researchers in materials engineering and bioengineering. Considering these properties, some polymers studied for use as biomaterials in bone regeneration can be cited. Among them, poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and polycaprolactone (PCL) have already known applications as biomaterials in various areas. Considering this already widespread application, the study suggests a new approach for these two materials in a composite blend processing, containing both in the form of membranes obtained by the well-known airbrush technique. Obtaining these materials in fibers increases the interaction between the composite and the living tissue. In the end, a material with more outstanding biocompatibility and biofunctionality is expected, in addition to osteogenesis promoted by an improved piezoelectric behavior resulting from the presence of the PVDF polymer, especially in the ²-phase conformation