Multifunctional Materials: Controlled Release of Bioactives in PVDF Films and Dragon's Blood for Medical-Cosmetic Applications

• Grant number: 25/04866-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: May 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Process Industries
• Principal Investigator: Viktor Oswaldo Cardenas Concha
• Grantee: Heitor de Mello Bichoff
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas (ICAQF). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Diadema. Diadema , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In a world increasingly focused on innovative solutions, poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and dragon's blood emerge as promising materials for medical and cosmetic applications. PVDF, a widely used synthetic polymer, stands out for its excellent chemical stability, flexibility, and biocompatibility, making it ideal for biomedical applications such as bioactive membranes and controlled drug delivery systems. Dragon's blood, a natural resin extracted from plants like Croton lechleri, is renowned for its wound-healing, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Traditionally, it has been used for treating wounds and burns, as well as in cosmetic applications for skin regeneration, inflammation reduction, and premature aging prevention. The incorporation of dragon's blood into PVDF films obtained by electrospinning opens new perspectives for the development of advanced materials. Potential applications include bioactive dressings for chronic wound treatment, membranes for tissue engineering, transdermal patches for controlled bioactive compound release, and cosmetic films with regenerative and antioxidant effects. The electrospinning technique enables the fabrication of ultrafine nanofibers, providing the films with a larger surface area, controlled porosity, and the ability to gradually release bioactives. The manufacturing process will be optimized by considering the solvent-PVDF ratio, the concentration of incorporated dragon's blood, the applied voltage, and the distance between the emitter tip and the collector. Thus, the combination of PVDF and dragon's blood, coupled with electrospinning, represents a significant advancement in the development of functional polymeric films, paving the way for innovative applications in the medical and cosmetic fields. (AU)