Development of microestructured materials using biopolymers for high performance dressings

Author(s)

Giovana Maria Genevro

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Engenharia Química
• Defense date: 2017-07-11

Examining board members

Marisa Masumi Beppu; Classius Ferreira da Silva; Mariana Altenhofen da Silva; Patricia Santos Lopes; Cecília Amélia de Carvalho Zavaglia

• Advisor: Marisa Masumi Beppu; Mariana Agostini de Moraes

Abstract

The recovery of chronic wounds, which present complications and require long periods for healing is still a challenge for medicine, since they are usually costly processes and in some cases, result in amputation of the injured limb. The development of dressings that combine all the needs, such as maintenance of the wet wound bed and at the same time remove excess exudate, besides protecting the wound from secondary infections is a current theme. In this study, asymmetric membranes were prepared for use as dressings. Asymmetric membranes present interesting characteristics for wound healing. The porous layer acts on the drainage of excess wound exudate and the dense layer (upper film) controls the passage of microrganisms and prevents the excessive loss of water to the medium, thus maintaining the moisture required for recovery of the injured tissue. At first, asymmetric membranes were prepared by phase inversion. In this process, the natural polymers chitosan (CHI) and konjac glucomannan (KGM) were investigated. The polymers were combined in layers, and the KGM/CHI membrane presented a well-defined asymmetric structure, which was very interesting for the desired application. However, this membrane presented low mechanical resistance, breaking at handling, which limit its use as dressings. Subsequently, a procedure was developed to obtain asymmetric membranes of KGM and silk fibroin (SF). Partial drying and freezing were used to prepare the dressings. Membranes containing SF had biological properties similar to the pure KGM membranes, and because they presented more complex manipulation, preference was given to pure KGM membranes. These were malleable, resistant to handling, with excellent percentage of elongation, adequate water vapour transmission rate and fluid handling capacity and within the range of commercial dressings. In addition, they were not cytotoxic and could prevent microbial invasion. Then, it was possible to obtain a material with properties suitable for use as wound dressings (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/18958-6 - Development of microstructured materials using biopolymer for high performance dressings
• Grantee: Giovana Maria Genevro
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate