Development of biofabrication technology with Infrared laser to coating of articular prostheses with hydrogel

Author(s)

Marcele Fonseca Passos

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Engenharia Química
• Defense date: 2011-08-29

Examining board members

Rubens Maciel Filho; Cecília Amélia de Carvalho Zavaglia; Carmen Gilda Barroso Tavares Dias

• Advisor: Rubens Maciel Filho

Abstract

In the materials field, a rapidly expanding field is the development of polymeric hydrogels for biomedical applications. Among the large class of polymeric hydrogels studied, poly 2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate (pHEMA) receives special attention. For application as replacements of natural articular cartilage in articular prostheses, which usually present as a main component (substrate) the polyethylene of ultra high molecular weight (UHMWPE), the adhesion of system (hydrogel - substrate) is still a parameter to be evaluated. Appropriate modifications in the material and design considerations, however, can improve the adhesion of the set by embrication mechanic. Within a multidisciplinary group and on the rise, National Institute of C & T in Biofabrication -BIOFABRIS, this project aims to develop new biomaterials using engineering techniques for obtaining biomedical devices (prostheses and orthoses, orthopedic). It was developed a technology aiming to both improve the mechanical properties of pHEMA hidrogel as well as to obtain proper adhesion between this polymer and the artificial articular surface in order to minimize the wear suffered by the components that constitute the orthopedic devices, one of the main factors that cause bankruptcy. Using the technique of biofabrication was possible to obtain hydrogels pHEMA from the simulation of the product until the final characterization, for specific applications: artificial articular cartilage, the main focus of the dissertation, and as a reconstructive cartilage, acting as a support cell growth (porous hydrogels). The evaluation of the mechanism of polymerization and crosslinking of pHEMA, the specific heat and thermal conductivity of the solution of 2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate (HEMA) were obtained by the technique of Differential Scanning Calorimetry. These parameters served as input to the computer simulation, which allowed to estimate the process parameters of pHEMA crosslinking, such as laser power 30 W and the reaction time of 120 seconds at a temperature of 399 K. The thermal properties and glass transition temperature and degradation, showed values similar to those found in the literature, to know, in the range of 109 and 118 °C, and in the range of 354 and 376 °C, respectively. The obtained results of the friction coefficient for the tribological pair UHMWPE-pHEMA have demonstrated high values, however, the biofabrication technology developed in this project, was important a tool for obtaining biomaterials for different applications (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/04842-0 - Development of technology for infrared laser biofabrication coating of hydrogel with joint prostheses
• Grantee: Marcele Fonseca Passos
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master