Desenvolvimento de hidrogéis compósitos para potencial aplicação como biomateriais

Abstract

The development of novel materials to improve the human quality of life has attracted great attention in the last years. In this sense, the development of a novel biomaterial is presented and rationalized in this Dissertation. Herein, a hydrogel composite was prepared by the blending of a synthetic polymer, poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and a biopolymer, chondroitin sulfate (SC) filled with bovine bone powder (POB). The composite was physically crosslinked via freezing/thawing method, without the use of additional chemicals, which decreases the potential toxicity of the composite and enhances its application as biomaterial. Various techniques confirmed the composite formation and the efficient incorporation of POB into the PVA/SC matrix. Macro and microscopic analyses revealed that the composite shows a sponge type structure with a high porosity. Such characteristics are desired for biomaterials applied as scaffolds for cell and tissue regeneration. Furthermore, it was found here that the adding POB into the PVA/SC matrix promotes changes in the mechanical properties, liquid uptaking, total porosity and biodegradability rate of the composite as compared to the hydrogel without POB. As assessed, these changes depend on the content of POB into the PVA/SC matrix. The performance of the composite as potential biomaterial was investigated by in vitro and in vivo experiments. In vitro experiments showed that the composite does not show toxicity against healthy cells. Moreover, it stimulates cell adhesion on its surface. In vivo experiments demonstrated that the composite can be applied efficiently in tissue regeneration without causes inflammatory or other drawbacks to the process. This experiment showed that the composite is completely biodegraded and biosorbed after the treatment period. Overall, the results presented and rationalized in this Dissertation suggest that the PVA/SC/POB composite shows potential as biomaterial, which can be applied in the cell or tissue regeneration.