Advanced biomaterials and sophisticated processing technologies aim to fabricate tissue-engineering scaffolds that can predictably interact within a biological environment at a cellular level. Sterilization of such scaffolds is at the core of patient safety and is an important regulatory issue that needs to be addressed prior to clinical translation. In addition, it is crucial that meticulously engineered micro- and nano- structures are preserved after sterilization. Conventional sterilization methods involving heat, steam and radiation are not compatible with engineered polymeric systems because of scaffold degradation and loss of architecture. Using electrospun scaffolds made from polycaprolactone (PCL), a low melting polymer, and employing spores of Bacillus atrophaeus as biological indicators, we compared ethylene oxide, autoclaving and 80% ethanol to a known chemical sterilant, peracetic acid (PAA), for their ability to sterilize as well as their effects on scaffold properties. PAA diluted in 20% ethanol to 1000 ppm or above, sterilized electrospun scaffolds in 15 min at room temperature while maintaining nano-architecture and mechanical properties. Scaffolds treated with PAA at 5000 ppm were rendered hydrophilic, with contact angles reduced to zero degrees. Therefore, PAA can provide economical, rapid and effective sterilization of heat-sensitive polymeric electrospun scaffolds used in tissue-engineering.

O Brasil é um dos maiores produtores mundiais de suco de laranja, da mesma forma que a produção é elevada, a geração de resíduos também é significativa. Sabe-se que estes resíduos, os quais incluem sementes, cascas e restos de polpa são ricos em nutrientes que poderiam ser utilizados como substrato por micro-organismos, seja para o crescimento ou para a obtenção de subprodutos. Esporos de Bacillus atrophaeus ATCC 9372 são utilizados como indicadores biológicos, IBs, em processos térmicos por formarem esporos termorresistentes. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o uso de resíduos do processamento de suco de laranja como um meio de cultura alternativo para obtenção de esporos de B. atrophaeus, para serem aplicados em processos industriais. Ao bagaço de laranja (de 1,0 g a 20,0 g), obtido por processamento em centrífuga de frutas, foram adicionados 100 mL de água, e incubados a 150 rpm / 37 ºC por até 6 dias. Evidenciada a viabilidade de crescimento celular (µmáx = 0,0238 h-1 e Px = 0,0787 g/L.h, para 5,0 g de bagaço) procedeu-se ao estudo de planejamento experimental fatorial 22 em formato estrela com 6 pontos centrais, considerando a concentração de bagaço e o volume de meio. Foram determinados os valores de pH, de biomassa, de esporos viáveis e a resistência térmica dos mesmos a 102 ºC. Observou-se que houve aumento nos valores de pH após o cultivo e que as maiores concentrações de esporos foram de 1,73 x 109 esporos /mL e 5,75 x 109 esporos /mL após 3 e 6 dias de cultivo e os tempos de redução decimal determinados variaram de D102C = 0,92 min a D102C = 2,71 min e de D102C = 1,34 min a D102C = 3,98 min após 3 e 6 dias de cultivo, respectivamente. Com base no planejamento proposto e a análise de regressão, o desenvolvimento de esporos em bagaço segue a relação: Esporos = {-1,15 + 0,0303* [bagaço (g)] - 0,00611* [volume (mL)] + 0,611* [tempo (dias)]}, p=0,000, R2 =0,452, sendo o tempo (p=0,000) o fator de maior influência na formação de esporos. Os meios preparados com bagaço de laranja apresentaram-se viáveis para a produção de esporos de B. atrophaeus termorresistentes, produto de interesse farmacêutico e industrial, agregando valor ao resíduo que seria descartado. / Brazil is one of the world´s largest producers of oranges juice, in the same way that the production is high the amount of generated waste is also significant. It is well known that these residues, which include seeds, peel and pulp, are rich in nutrients that could be used as substrate by microorganisms whether for growth or for obtaining by-products. Bacillus atrophaeus ATCC 9372 spores are used as biological indicators, BIs, in thermal processes due to their ability to form heat-resistant spores. This study aimed to evaluate the use of orange juice processing waste as an alternative culture media to obtain B. atrophaeus spores, to be applied in industrial processes. To orange\'s bagasse (from 1.0 g to 20.0 g), obtained by processing in a fruit\'s centrifuge, 100 mL of water was added, and sterilized at 121 ºC. An aliquot of 0.1g/L of Bacillus atrophaeus spores was inoculated to bagasses\'s media and incubated at 150 rpm / 37 ºC up to 6 days. As cells (µmáx = 0.0238 h-1 and Px = 0.0787 g/L.h, for 5.0 g of bagasse) were obtained, a factorial experimental design 22, with star-shaped model and 6 central points, was performed considering the bagasse concentration and the media volume used. Values of pH, biomass, viable spores and their thermal resistance at 102 ºC were determined. It was observed that pH increased after cultivation and major values of spore concentration achieved were 1.73 x 109 spores /mL and 5.75 x 109 spores /mL after 3 and 6 days, respectively. Decimal reduction times determined ranged from D102C = 0.92 min to D102C = 2.71 min and from D102C = 1.34 min to D102C = 3.98 min after 3 and 6 days of incubation, correspondingly. The regression analysis showed that the development of spores in bagasse can be defined by the equation: Spores = , p=0.000, R2 =0.452 and time has a positive influence in the spore formation. Results demonstrated media prepared with oranges\' bagasse were capable to grow and to develop B. atrophaeus heat-resistant spores, being an alternative to add value to a waste that would be discarded, generating a product of great importance in the pharmaceutical field.

O Brasil é um dos maiores produtores mundiais de suco de laranja, da mesma forma que a produção é elevada, a geração de resíduos também é significativa. Sabe-se que estes resíduos, os quais incluem sementes, cascas e restos de polpa são ricos em nutrientes que poderiam ser utilizados como substrato por micro-organismos, seja para o crescimento ou para a obtenção de subprodutos. Esporos de Bacillus atrophaeus ATCC 9372 são utilizados como indicadores biológicos, IBs, em processos térmicos por formarem esporos termorresistentes. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o uso de resíduos do processamento de suco de laranja como um meio de cultura alternativo para obtenção de esporos de B. atrophaeus, para serem aplicados em processos industriais. Ao bagaço de laranja (de 1,0 g a 20,0 g), obtido por processamento em centrífuga de frutas, foram adicionados 100 mL de água, e incubados a 150 rpm / 37 ºC por até 6 dias. Evidenciada a viabilidade de crescimento celular (µmáx = 0,0238 h-1 e Px = 0,0787 g/L.h, para 5,0 g de bagaço) procedeu-se ao estudo de planejamento experimental fatorial 22 em formato estrela com 6 pontos centrais, considerando a concentração de bagaço e o volume de meio. Foram determinados os valores de pH, de biomassa, de esporos viáveis e a resistência térmica dos mesmos a 102 ºC. Observou-se que houve aumento nos valores de pH após o cultivo e que as maiores concentrações de esporos foram de 1,73 x 109 esporos /mL e 5,75 x 109 esporos /mL após 3 e 6 dias de cultivo e os tempos de redução decimal determinados variaram de D102C = 0,92 min a D102C = 2,71 min e de D102C = 1,34 min a D102C = 3,98 min após 3 e 6 dias de cultivo, respectivamente. Com base no planejamento proposto e a análise de regressão, o desenvolvimento de esporos em bagaço segue a relação: Esporos = {-1,15 + 0,0303* [bagaço (g)] - 0,00611* [volume (mL)] + 0,611* [tempo (dias)]}, p=0,000, R2 =0,452, sendo o tempo (p=0,000) o fator de maior influência na formação de esporos. Os meios preparados com bagaço de laranja apresentaram-se viáveis para a produção de esporos de B. atrophaeus termorresistentes, produto de interesse farmacêutico e industrial, agregando valor ao resíduo que seria descartado. / Brazil is one of the world´s largest producers of oranges juice, in the same way that the production is high the amount of generated waste is also significant. It is well known that these residues, which include seeds, peel and pulp, are rich in nutrients that could be used as substrate by microorganisms whether for growth or for obtaining by-products. Bacillus atrophaeus ATCC 9372 spores are used as biological indicators, BIs, in thermal processes due to their ability to form heat-resistant spores. This study aimed to evaluate the use of orange juice processing waste as an alternative culture media to obtain B. atrophaeus spores, to be applied in industrial processes. To orange\'s bagasse (from 1.0 g to 20.0 g), obtained by processing in a fruit\'s centrifuge, 100 mL of water was added, and sterilized at 121 ºC. An aliquot of 0.1g/L of Bacillus atrophaeus spores was inoculated to bagasses\'s media and incubated at 150 rpm / 37 ºC up to 6 days. As cells (µmáx = 0.0238 h-1 and Px = 0.0787 g/L.h, for 5.0 g of bagasse) were obtained, a factorial experimental design 22, with star-shaped model and 6 central points, was performed considering the bagasse concentration and the media volume used. Values of pH, biomass, viable spores and their thermal resistance at 102 ºC were determined. It was observed that pH increased after cultivation and major values of spore concentration achieved were 1.73 x 109 spores /mL and 5.75 x 109 spores /mL after 3 and 6 days, respectively. Decimal reduction times determined ranged from D102C = 0.92 min to D102C = 2.71 min and from D102C = 1.34 min to D102C = 3.98 min after 3 and 6 days of incubation, correspondingly. The regression analysis showed that the development of spores in bagasse can be defined by the equation: Spores = , p=0.000, R2 =0.452 and time has a positive influence in the spore formation. Results demonstrated media prepared with oranges\' bagasse were capable to grow and to develop B. atrophaeus heat-resistant spores, being an alternative to add value to a waste that would be discarded, generating a product of great importance in the pharmaceutical field.