Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain the number one cause of mortality globally. Compared with autologous vessels, synthetic vascular grafts such as poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) vascular grafts are still widely used to replace or bypass diseased arteries. However, PET is susceptible to thrombosis when in contact with blood. In this study, “bioactive”/“bioinert” agents – heparin and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were immobilized covalently on chemically inert PET substrate using a special surface modification technique – surface interpenetrating network (IPN) successfully. The improved haemocompatibility of heparin modified PET surface was proved by a platelet adhesion assay. The PEG modified PET substrate also demonstrated decreased platelet adhesion. Further research has been conducted to immobilize aliphatic chains ended with sulfate and carboxylate groups (existing in heparin) on a model substrate. In vitro thrombus formation test indicated an interesting anticoagulating action between those anionic groups with an optimal ratio in the range of (3:1) and (4.5:1).

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain the number one cause of mortality globally. Compared with autologous vessels, synthetic vascular grafts such as poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) vascular grafts are still widely used to replace or bypass diseased arteries. However, PET is susceptible to thrombosis when in contact with blood. In this study, “bioactive”/“bioinert” agents – heparin and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were immobilized covalently on chemically inert PET substrate using a special surface modification technique – surface interpenetrating network (IPN) successfully. The improved haemocompatibility of heparin modified PET surface was proved by a platelet adhesion assay. The PEG modified PET substrate also demonstrated decreased platelet adhesion. Further research has been conducted to immobilize aliphatic chains ended with sulfate and carboxylate groups (existing in heparin) on a model substrate. In vitro thrombus formation test indicated an interesting anticoagulating action between those anionic groups with an optimal ratio in the range of (3:1) and (4.5:1).

A utilização de biomateriais para os mais diversos destinos no corpo humano, tem tido uma ascensão considerável nessas últimas décadas, devido a inúmeras necessidades, como por exemplo, assistência às pessoas com patologias ósseas, acidentes automotivos, estética bucal entre outras. Ainda assim, existe a necessidade de se desenvolver novos materiais de aplicação biomédica, melhorando suas propriedades e permitindo o aperfeiçoamento de dispositivos. A biocompatibilidade é parte integrante dos processos de validação destes materiais, onde testes in vitro e in vivo são realizados. Esse trabalho avaliou a biocompatibilidade de ligas de titânio através dos testes de: hemocompatibilidade, citotoxicidade, toxicidade sistêmica e lavado peritoneal feito em ratos, que entraram em contato com extratos originados do eletrólito: saliva artificial mais associações com fluoreto de sódio, após contato com as ligas metálicas de Ti-6Al- 4V (parâmetro para os testes) e Ti- 10Mo (liga em teste). A liga Ti-10Mo e seus extratos demonstraram um comportamento de biocompatibilidade, sugerindo uma possível aplicação para a odontologia. / Biomaterial applications have increased in the last decade, since bone diseases, injury from accidents have reached an increasing number of people. In dentistic, biomaterials have also large use as to estetic application as well to recuperate the function. New biomaterials have been studied in order to get better mechanical properties allowing better performance of the biomedical device. Biocompatibility studies are part of the validation processes and in vivo testes and in vitro testes are carried out. The present work evaluated biocompatibility of Ti alloys through: haemocompatibility, cytotoxicity, systemic toxicity and washed peritoneal tests. Those tests were performed in rats which were in contact with extracts made from artificial salive plus NaF (low concentrations) with Ti-6Al-4V alloy (control test) and Ti-10Mo (under test). Alloy under test and its extracts shown biocompatible behavior suggesting for odontological applications.

A utilização de biomateriais para os mais diversos destinos no corpo humano, tem tido uma ascensão considerável nessas últimas décadas, devido a inúmeras necessidades, como por exemplo, assistência às pessoas com patologias ósseas, acidentes automotivos, estética bucal entre outras. Ainda assim, existe a necessidade de se desenvolver novos materiais de aplicação biomédica, melhorando suas propriedades e permitindo o aperfeiçoamento de dispositivos. A biocompatibilidade é parte integrante dos processos de validação destes materiais, onde testes in vitro e in vivo são realizados. Esse trabalho avaliou a biocompatibilidade de ligas de titânio através dos testes de: hemocompatibilidade, citotoxicidade, toxicidade sistêmica e lavado peritoneal feito em ratos, que entraram em contato com extratos originados do eletrólito: saliva artificial mais associações com fluoreto de sódio, após contato com as ligas metálicas de Ti-6Al- 4V (parâmetro para os testes) e Ti- 10Mo (liga em teste). A liga Ti-10Mo e seus extratos demonstraram um comportamento de biocompatibilidade, sugerindo uma possível aplicação para a odontologia. / Biomaterial applications have increased in the last decade, since bone diseases, injury from accidents have reached an increasing number of people. In dentistic, biomaterials have also large use as to estetic application as well to recuperate the function. New biomaterials have been studied in order to get better mechanical properties allowing better performance of the biomedical device. Biocompatibility studies are part of the validation processes and in vivo testes and in vitro testes are carried out. The present work evaluated biocompatibility of Ti alloys through: haemocompatibility, cytotoxicity, systemic toxicity and washed peritoneal tests. Those tests were performed in rats which were in contact with extracts made from artificial salive plus NaF (low concentrations) with Ti-6Al-4V alloy (control test) and Ti-10Mo (under test). Alloy under test and its extracts shown biocompatible behavior suggesting for odontological applications.

Introduction Oral delivery of proteins faces numerous challenges due to their enzymatic susceptibility and instability in the gastrointestinal tract. In recent years, the polyelectrolyte complexes have been explored for their ability to complex protein and protect them against chemical and enzymatic degradation. However, most of the conventional binary polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) are formed by polycations which are associated with toxicity and non-specific bio-interactions. The aim of this thesis was to prepare a series of ternary polyelectrolyte complexes (APECs) by introduction of a polyanion in the binary complexes to alleviate the aforementioned limitations. Method Eight non-insulin loaded ternary complexes (NIL APECs) were spontaneously formed upon mixing a polycation [polyallylamine (PAH), palmitoyl grafted-PAH (Pa2.5), dimethylamino-1-naphthalenesulfonyl grafted-PAH (Da10) or quaternised palmitoyl-PAH (QPa2.5)] with a polyanion [dextran sulphate (DS) or polyacrylic acid (PAA)] at 2:1 ratio, in the presence of ZnSO4 (4μM). A model protein i.e., insulin was added to a polycation, prior to addition of a polyanion and ZnSO4 to form eight insulin loaded (IL) APECs. PECs were used as a control to compare APECs. The complexes were characterised by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). In vitro stability of the complexes was investigated at pH (1.2-7.4), temperature (25˚C, 37˚C and 45˚C) and ionic strength (NaCl-68mM, 103mM and 145mM). Insulin complexation efficiency was assessed by using bovine insulin ELISA assay kit. The in vitro cytotoxicity was investigated on CaCo2 and J774 cells by MTT (3-4,5 dimethyl thialzol2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay. All complexes were evaluated for their haemocompatibility by using haemolysis assay, oxidative stress by reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay and immunotoxicity by in vitro and in vivo cytokine generation assay. The potential of the uptake of complexes across CaCo2 cells was determined by flow cytometry and fluorescent microscopy. The underlying mechanism of transport of complexes was determined by TEER measurement, assessment of FITC-Dextran and insulin transport across CaCo2 cells. 15 Results NIL QPa2.5 APECs (except IL QPa2.5-DS) exhibited larger hydrodynamic sizes (228-468nm) than all other APECs, due to the presence of bulky quaternary ammonium moieties. QPa2.5 APECs exhibited lower insulin association efficiency (≤40%) than other APECs (≥55%) due to a competition between the polyanion and insulin for QPa2.5 leading to reduced association of insulin in the complexes. DS based APECs generally offered higher insulin association efficiency (≥75%) than PAA based APECs (≤55%) due to higher molecular weight (6-10kDa) of DS. In comparison to other complexes, Pa2.5 PECs and APECs were more stable at varying temperature, ionic strength and pH due to the presence of long palmitoyl alkyl chain (C16) which reduced the chain flexibility and provided stronger hydrophobic association. The cytotoxicity of polycations on CaCo2 and J774 cells is rated as PAH>Da10=Pa2.5>QPa2.5. The introduction of PAA in Pa2.5 and Da10 brought most significant improvement in IC50 i.e., 14 fold and 16 fold respectively on CaCo2 cells; 9.3 fold and 3.73 fold respectively on J774 cells. In comparison to other complexes, Da10 (8mgml-1) induced higher haemolytic activity (~37%) due to a higher hydrophobic load of 10 percent mole grafting of dansyl pendants. The entire range of APECs displayed ≤12% ROS generation by the CaCo2 cells. The degree of in vitro TNFα production (QPa2.5≥Da10≥Pa2.5=PAH) and in vitro IL-6 generation (QPa2.5≥Pa2.5=PAH≥Da10) by J774 cells established an inverse relationship of cytotoxicity with the cytokine generation. Similar to MTT data, the introduction of PAA in APECs brought more significant reduction in in vitro cytokine secretion than DS based APECs. Pa2.5-PAA brought the most significant reduction in both in vitro and in vivo cytokine generation. All the formulations were able to significantly reduce original TEER, however did not demonstrate appreciable paracellular permeation of a hydrophilic macromolecular tracer of paracellular transport i.e., FITC Dextran. The uptake study revealed internalisation of APECs predominantly by a transcellular route. Transcellular uptake of IL QPa2.5 (≤73%), IL QPa2.5-DS (67%) was higher than their NIL counterparts, whereas the uptake of NIL Pa2.5 (≤89%), NIL Pa2.5-PAA (42%) was higher than their IL counterparts. Conclusion In essence, amphiphilic APECs have shown polyanion dependent ability to reduce polycation associated toxicity and they are able to facilitate transcellular uptake of insulin across CaCo2 cells.