A cartilagem articular é um tema amplamente discutido na literatura por meio de vários estudos e pesquisas. Com o presente estudo, busca-se uma proposta inovadora e original no uso de um biomaterial composto e o desenvolvimento de uma cartilagem artificial que aja como coxim elástico, apresentando características de gel fibro-reforçado com finalidade biomimética mecânica que imite o comportamento da cartilagem articular. Foi conceituado um implante que tivesse uma superfície tribológica para contato com a cartilagem do platô tibial e gradualmente se convertesse em região osteo-integrável para fixação mecânica no osso subcondral. Foi desenvolvido um biomaterial composto por poliuretano e microfibra de biovidro 45S5 em gradiente funcional que foi obtido e validado através de ensaios in vitro, microscopia eletrônica de varredura e análise histológica. Nos testes in vitro seja na condição de citotoxicidade direta ou indireta, notou-se que a quantidade de células foi estatisticamente semelhante ao controle negativo, e estatisticamente diferente do controle positivo indicando que o biomaterial composto de poliuretano e microfibra de biovidro 45S5 apresentou não toxicidade direta ou indireta da amostra e ainda promoveram o crescimento e o espalhamento celular, resultados que o habilitaram para a continuidade nos estudos com experimentos in vivo com coelhos. O material foi manufaturado para aplicação em defeitos osteocondrais de coelhos medindo 3mm de diâmetro e 4mm de profundidade que foi realizado na região central da tróclea femoral. Após períodos experimentais de 15, 30 e 90 dias as análises de microscopia eletrônica de varredura mostrou na região distal da superfície tribológica uma neo-formação de uma estrutura semelhante as trabéculas ósseas que foi considerada biomimética confirmadas por análises histológicas, e na região proximal à superfície tribológica a presença de tecido fibrocartilaginoso com condrócitos e ricamente vascularizado, validando com sucesso o conceito proposto para o implante. / Articular cartilage has been widely discussed in the literature by means of several studies and researches. The present thesis reports on an innovative and original proposal to use a biomaterial compound and the development of an artificial cartilage that acts as a cushion rubber with characteristics of fiber-reinforced gel with biomimetic mechanical purpose mimicking the behavior of articular cartilage. An implant with a tribological surface for contact with the cartilage of the tibial plateau was designed. It should gradually turn into an osteo-integrable region for mechanical fixation in the subchondral bone. A biomaterial composed of polyurethane and bioglass microfiber in functional gradient was then developed and validated by scanning electron microscopy and histological analysis through in vitro tests. Under either direct or indirect cytotoxicity conditions, the tests showed that the amount of cells is statistically similar to negative control and statistically different from the positive control, indicating that the biomaterial composed of polyurethane and bioglass microfiber showed no direct or indirect toxicity and promoted cell growth and spreading. Such results allowed continuing the studies with in vivo experiments with rabbits. The material was manufactured for use in 3mm diameter and 4mm depth osteochondral defects in the central region of the femoral trochlea of rabbits. After experimental periods of 15, 30 and 90 days, the scanning electron microscopy analysis showed a neo-formation of a structure similar to trabecular bones on the tribological surface in the distal region. This neo-formation was considered biomimetic, confirmed by both histological analysis and the presence of richly vascularized fibrocartilaginous tissues with chondrocytes in the region proximal to the tribological surface.

As the title implies, the chief goal of the present work is the improvement of the barrier effects of textile fabrics in the medical sector, in particular, in the operating room, which would be an effective safeguard against the causative pathogens allowing the health workers to work in and around hostile atmospheres and to accomplish useful tasks. To overcome the inherent drawbacks of surgical gown from classical fibers of both natural and synthetic origins, polyester micro filament fabric, down to 0.62 dtex per filament, was used to substitute them. Two major pathways have been chosen to render the surface hydrophobic: - Wet-chemical treatment - Plasma modification For the maximum efficiency of a specific wet-chemical, the following application formulations were found to be best effective: pH =4-5 Drying temperature and time=100°C / 90s Pick-up = 80% Curing temperature and time= 160°C / 120s A range of physical and chemical parameters have been found exerting significant influence on the extent of modification of the material: - Wetting agent - Amount of fluorine content in the chemical - Subsequent heat treatment of the finished material after washing - Ironing of the fabric For the plasma enhanced surface fluorination the following plasma gases were used: - Saturated fluorine compounds: CF4 and C2F6 - Reducing agent: H2 and C2H4 The exposure of the substrate to a pure C2F6 discharge resulted in higher hydrophobicity than the substrates exposed to CF4 plasma. Stepwise increased mixture of H2 or C2H4 to a proportionally decreased amount of C2F6 plasma showed a gradual decrease in contact angle and a substantial increase in sliding angle values. In addition to the treatments with gas mixtures a two-step technique, i.e., treatment with C2H4 prior to C2F6 plasma, was applied that appeared to be very promising in modifying the surface characteristics. Both, the contact angles and the sliding angles remaining almost constant on a very high level with increasing amount of C2H4 in the feed composition. An essentially vital concern of the work was the characterization of the treatment effect comprising both physical and chemical aspects. By washing the materials for 20 times no significant impairment of hydrophobic character has been noticed in case of fluorocarbon finishing agents as well as by the surface treated with C2H4 followed by C2F6 plasma (i.e., a two-step technique), wherein a complete loss of hydrophobic effect washing the silicone-treated materials for 10 times was observed. In breathability aspect, the plasma modification was found to be the best-suited technique with zero reduction of air permeability in comparison to wet-chemical finishing. The barrier test as a measure of dye absorption was conducted using protein solution, synthetic and human blood and the efficiency were verified by colorimetric technique. In contrast to pure plasma treatments, modification of the fabric with plasma in two-step treatment as well as with wet-finishing method using fluorocarbon compounds were completely impervious to artificial and real blood. The most striking feature was the zero uptake of the protein solution by all treated surfaces.

Den här studien är under projektet MinShed som drivs av RISE. MinShed är ett 3årigt projekt som undersöker mikroplastemission från syntetiska textilier vid tvätt. Den här studien har som syfte att genomföra en Critical Review på tidigare studier inom ämnet: Olika syntetiska material som släpper mikroplaster via hushållstvätt. Samtliga studier har sammanfattats i en framtagen matris där information om studiernas materialdata presenteras. Den främsta anledningen till varför en sådan matris ska presenteras är för att finna textilteknologiska gap som existerar i nuvarande forskning. Vad som omfattar textilteknologi kommer förklaringar ges mer ingående under litteraturgenomgången. I dagsläget finns det inte tillräckligt spårbara material för existerande forskning, därav är det svårt att avgöra exakt vilka textilparametrar som orsakar mer eller mindre emission vid tvätt. Därför kan företag heller inte prioritera smartare designval för att reducera mikroplastemission. Av de18 undersökta studierna var det enbart 2 av dessa som hade full kontroll överprovmaterialet. Detta betyder att ytterligare forskning inom området är aktuellt. Vad som kan hindra forskningen att utvecklas är förnärvarande textilbranschen. Det finns ingen trovärdig uppsikt över textilmaterial och dess processer, vilket försvårarutförandet att spåra de textilparametrar som orsakar emission vid tvätt. För att dra slutsatser mellan emission och konstruktionsparametrar för textil så bör man i framtiden tänka på att enbart testa en parameter åt gången. Utifrån resultatet från denna studie rekommenderas en egen tillverkning av materialet för att få en spårbartextilproduktion, då det ger ett mer trovärdigt resultat på grund av mer kontroll över processerna som textiler genomgår. / This study is performed under the project MinShed run by RISE. MinShed is a 3-year project that investigates in Microplastics emissions from synthetic textiles during domestic washing. The aim of the study is to do a Critical Review on previous research in the subject: Various synthetic materials that release microplastics during domestic laundry. The previous research is presented in a matrix, where information about the presented by the investigated laundry parameters, as well as the textile parameters. The main reason why such matrix is needed is to find the gap that contains the textile parameters for the various researches. Some of the most important textile parameters will be described during the literature review. At present, there is not enough traceable material for existing research, hence it is difficult to determine exactly which textile parameters which cause during washing. Therefore, companies cannot prioritize smarter design choices in order to reduce microplastics emissions from the materials. Of the 18research studies which were analyzed, only 2 of them had full control over their sample material. This means that further research in this area is needed. What can prevent future research is currently the textile industry. There is no reliable oversight of textile materials and their processes, which makes it difficult to track textile parameters that cause emission when washing. In order to be able to draw conclusions between emission and textile design parameters, researchers should remember to test only one parameter at a time and have an inhouse or own production of the specimens, this will give a better control of the results.