O desenvolvimento de scaffolds para a aplicação em biomateriais, seja na produção de tecidos biomiméticos ou mesmo em sistemas para liberação de drogas, tem sido fundamental tanto para o entendimento dos mecanismos de crescimento de tecidos biológicos e seu funcionamento, quanto para o desenvolvimento de biomateriais que possam ser incorporados aos tecidos naturais para seu reparo e para a efetiva aplicação de agentes terapêuticos. Dentre as várias técnicas para a produção destes scaffolds, a técnica de Electrospinning (ES) foi utilizada neste trabalho para a confecção de scaffolds poliméricos com a incorporação moléculas de interesse biotecnológico. Foram produzidos scaffolds e scaffolds compósitos pela adição de nanopartículas de óxido de cério, nanoargila haloisita e protoporfirina IX complexada à nanoargila haloisita, os quais foram estudados quanto à sua morfologia e propriedades tênseis, além de terem sidos testados quanto a sua viabilidade como sistemas biomiméticos de tecidos. Os scaffolds compósitos mostraram um ganho em ordenamento e homogeneidade, e os scaffolds compósitos contendo óxido de cério mostraram um leve aumento em sua capacidade elástica, além de terem sido viáveis para o crescimento de células HCat / The development of scaffolds for biomaterials applications, in biomimetic tissues production and drug-delivery systems, have been a fundamental tool for the understanding of biological tissues growing and repair mechanisms and for the development of biomaterials that can be incorporated to the natural tissues for both repair and effective application of therapeutic agents. Amongst the several techniques for scaffolds production, the Electrospinning (ES) methodology was applied in this work for developing polymeric scaffolds with the encapsulation of molecules of biotechnological interest. Scaffolds and blend scaffolds by cerium oxide nanoparticles and haloisite nanoclay addiction were produced and studied regarding its morphology, tensile properties and cell viability as biomimetic tissues. The blend scaffolds shoed an enhancement in order and homogeneity, and those within cerium oxide showed also an increase in elastic capacity and viable physical base for HCat cells

Sterilization of tissue engineered scaffolds is an important regulatory issue and is at the heart of patient safety. With the introduction of new biomaterials and micro/nano structured scaffolds, it is critical that the mode of sterilization preserve these built-in features. Conventional sterilization methods are not optimal for engineered polymeric systems and hence alternate systems need to be identified and validated. PCL is polyester with a low melting point (heat labile), susceptible to hydrolysis and is popular in tissue engineering. Electrospinning generates some nanoscale features within the scaffold, the integrity of which can be affected by sterilization method. Chapter 1 explores the possibility of using Peracetic acid (PAA) to sterilize polymeric scaffolds that are sensitive to heat or moisture. PAA is a strong oxidizing agent that has been approved for sterilizing catheters and endoscopes. The ability of PAA to sterilize at room temperature, its breakdown into non-toxic end products and effectiveness at low concentrations are major advantages. Chapter 2 evaluates the ability of PAA-sterilized PCL scaffolds (PAA-PCL) to support survival and proliferation of mouse calvarial osteoblast cell line, MC3T3. While Ctrl-PCL scaffolds (ethanol-disinfected) showed robust cell survival, PAA-PCL scaffolds induced massive cell death. Following interrelated hypotheses are tested: the observed cytotoxicity was due adsorption of PAA and/or hydrogen peroxide onto PCL fibers during sterilization; and elimination of adsorbed residues will restore scaffold cytocompatibility. Neither extensive aeration nor chemical neutralization with sodium thiosulfate and catalase were effective in improving cell survival. However, quenching PAA-PCL scaffolds in 70% ethanol for 30 minutes effectively removed adsorbed PAA residues and completely restored cell viability and proliferation over a 7 day period. In order to test if PAA-induced toxicity was limited to electrospun PCL scaffolds, commercially available, porous polystyrene scaffolds (Alvetex®) was treated with PAA. Interestingly, a statistically significant increase in cell survival and proliferation resulted with PAA treatment and this was abolished by ethanol quenching. Combined, these results illustrate that PAA treatment can produce diametrically opposite effects on cell survival depending on substrate chemistry and that PAA can be used to effectively sterilize tissue engineering scaffolds without compromising cell viability.

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.

Orientador: Prof. Dr. Jean Jacques Bonvent / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do ABC, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnociência, 2015. / Arcaboucos polimericos sao de interesse crescente no campo da engenharia de tecidos. Alguns biopolimeros tais como PLLA -poli (acido latico) e PCL . poli(¿Ã- caprolactona) tem sido amplamente utilizados na composicao destes arcaboucos devido a sua biocompatibilidade, biodegradabilidade e baixa toxicidade. Alem disso, estes biomateriais precisam ter uma boa adesao celular e proliferacao para serem eficazes na reparacao de tecidos. A fim de evitar a invasao de microorganismos, durante o processo de cicatrizacao, e importante a incorporacao de um agente antimicrobiano, para servir como uma barreira protetora e prevenir a infeccao no local da lesao. Tres tipos de arcaboucos foram desenvolvidos a base de PLLA e PCL, e da blenda PCL/PLA - 50/50. A porosidade das membranas de biopolimero foi controlada pela incorporacao de particulas de cloreto de sodio com determinada faixa de tamanho, como agente porogenico, na solucao polimerica, a qual foi, em seguida, removido apos a evaporacao do solvente, por imersao da membrana para a agua para dissolver o sal. A tetraciclina tem sido incorporados a membrana como um agente antibiotico. A morfologia da membrana, estrutura molecular e incorporacao da tetraciclina foram analisados por microscopia eletronica de varredura (MEV), FTIR e microscopia de fluorescencia. A cinetica de libertacao do farmaco foi investigadam atraves da monitorizacao da concentracao de tetraciclina difundida em solucao de PBS (pH 7,4), por meio de espectroscopia de UV-VIS. Os dados experimentais mostraram que a uma porosidade de cerca de 69% foi obtida. A incorporacao de tetraciclina mostrou ser bastante eficaz e uniforme nos arcaboucos, contudo observa-se melhores resultados no caso de PCL puro. A cinetica de libertacao do farmaco e de primeira ordem para arcaboucos com PLA e PCL, puros. No entanto, no caso da blenda, o processo de libertacao do farmaco nao segue nenhum modelo cinetico estabelecido. Tais resultados sugerem que estes suportes de biopolimero podem ser eficazmente produzida com caracteristicas porosas e com a incorporacao de antibioticos, a fim de promover uma libertacao controlada da droga para o processo de reparo tecidual. / Polymeric scaffolds are of growing interest in the field of tissue engineering . Some biopolymers such as PLA - poly lactic acid and PCL - polycaprolactone have been widely used in the composition of these scaffolds due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability and low toxicity. In addition, these biomaterials need to have a good cell adhesion and proliferation to be effective in tissue repair. Furthermore, the formation of pores in the scaffolds is directly related to a better adhesion of material to the cells. In order to avoid microorganism invasion that during the healing process it is important to incorporate an antimicrobial such as tetracycline, to serve as a protective barrier and prevents infection at the site of the injury. Three types of scaffolds were develop, based on PCL, and their blend 50/50, by means of casting process. The porosity of the biopolymer membranes was controlled achieved by the incorporation of sodium chloride particles of given size, as a porogene agent, into the polymer solution, which was then removed after the solvent evaporation by immersion of the membrane into water to dissolve the salt. Tetracycline has been incorporated into to the membrane as an antibiotic agent. The membrane morphology, molecular structure e incorporation of the tetracycline were analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), FTIR and Fluorescence Microscopy. The drug release kinetic was investigated by monitoring the concentration of tetracycline that diffused to a PBS solution (pH 7.4), by means of uv-vis spectroscopy. The experimental data showed that a medium porosity, of about 69%, could be reached. The incorporation of tetracycline was found to be quite effective and uniform into the scaffolds, tending to lead to better results in the case of pure PCL. The drug release kinetic is of first order for the pure PLA and PCL scaffold. Nevertheless, in the case of the blend, any of the usual kinetic model could describe the drug release process.Such results suggested these biopolymer scaffolds could be effectively produced with porous characteristics and with incorporation of antibiotics in order to promote a controlled drug liberation for wound healing process.