Desenvolvimento e caracterização de membranas de poli (- caprolactona) eletrofiadas e modificadas com extrato de Libidibia ferrea L. e acetato de celulose para aplicação na Odontologia

Abstract

The search for materials consisting of natural products and developed as vehicles for the release of bioactive compounds with properties and characteristics suitable for partial or total repair of human biological tissues has been extensively studied in recent years. Libidibia ferrea extract has several properties such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and healing activities. This work aimed to develop and characterize membranes through the electrospinning process using Polycaprolactone (PCL) and modified with Libidibia ferrea L. (Jucá) extract and cellulose acetate (CA) for dental application. For sample preparation, 7.5% Jucá hydroalcoholic extract was added to PCL solution at 2% concentration. Four groups of membranes were evaluated: PCL and PCL+AC (Control), PCL+Jucá and PCL+AC+Jucá. Fiber synthesis was performed using the electrospinning method and the parameters for this process were determined and fixed for all tests. The morphology analyzes of the membrane surfaces were evaluated through images obtained by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and it was possible to obtain the average diameters of the fibers. To analyze the physical characteristics, a wettability test was carried out by measuring the contact angles of a drop deposited on the surface of the membranes. The release test (in vitro) of Jucá extract present in the membranes was carried out by means of Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis). PCL, PCL+Jucá, PCL+AC and PCL+AC+Jucá membranes were successfully obtained by electrospinning. The morphology revealed that the fibers with the addition of Jucá were well formed and randomly distributed. The addition of Jucá extract and cellulose acetate to the polymer solution changed the fiber diameter. The mean diameter (DM) of the pure PCL fibers was 1.40 μm ± 0.55 μm, while the DM of the PCL+Jucá fibers was 1.23 ± 0.59 μm; the PCL+AC membrane had DM = 0.94 ± 0.34 μm and the PCL+AC membrane had DM = 1.65 ± 1.05 μm. The inclusion of Jucá and AC modified the surface of the membranes, changing the contact angle. The membranes of PCL, PCL+Jucá, PCL+AC and PCL+AC+Jucá presented the contact angles of 151.8°, 148.3°, 146° and 136.4°, respectively. The in vitro release study indicated that there was controlled release of the Jucá extract for 120 minutes on the PCL+Jucá membrane. The PCL+AC+Jucá membrane did not register release in any of the extractions performed. It can be concluded that the PCL+Jucá membranes produced in this study presented satisfactory morphological properties representing a great potential for use and application as a drug delivery device in the oral cavity.