Development of advanced surgical devices based on layered double hydroxides polymer composites

Abstract

Iron-based Layer Double Hydroxides (LDHs) are materials greatly studied in the field of drug delivery systems. LDHs are interesting matrices to constitute polymer surgical devices (PSD), such as suture wires and implantable films or dressings, due to the possibility to improve polymers mechanical properties, to assist tissues recovering and to perform a prolonged release of bioactive anions, such as antimicrobial and analgesic species, avoiding post-surgical infections and conferring a faster, painless and high-quality wound healing. The present internship work aims the development of PSD composed by LDHs intercalated with derived anions from the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory naproxen (NAP) and from the natural product abietic acid (ABI). Separated performance of both species and a possible synergic effect will be evaluated. LDHs particles will be dispersed in two different polymer fibres, obtained by electrospinning technique, to be isolated as wires and films. This project aims to continue the studies related to Fapesp project Conception and Development of Drug Nanocarriers Based on Layered Double Hydroxides (2016/13862-9). The LDHs with composition Mg2Fe1-xAlx and Zn2Fe1-xAlx (with x equal to 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1) intercalated with Cl- anions (control), NAP (model drug) and ABI anions were already synthesized. The samples characterization showed that LDHs phases were obtained and were able to encapsulate satisfactory amounts of the organic anions. These results encouraged the advancement of the research toward the materials application. (AU)