Synthesis and characterization of hybrid biopolymer membranes containing apatites and silver nanoparticles

Bioactive materials present the ability to interact with natural tissues, causing reactions that favor the development of processes such as implant and biodegradation of implanted material, as well as tissue regeneration Thus, the objective of this study is to the develop new biomaterials combining organic and inorganic phases at the nanoscale resulting in improved properties such as bioactivity, hydrophilicity, mechanical strength and biodegradation. Herein, hybrid self-supported membranes formed by polymer blends and reinforced with calcium phosphate were synthesized and characterized. These blends were prepared from the combination, in the proportions 2,5 : 2.5 and 3,5 : 1,5 wt%, between hydrolyzed collagen and polysaccharides, such as chitosan and -carrageenan due to its remarkable properties and its similarity to the constituents of the native extracellular matrix. The incorporation of the inorganic phase consisting of calcium phosphate in the organic matrix was performed using three different methodologies: (1) Precipitation in locus in the interstices of the polymer matrix; (2) Addition of previously synthesized nanoparticles; (3) Addition of bovine hydroxyapatite in polymeric matrix. From the results obtained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared vibration spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), it was observed that the hybrid systems formed from the methodology (1) resulted in a homogeneous and continuous deposition of HAp throughout the biopolymer matrix. As a consequence, the Young\'s modulus of these hybrid materials was the higher in relation to the values obtained for the biopolymer matrices in the absence of the mineral, as indicated by the increase of the Young\'s modulus up to 130% for membranes composed by chitosan and up to 115% for the membranes containing -carrageenan. It was noted that the reduction of the polysaccharide concentration in the blends composition significantly affects the Young\'s modulus and the rate of degradation of the hybrid systems in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) at 37 °C. In addition, it was observed that membranes composed of chitosan have a lower degradation rate compared to hybrid membranes composed of -carrageenan. The incorporation of the mineral phase resulted in increased hydrophilicity and surface free energy. Exposure of hybrid membranes to simulated body fluid (SBF) resulted in the deposition of a layer of calcium phosphate under the surface of the samples. The biological response of these membranes was assessed by culturing osteoblasts, indicating that chitosan-containing systems are non-toxic. However, the same was not observed for samples containing carrageenan, because these membranes, due to the high degradation rate, present low stability and integrity in the cell culture medium. Silver nanoparticles (NpAg), ranging in size from 3-9 nm, were synthesized and incorporated into the hybrid membranes obtained by methodology 1. After this addition, an antibacterial action against the bacteria Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was observed. These results indicate that the hybrid membranes obtained in this study can potentially be used as membranes for temporary guided tissue regeneration in bone defects. (AU)