Bacterial Cellulose Nanobiocomposites for Dental Materials Scaffolds

Bacterial cellulose (BC) has become established as a remarkably versatile biomaterial and can be used in a wide variety of scientific applications, especially for medical devices. In this work, the bacterial cellulose fermentation process is modified by the addition of chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid (1% w/w) to the culture medium before the bacteria is inoculated. Besides, biomimetic precipitation of calcium phosphate of biological interest from simulated body fluid on bacterial cellulose was studied. Chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid effects in bacterial cellulose were analyzed using transmission infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), XRD (X-ray diffraction) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). FTIR analysis showed interaction between bacterial cellulose nanobiocomposites and calcium phosphate. XRD demonstrated amorphous calcium phosphate, carbonated apatite and calcium chloride on bacterial cellulose nanobiocomposites. Monocalcium phosphate monohydrate phase formation [Ca(H2PO4)(2)center dot H2O] are here attested by FTIR, XRD and Ca/P relation.

Avaliação de parâmetros farmacêuticos em comprimidos matriciais empregando a técnica de Biosusceptometria AC

Oral administration is widely accepted route for drug delivery and solid dosage forms are commonly employed. The variation of absorption profiles along the human gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and the ability to target drugs by adequate dosage forms to distinct sites is the challenge in the pharmaceutical development of solid dosage forms. AC Biosusceptometry (ACB) is a technique that deserves consideration due to its features, accuracy of results and versatility. The purpose of this work was to evaluate, by employing the AC Biosusceptometer, the rate of swelling of systems matrices consisting of hydrophilic polymer (hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose) and magnetic material. Matrices tablets were evaluated in vitro to a more detailed analysis of kinetics of swelling, in addition to the study and application of mathematical models to correlate the magnetic area variation and the water uptake. All the procedures for qualitative and quantitative analysis of digital signals as well as the magnetic images processing were performed in MatLab® (Mathworks Inc.). ACB technique proved to be useful towards estimating the swelling properties of hydrophilic matrices in vitro, showing a promising capacity for further analyses involving dissolution test and in vivo studies, supporting their innovative potential pharmaceutical applications

Comprimidos de HPMC contendo nimesulida: preparação, caracterização e estudo dos mecanismos que regem a liberação do fármaco

The pharmaceutical innovations, such as the use of polymers to control drug release, create possibilities for a better action of the drug in the body, which causes a a more effective therapeutic effect and a safer treatment for the patient. In this work, were prepared and characterized matrix tablets of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) containing nimesulide as model drug to evaluate the performance as a controlled release system. HPMC, a cellulose ester, is a hydrophilic polymer that undergoes swelling, i.e., absorbs water and forms a gel layer controlling drug release. The characterization of powders was performed by analysis of particle size and morphology, density, compressibility index determination, flow properties and determination of swelling profile. The tablets were evaluated according to their physical parameters of quality and to the in vitro release of nimesulide, as well as the analysis of the mechanisms of drug release by appropriate mathematical models. The set of results showed that the HPMC/Nimesulide mixture exhibited satisfactory physical characteristics (size, shape, density and flow). The release profile demonstrated an effective control upon drug release in enteric environment and presented more correlation with Korsmeyer-Peppas’ and Weibull’s mathematical models, indicating that the release of nimesulide occurs through the relaxation of the polymer chains

Nanocomposites based on bacterial cellulose in combination with osteogenic growth peptide for bone repair: cytotoxic, genotoxic and mutagenic evaluations

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Improved pretreatments applied to the sugarcane bagasse and release of lignin and hemicellulose from the cellulose-enriched fractions by sulfuric acid hydrolysis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties of methylcellulose/cellulose nanocrystals nanocomposites

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Bioconversion of Cellulose to Hydrogen by dark fermentation

Hydrogen is known as a clean energy resource. The biological production of hydrogen has been attracting attention as an environmentally friendly processs that does not consume fossil fuels. Cellulosic plant and waste materials are potential resources for fermentative hydrogen production. Cellulose is a linear biopolymer of glucose molecules, connected by β-1,4-glycosidic bonds. Enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose requires the presence of cellulase. The present study aimed to investigate the efficiency of acid pretreatment on ruminal fluid in order to enrich H2 producing bacteria consortia to enhance biohydrogen rate and substrate removal efficiency. In this study, fermentative hydrogen producers were enriched on cellulose (2g/L) in a modificated Del Nery medium (DNM) at 37ºC and initial pH 7.0 using rumen fluid (10% v/v) as inoculum. To increase the hydrogen production it was added cellulose (10mL) to the medium. The gas products (mainly H2 and CO2) was analyzed by gas chromatography (Shimadzu GC 2010) using a thermal conductivity detector. The volatile fatty acids and ethanol were also detected by GC using a flame ionization detector. Cellulose degradation was quantified by using the phenolsulfuric acid method. Analysis showed that the biogas produced from the anaerobic fermentation contained only hydrogen and carbon dioxide, without detectable methane after acid pretreatment test. On DNM the hydrogen production started with 4 h (5,3 x 105 mmol H2/L) of incubation, and the maximum H2 concentration was observed with 34 h (7,1 x 106 mmol H2/L) of incubation. During the process, it was observed a predominance of acetic acid and butyric acid as well as a low production of acetone, ethanol and nbutanol in all experimental phases. Butyrate accounted for more than 77% of total. As a result of the accumulation of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), the pH value in anaerobic digestion system was reduced to 4,0. On microscopy analyses there were observed rods with endospores. The batch anaerobic fermentation assays performed on anaerobic mixed inoculum from rumen fluid demonstrated the feasibility of H2 generation utilizing cellulose as substrate. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the acid treatment was efficient to inhibit the methanogenic archaea cells present in rumen fluid. The rumen fluid cells present a potential route in converting renewable biomass such as cellulose into hydrogen energy.

A simple and portable instrument for determination of captopril in pharmaceutical formulations

Objective: This article describes the application and the performance of a cheap, simple and portable device that can be used for colorimetric quantitative determination of captopril (CPT) in pharmaceutical preparations. Methods: The sensor is a light detector resistor (LDR) placed into a black PTFE cell and coupled to a low cost multimeter (Ohmmeter). The instrument has been tested and is easy and fast to use. The quantitative study is based mainly on reduction of ammonium molybdate by captopril, in the presence of sulphuric acid, producing a green-yellow compound (max 407 nm). The calibration curves were obtained by plotting the electric resistance of the LDR against the CPT concentration on the range of 4.60 x 10-4 to 1.84 x 10-3 mol l-1 with a good coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.9962). Results: Statistical analysis of the obtained results showed no significant difference between the proposed methodology and the official reported method as evident from the t-test and variance ratio at 95% confidence level. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that the instrument can be used for simple, accurate, precise, fast, in situ and low-cost colorimetric analysis of captopril in pharmaceuticals products.

Bacterial cellulose-hydroxyapatite composites with osteogenic growth peptide (OGP) or pentapeptide OGP on bone regeneration in critical-size calvarial defect model

This study aimed to evaluate the potential of bacterial cellulose-hydroxyapatite (BC-HA) composites associated with osteogenic growth peptide (OGP) or pentapeptide OGP(10–14) in bone regeneration in critical-size calvarial defects in mice. In this study, the BC-HA, BC-HA-OGP, and BC-HA-OGP(10–14) membranes were analyzed at 3, 7, 15, 30, 60, and 90 days. In each period, the specimens were evaluated by micro-computed tomography (µCT), descriptive histology, gene expression of bone biomarkers by qPCR and VEGFR-2 (vascular endothelial growth factor) quantification by ELISA. Three days post-operative, Runx2, Tnfrsf11b and Bglap bone biomarkers were upregulated mainly by BC-HA OGP and BC-HA OGP(10–14) membranes, suggesting an acceleration of the osteoblast differentiation/activity with the use of these biomaterials. At 60 and 90 days, a high percentage of bone formation was observed by µCT for BC-HA and BC-HA OGP(10–14) membranes. High expression of some bone biomarkers, such as Alpl, Spp1, and Tnfrsf11b, was also observed for the same membranes on days 60 and 90. In conclusion, the BC-HA membrane promoted a better bone formation in critical-size mice calvarial defects. Nevertheless, incorporation of the peptides at the concentration of 10−9 mol L−1 did not improve bone regeneration potential in the long-term.

Enhancing the versatility of alternate current biosusceptometry (ACB) through the synthesis of a dextrose-modified tracer and a magnetic muco-adhesive cellulose gel

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Bacterial cellulose production by Gluconacetobacter xylinus by employing alternative culture media

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Biodegradation evaluation of bacterial cellulose, vegetable cellulose and poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) in soil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Nano- and macroscale structural and mechanical properties of in situ synthesized bacterial cellulose/PEO-b-PPO-b-PEO biocomposites

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Characterization and application of nanostructured films containing Au and TiO2 nanoparticles supported in bacterial cellulose

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)