Síntese de nanocompoósitos poliméricos PCL/PLGA/nanofibras de polipirrol para aplicação em conduto biocompatível para regeneração nervosa

Abstract

Peripheral nerve injury continues to be an important research topic in the scientific community as it may cause lifelong disability. Biocompatible polymers are materials potentially capable of aiding the regeneration of peripheral nerves being used for the production of biocompatible tubes. The aim of this work is to prepare and characterize polymeric nanocomposites based on polycaprolactone (PCL), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and polypyrrole nanofibers (PPy) capable of acting as a guidewire in the regeneration of peripheral nerves. PPy was synthesized by oxidative chemical polymerization with p-toluenesulphonic acid monohydrate (PTSA) as a doping agent. PCL:PLGA blends films and PCL:PLGA:PPy nanofibers nanocomposites films were prepared by the solvent casting method, in the ratio of PCL:PLGA 100:0, 90:10, 80:20 and 70:30 (m/m); to the films with nanoload were added 10% PPy. In order to characterize the films, the following techniques were used: SEM, DSC, TGA, determination of electric conductivity and contact angle, citotoxicity test and hydrolytic degradation test, in vitro, based on ASTM F1635-11 standards. The PPy nanofibers presented electrical conductivity equal to 2.0.10-1 S.cm-1. The presence of PLGA and PPy did not change, meaningfully, the thermal properties of the films. However, in the degradation process, there was a tendency to a greater loss of mass for the blends with higher percentage of PLGA when submitted to longer incubation periods (150 days); when PPy was added to these blends, mass loss occurred in shorter periods (90 days). The nanocomposites films showed nontoxic and porous morphology surface, with hydrophilic intermediary character, good thermal stability and adequate degradation time for potential use in the treatment of injury in peripheral nerves.