Desenvolvimento de membranas de compósitos PVDF/BaTiO3 e P(VDF-TrFE)/BaTiO3 associados a prata com propriedades piezoelétricas e antimicrobianas para aplicações biomédicas

Abstract

Wounds are consequences of any disruption of the structure and normal functions of the integument as a result of trauma. The treatment of chronic wounds requires high costs for dressings, healthcare professionals and hospital stays. Chronic wounds can be infected by microorganisms, making the healing and healing process difficult. In order to promote the healing of infected wounds, dressings containing silver are developed. Silver is a metal with antimicrobial properties, widely used in the treatment of chronic wounds. The PVDF polymer and its composites are promising biomaterials due to their biocompatibility and their piezoelectric, pyroelectric and ferroelectric responses. The mixture of polymers and ceramics generates materials with potential capacity for tissue regeneration, combining characteristics of resistance, flexibility and easy processability of polymers and strong piezoelectric responses of ceramics. The present work aims to develop PVDF/BaTiO3 and P(VDF-TrFE)/BaTiO3 membranes with piezoelectric and antimicrobial properties for applications in wound treatment. Therefore, after making the membranes, silver impregnation was carried out in some samples. For the characterization of the material, physical chemical and microstructural techniques of isolated composites and impregnated with silver were used. The contact angle measurement was used to assess the hydrophilicity of the material, the hemocompatibility was assessed with the hemolysis test and the antimicrobial activity of the membranes was assessed by the diffusion method on Kirby Bauer agar and biofilm formation using ATCC strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Characterization tests demonstrated that the membranes were synthesized with piezoelectric properties and that the silver was successfully impregnated. Contact angle measurements confirmed the hydrophilicity of the material and hemocompatibility tests showed that the membranes can be used in contact with blood. The microbiological tests showed that PVDF/BaTiO3 and P(VDF-TrFE)/BaTiO3 membranes showed antimicrobial activity after silver impregnation, which makes the material promising in the treatment of chronic infected wounds.