New Process for Obtaining Nanochitosan / Buriti Oil (Mauritia flexuosa) Biocomposite: A Biomaterial for Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering

• Palavras-chave: Atena

• Keywords: Regenerative Medicine, Chitosan, Essential Oil, Nanotechnology

• Abstract:

  For ages, wound healing is a

  big challenge for health area and scientific

  community and the major goal is to develop

  the most effective wound dressing to cover and

  protect the injuries from external infections and

  to accelerate healing process. Chitosan is the

  only biopolymer positively charged in nature,

  with antioxidant, antimicrobial and antifungal

  properties. In nanocrystalline chitosan,

  the crystallinity is reduced resulting in a

  nanomaterial with reactivity and adhesiveness.

  The complexation of nanochitosan with

  essential oils, such as Mauritia flexuosa

  (Buriti), provides a unique biomaterial with

  great potential for regenerative medicine.

  The objective of this work was to obtain a

  biocomposite with nanochitosan and Buriti oil

  through a new process, with great properties for

  the health area. The process is divided into two

  steps, starting with the dissolution of chitosan.

  The second step comprises in the coagulation

  of glucosamine molecules in a nanoparticulate

  matrix, performed in aqueous medium. In the

  Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIRATR)

  analysis, the characteristic groups of

  nanochitosan and Buriti oil were identified. The

  Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis

  showed nanopolymer agglomerates, suggesting

  the encapsulation of the oil by nanochitosan.

  Particle Size analysis showed a slight increase

  in the biocomposite compared to nanochitosan,

  corroborating with the encapsulation, also

  a decrease in polydispersity that promotes

  a stable compound. Microbiological tests

  showed greater inhibition in the biocomposite

  compared to oil and polymer individually. The

  final biomaterial did not show phase separation,

  and intensified the expected characteristics,

  confirming the potential of the biomaterial.

• Número de páginas: 15