Biomaterials (composites and blends) play a major role in the health of modern society. This paper reports on the preparation and characterization of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and hydroxyapatite (HAP) composites, analyzing the incorporation of HAP in PVDF and investigating their mechanical properties and cytotoxicity (biocompatibility) for use in bone restoration and filling. The material was prepared in film form by the casting method. PVDF pellets were dissolved in dimethylacetamide (DMA), a HAP/DMA emulsion was prepared. The materials were mixed in proportions of 100/00, 90/10, 80/20, 70/30, 60/40, 50/50, 40/60, 30/70 in weight and left to dry in an oven, resulting in homogeneous, flexible films which were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X ray diffractometry (XRD), contact angle measurement, and by mechanical and cytotoxicity tests

Ceramic materials mimic the mineral composition of native bone and feature osteoconductive properties; they are therefore used to regenerate bone tissue. Much research focuses on increasing the porosity and pore interconnectivity of ceramic scaffolds to increase osteoconductivity, cell migration and cell-cell interaction. We aimed to fabricate biocompatible 3D-scaffolds featuring macro- and microporous calcium phosphates with high pore interconnection. Nanoparticles of hydroxyapatite (HA) and calcium deficient hydroxyapatite (CDHA) were synthesized by wet chemical precipitation. Scaffolds were produced from them by the replication polymeric foam technique. Solid content and sintering temperature were varied. Nanoparticles and scaffolds were characterized regarding morphology, chemical and mineral composition, porosity and mechanical properties. Biocompatibility, cell attachment and distribution were evaluated in vitro with human adipose mesenchymal stem cells. Scaffolds with total porosity of 71%–87%, pores in the range of 280–550 µm and connectivity density up to 43 mm⁻³ were obtained. Smaller pore sizes were obtained at higher sintering temperature. High solid content resulted in a decrease of total porosity but increased interconnectivity. Scaffolds 50HA/50β-TCP featured superior interconnectivity and mechanical properties. They were bioactive and biocompatible. High HA solid content (40 wt.%) in the HA pure scaffolds was negative for cell viability and proliferation, while in the 50HA/50β-TCP composite scaffolds it resulted more biocompatible.

Neste trabalho foram preparadas dispersões aquosas de óxido de grafeno (GO) e óxido de grafeno reduzido (rGO), em diferentes tempos de oxidação, com o objetivo de verificar a influência do tempo de oxidação em relação às características das folhas (flakes) finais. As dispersões de GO foram preparadas pelo método de Hummers modificado utilizando os seguintes tempos de oxidação: 4 h; 1 dia; 3 dias; 7 dias e 10 dias. Em seguida, as dispersões de GO foram submetidas ao tratamento de redução com ácido ascórbico, obtendo-se o rGO. As caracterizações das amostras foram realizadas por meio das análises de espectroscopia Raman, espectroscopia de fotoelétrons excitados por raios X (XPS), microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) e difração de raios X (DRX). A espectroscopia Raman mostrou a variação da relação de intensidade entre as bandas D e G (I_D/I_G) à medida que o tempo de oxidação foi aumentado. A análise de XPS exibiu a alteração dos percentuais de carbono (C) e oxigênio (O). Através de análise no MEV foi correlacionada a morfologia dos flakes com o aumento do tempo de oxidação. E por fim, com o auxílio de DRX, foi verificada a variação da distância interplanar.