Page 325 - 00. Complete Version - Progress Report IPEN 2014-2016

Materials and Nanotechnology | Progress Report 325

The results showed new luminescent calcium DESH / UFU and at the wound management
phosphate presenting the ideal characteris- group of the University of the Southwestern
tics for drug delivery and gene therapy, as a of Bahia (Figure 47).
non-viral vector for gene therapy: small par-
ticle size, spherical shape, mesoporous struc-
tures, high crystallinity, high specific surface
area, high positive surface charge and efficient
red luminescence (Figure 46).

Development of a ONE POT radiation
process for the production of an
advanced wound dressings with Silver
Nanoparticles based on hydrogels

Ideal advanced dressings should meet vari-
Figure 47. Polymeric biomaterials- hydrogels & silver nanoparticles.
ous requirements, such as: retaining of the
wound moisture to accelerate healing, trans-
parency to facilitate inspection; non-adhesion Development of Gold 198
to the wound bed to avoid injury and difficul- nanoparticles for cancer therapy
ty of exchanging dressings associated with and theranostic applications
intense pain; adherence to the health skin
to facilitate manipulation; softness, compla- Nanoparticles, in particular gold nanoparti-
cency and flexibility for pain relief, good ab- cles, have a wide range of applications in ar-
sorption of exudate, microbiocidal and an- eas such as cosmetic, industrial catalysis and
ti-inflammatory properties. These desirable medicine. The broad application in medicine
properties should be attained at the lowest is mainly explained by the low toxicity, low re-
possible cost to make it compatible with the activity and easy modification with biomole-
Brazilian public health system (SUS). Our re- cules, and can thus be used to transport drugs
search group on polymeric biomaterials devel- and other species that are capable of increas-
oped a process that combine in only one step ing cell incorporation.
(irradiation with ionizing radiation) the com-
plete sterilization of the dressing already in According to the National Cancer Institute,
its final packaging, combined with the forma- it is estimated in Brazil that around 500,000
tion of the gelled network, in a simultaneous people will be diagnosed with any type of
operation. This step provides crosslinking for cancer in 2017. Breast and prostate cancers
adequate mechanical properties to the use as are the highest incidences, and there are al-
dressing and provides reduction and stabiliza- ready numerous effective treatments for can-
tion of silver nanoparticles which in turn adds cers with early diagnosis in both cases. How-
microbiocidal and anti-inflammatory proper- ever, the treatment is always very aggressive,
ties to the dressing. Clinical trials have already charging a high price on the quality of life of
been carried out in several institutions, with the patient, so the search for increasingly ef-
emphasis on the Tocantis ITPAC, the National fective, more specific and less harmful meth-
Reference Center on Sanitary Dermatology and ods to patients are always being developed.
Leprosy of the University of Uberlandia CRE- At this point, nanoparticulate systems have