Page 41 - PR 2014 2016 10 Materials and Nanotechnology

Materials and Nanotechnology | Progress Report 317

high resolution and sensitivity for biomedical on the Tocantis ITPAC, the National Reference
applications. Center on Sanitary Dermatology and Leprosy
of the University of Uberlandia CREDESH /
The results showed new luminescent calcium UFU and at the wound management group of
phosphate presenting the ideal characteristics the University of the Southwestern of Bahia
for drug delivery and gene therapy, as a non-vi- (Figure 47).
ral vector for gene therapy: small particle size,
spherical shape, mesoporous structures, high
crystallinity, high specific surface area, high
positive surface charge and efficient red lu-
minescence (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 various
Figure 47. Polymeric biomaterials- hydrogels & silver nanoparticles.
requirements, such as: retaining of the wound
moisture to accelerate healing, transparency
to facilitate inspection; non-adhesion to the Development of Gold 198 nanoparticles
wound bed to avoid injury and difficulty of for cancer therapy and theranostic
exchanging dressings associated with intense applications
pain; adherence to the health skin to facili-
tate manipulation; softness, complacency and Nanoparticles, in particular gold nanoparticles,
flexibility for pain relief, good absorption of have a wide range of applications in areas such
exudate, microbiocidal and anti-inflammatory as cosmetic, industrial catalysis and medicine.
properties. These desirable properties should The broad application in medicine is mainly
be attained at the lowest possible cost to make explained by the low toxicity, low reactivity
it compatible with the Brazilian public health and easy modification with biomolecules, and
system (SUS). Our research group on poly- can thus be used to transport drugs and oth-
meric biomaterials developed a process that er species that are capable of increasing cell
combine in only one step (irradiation with incorporation.
ionizing radiation) the complete sterilization
of the dressing already in its final packaging, According to the National Cancer Institute, it is
combined with the formation of the gelled estimated in Brazil that around 500,000 people
network, in a simultaneous operation. This will be diagnosed with any type of cancer
step provides crosslinking for adequate me- in 2017. Breast and prostate cancers are the
chanical properties to the use as dressing and highest incidences, and there are already nu-
provides reduction and stabilization of silver merous effective treatments for cancers with
nanoparticles which in turn adds microbio- early diagnosis in both cases. However, the
cidal and anti-inflammatory properties to the treatment is always very aggressive, charging
dressing. Clinical trials have already been car- a high price on the quality of life of the pa-
ried out in several institutions, with emphasis tient, so the search for increasingly effective,