ABSTRACT Although silicon nitride ceramics have been shown very propitious to be used for bone replacements, some characteristics can be controlled to improve their osseointegrations process. One of them is the intergranular phase whose composition can be specified to stimulate mineralization and osteoblastic production. In this paper, the intergranular glassy phase was projected in order to contain silicon, strontium and aluminum oxides. Silicon nitride samples containing different contents of SiO2, SrO and Al2O3 were sintered at 1815oC for 1 hour and characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Hardness and fracture toughness were determined by Vickers hardness test and compressive strength was evaluated using an universal material testing machine. The biological behavior was studied in regard to cytotoxicity and cell proliferation by means of in vitro experiments. The samples reached high densities (higher than 95 %TD), total α→β-Si3N4 transformation, fracture toughness higher than 6.5 MPa.m1/2, compressive strength up to 2500 MPa and Vickers hardness less than 9.8 GPa. All samples were non-cytotoxic and able to promote cell proliferation with great potential to be used as components for bone replacements. However, that sample with high content of strontium had the best results of cell proliferation, proving the importance of a careful choice of intergranular phase composition in silicon nitride ceramics.

The bioinert surface of silicon nitride ceramics led us to investigate the additions of SiO2, CaO and Al2O3 in order to aid the liquid phase sintering and improve the mechanical properties and biological behavior of the final materials. The sintered materials reached ca. 97% of theoretical density and total α→β-Si3N4 transformation. The samples had relatively high values of fracture toughness while their elastic modulus values were lower than those of conventional silicon nitride ceramics. Apatite deposits were observed on the surfaces analyzed after SBF (simulated body fluid) immersions, suggesting their bioactivity. Osteoblasts proliferation and calcified matrix were also detected as response to cells/materials contact. This combination of properties suggests that all studied compositions are promising for applications in biomedical devices. Moreover, compositions with alumina additions and higher silica content had better in vitro biological behavior, densification and mechanical properties, suggesting greater potential to be used in bone substitute devices.

Este trabalho descreve as propriedades biológicas in vitro de três redes epoxídicas à base do éter diglicidílico do glicerol (DGEG) curadas com poli(oxipropileno) diamina (D230), isoforona diamina (IPD) e 4,4'-diamino-3,3'-dimetil-diciclohexilmetano (3DCM). As interações biológicas entre os polímeros e o sangue foram estudadas por ensaios biológicos in vitro. Estudos de adsorção de proteínas, adesão de plaquetas, atividade do lactato desidrogenase (LDH) e propriedades de tromboresistência estão apresentados. Os ensaios de adsorção de proteínas na superfície dos polímeros mostrou que as redes epoxídicas adsorvem mais albumina do que fibrinogênio. Os resultados relacionados à adesão de plaquetas, atividade do lactato hidrogenase e propriedades de tromboresistência indicaram que as redes DGEG/IPD e DGEG/3DCM exibem comportamento hemocompatível. Desta maneira, assumimos que estes polímeros epoxídicos são materiais compatíveis com o sangue.

This work describes the in vitro biological properties of three epoxy networks based on diglycidyl ether of glycerol (DGEG) cured with poly(oxypropylene) diamine (D230), isophorone diamine (IPD) and 4,4'-diamino-3,3'-dimethyl-dicyclohexylmethano (3DCM). The biological interactions between epoxy polymers and blood were studied by in vitro assays. Studies of the protein adsorption, platelet adhesion, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and thromboresistance properties are presented. The protein adsorption assays onto polymeric surfaces showed that the epoxy networks adsorbed more albumin than fibrinogen. The results about platelet adhesion, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and thromboresistance properties indicated that the DGEG/IPD and DGEG/3DCM networks show hemocompatible behavior. In this way, we can assume that these epoxy polymers are blood compatible materials.

O pericárdio bovino é um material utilizado na fabricação de biopróteses. A liofilização é um método de secagem que vem sendo estudado para a conservação de válvulas cardíacas. A preservação das características do biomaterial é de fundamental importância no bom funcionamento das válvulas. Este artigo é a primeira etapa do desenvolvimento do ciclo de liofilização do pericárdio bovino. Liofilização é o processo de secagem no qual a água é removida do material congelado por sublimação e desorção da água incongelável, sob pressão reduzida. O congelamento influencia o tamanho do cristal de gelo e, consequentemente, a secagem primária e secundária. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a influência das taxas de congelamento nos parâmetros de liofilização do pericárdio bovino. Determinou-se a temperatura de transição vítrea e o comportamento estrutural do pericárdio bovino liofilizado. Determinou-se o tempo da secagem primária e secundária. O protocolo de liofilização utilizando-se congelamento lento com annealing apresentou os melhores resultados.

The bovine pericardium has been used as biomaterial in developing bioprostheses. Freeze-drying is a drying process that could be used for heart valve's preservation. The maintenance of the characteristics of the biomaterial is important for a good heart valve performance. This paper describes the initial step in the development of a bovine pericardium tissue freeze-drying to be used in heart valves. Freeze-drying involves three steps: freezing, primary drying and secondary drying. The freezing step influences the ice crystal size and, consequently, the primary and secondary drying stages. The aim of this work was to investigate the influence of freezing rates on the bovine pericardium tissue freeze-drying parameters. The glass transition temperature and the structural behaviour of the lyophilized tissues were determined as also primary and secondary drying time. The slow freezing with thermal treatment presented better results than the other freeze-drying protocols.