Abstract
Skin injuries are some of the most common problems faced by those with trouble healing. Medicine currently searches for multifunctional biomaterials that can enhance healing, while providing surface features favorable to human skin and unfavorable to microorganisms. In this context, this work aims to produce natural rubber latex (NRL) dressings enriched with hydroxyapatite - Ca 10 (PO 4 ) 6 (OH) 2 - and silver nanoparticles through magnetron sputtering. These dressings are provided with specific properties such as wettability, roughness and bacteriostatic activity to prevent cell adhesion and allow tissue regeneration without contamination by microorganisms. Modified NRL films showed hydrophilic character, along with an increase in roughness and Ca/P molar ratio of 0.7. The rate of fluid absorption of the films with (phosphate-buffered saline) solution demonstrates that the dressings will retain a certain amount of exudate. Also, silver, which is most likely in the form of nanoclusters, was leached in a proper quantity into a fluid medium. Biological assays proved that the dressings did not present cytotoxic effects in contact with fibroblasts and displayed bacteriostatic activity against S. aureus and E. coli. Fibroblast cells did not adhere over the samples, but proliferation was improved with time. This work successfully joined the benefits of calcium phosphate with silver-enrichment against bacteria using surface engineering techniques on the modification of NRL. Ultimately, the dressings produced in this study are promising for application in wound healing. • A multifunctional dressing made of latex enriched with calcium phosphate and Ag was developed. • Both bioactivity and antimicrobial properties were enhanced. • Incorporated Ag nanoclusters are leached into liquid medium appropriately for bacteriostatic performance. • Calcium phosphate is set to release calcium ions when in contact with the acidic wound site. • L929 cells have weak adhesion to the dressings, suggesting little damage to the newly formed tissue.
Published Version
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