Papers by Author: L.F. de Miranda

Abstract: The main objective of this project is the study of the addition of chitosan in the polymeric blend of PVP/PVAL to get a biocompatible hydrogel that can be used as a system of controlled release of drugs. The polymeric blend usage is a recent development that expanded the applications of the polymers, due to the improvement of the properties of a single polymer even if they appear to be conflicting. PVP and PVAL were chosen because they present the main required characteristics to the formation of a hydrogel, such as water absorption and crosslinked formation. The flexibility of the PVP was added with the mechanical resistance of the PVAL. The chitosan, biological active polymer molecules, addition is to increment the interaction between the hydrogel and the organism. With the concentrations of PVP and PVAL defined, solutions with different levels of chitosan were made to check which presented better properties.

Abstract: The production of confined or adsorbed drugs in inorganic matrix has been increasing in areas like material science and pharmaceutical due to the possibility of the production of nanoadsorbed or encapsulated molecules with new properties like chemical stability, enhancing solubility and controlled release, what implies in new applications of materials. In the present work, a nanocomposite of a fine ceramic material, pseudoboehmite, and acyclovir, was prepared. Pseudoboehmite is based on a monohydroxide aluminum oxide produced from a synthetic route using ammonium hydroxide and aluminum nitrate or chloride as precursors in the sol-gel process. These systems had been characterized by the following techniques: MEV, TG/DSC, FTIR and UV-vis. The exposition of the drug to the pseudoboehmite at the dissolution equipment was at 37°C and 100rpm for 30 minutes. With the purpose to observe the interaction of the drug with the adsorbent, it was obtained the concentration of the drug in the solution, before and after the adsorption, using the UV-vis spectroscopy technique. The acyclovir has increased its solubility in an HCl 0,1M solution, when the weight ratio of Pseudoboehmite: Acyclovir 1:1 was used.

Abstract: Nanocomposites are nanometrical material particles embedded in a specific matrix. The degree of organization of the nanostructures and their properties depend on the nature of the organic and inorganic components of the structure that can generate synergic interactions. Polymeric nanocomposites are related to a class of hybrid materials where inorganic substances of nanometric dimensions are dispersed in a polymeric matrix. In the present work, nanocomposites of nylon 6,12 with different concentrations of pseudoboehmite obtained by sol-gel process were prepared with and without the presence of octadecylamine. After preparation, the samples were irradiated with a 200 kGy radiation dose in an electron accelerator. The pseudoboehmite nano particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, differential thermal analysis and thermo gravimetric analysis. The nanocomposites were characterized by thermal and mechanical tests. The addition of pseudoboehmite promoted a reduction of the melting flow during the production of the composites evidencing the interaction of pseudoboehmite with the polymeric matrix, probably modifying its crystalline structure.

Abstract: The use of composite materials, mainly reinforced thermoplastic has increased on the polymer industry, mainly the polypropylene resins (PP) reinforced by glass fibers (GF). The ionizing radiation can promote alterations in the polymeric chains by scission and crosslinking reactions. The objective of this work is to study the effect of the ionizing radiation in the properties of the polypropylene long fiber glass reinforced thermoplastic. Pellets with 1,3 cm of length, contend 15wt% of the unidirectional long glass fiber were obtained by extrusion and, subsequently, the samples were molded by injection, irradiated and submitted to thermal and mechanical tests. The mechanical (tensile and impact) properties and thermal (HDT and Vicat softening temperature) of irradiated and non irradiated reinforced thermoplastic were determined. The doses of the irradiation of the samples were 30, 50 and 100 kGy in a source of 60Co. The results showed a reduction in the thermal and mechanical performances indicating a degradation of the polymeric matrix.