Bidimensional matrix of cellulose obtained from vegetable leaf aiming bone repair: morphological and chemical characterization

ABSTRACT Maxillofacial orthopedic surgery have as one of its biggest challenges the effective bone repair, especially in cases of extensive loss of bone tissue due to several causes. Currently, the high demand for organ and tissue transplants and grafts has driven the search for materials capable of acting in the tissue repair process. Through contact with the interface of biological systems, biomaterials aim to evaluate, treat, augment or replace a body tissue, organ or function. Therefore, based on the architecture, biocompatibility of the cellulose extracellular matrix, as well as the presence of vascular system in the structure of spinach leaves, it is proposed to investigate a chemical treatment aiming at its use as a support for periosteal human tissue growth. In this context, cellulose appears as an option due to its characteristics of biodegradability, biocompatibility, low cost and for being a sustainable alternative. Different forms of isolated cellulose and its derivatives, as well as associated with other biomaterials, have been increasingly researched for use as a matrix in tissue repair processes. Considering the characteristics of cellulose as biomaterial, this study aims to characterize a plant leaf in the native form and after chemical process using ionic and nonionic solutions, establishing comparative analysis of the changes caused by processing and its potential for use as a two-dimensional matrix in bone tissue repair. Detergent immersion and perfusion techniques were used as protocols, as well as exposure of some samples to glutaraldehyde, with the purpose of cross-linking the polymeric matrix, as well as immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF). The materials resulting from chemical processing were subjected to scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). At the end of the characterizations, it was concluded that the protocol used is a viable option for low cost cellulose processing, which produces acceptable structural changes in the final product, but assays as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) quantification and cytotoxicity tests are suggested.