Production and characterization of chitosan spheres/ Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants

ABSTRACT The objective was to produce and characterize a biomaterial in the form of chitosan spheres/ Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants (mastruz) in order to associate positive characteristics of both materials, chitosan with osteoinductive potential and the bone regeneration ability of mastruz, producing a biomaterial to use as bone former and regenarator. Plant specimens were collected, identified botanically and crude alcohol extract (CAE) were obtained. For the production of the chitosan and chitosan spheres with CAE, the Ionotrope Gellification technique was used. The spheres were divided into three groups: one example group of pure chitosan; a second example group with low CAE concentration and a third example group with a higher CAE concentration; and them characterized by Optical Microscopy (OM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and swelling degree (SD). OM showed on the external and internal surfaces, spheres with defined limits and with color changed as the percentage of CAE was increased, becoming darker. The SEM showed, in spheres with higher CAE concentration, in comparison with the ones with low CAE concentration: A decrease in size, increase in the quantity and intercommunication of the pores, and the alteration of the geometric shape of both the spheres and their pores. In the analysis of the swelling degree, there were no significant differences between the groups. It is possible to produce chitosan spheres / Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants (mastruz) which in the group with the highest percentage of CAE the samples were darker and with higher amounts and intercommunication pores and that although there was swelling, no significant difference was observed between the groups.