Desenvolvimento e processamento de látex de borracha natural com propriedades antibacterianas para produção de luvas cosméticas para próteses de membros superiores

Abstract

Upper limb amputations occur frequently throughout the world and are mainly caused by trauma, such as car accidents or accidents involving industrial machinery. The development of prosthetic technologies is a growing need not only to physically assist amputees, but also as psychological support. Cosmetic gloves are a covering for upper limb prostheses used by patients aiming for greater comfort in social life, as they promote visual characteristics similar to a biological hand. In view of this, in this work, formulations based on natural rubber latex with antibacterial properties were developed, through the addition of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and zinc oxide (ZnO), to produce cosmetic gloves that will cover upper limb prostheses. The choice of the most suitable formulation to produce gloves was based on adequate dispersion of the additive in the latex matrix (using SEM-EDS), tensile strength and tear resistance, Shore A hardness, swelling index in solvents used for hygiene (70% ethanol and soapy water), hydrophobicity (contact angle), durability (accelerated aging) and inhibition of bacterial growth. The results show that the synergy between the effective dispersion of AgNPs and the high cross-linking density of natural rubber latex promotes adequate mechanical properties, such as tensile strength of up to 20.7 MPa and tear strength of approximately 40 kN.m-1, thus such as good thermal resistance and a character close to hydrophobic (contact angle of up to 80.0°) and minimum durability of two years without significant losses in mechanical resistance, important properties for the desired application. When evaluating the effectiveness of incorporating the antimicrobial additive, the latex films were shown to be bactericidal for the bacteria Escherichia coli and bacteriostatic for Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, the processing parameters, via immersion molding, to produce cosmetic gloves were also evaluated, since in addition to properties, manufacturing is another important factor for choosing the appropriate formulation. In conclusion, the production of gloves can be carried out using appropriate formulations and processing of natural rubber latex and has wide application in the field of cosmetic glove manufacturing. [resumo fornecido pelo autor]