Avaliação de atividade antifúngica de compostos naturais em elastômeros com potencial uso biomédico

Abstract

Urinary tract infections associated with catheter use are one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality. Fungi like Candida spp. can enter the urinary tract, adhere on the surface of the mucosa and urinary catheter and establish a biofilm. In order to obtain preventive options for urinary tract infection caused by Candida spp. biomaterials with different concentrations of essential oil of cinnamon were developed for use in urinary catheter and compared against different types of antifungal (furfural and extract of Pycnoporus sanguineus). The antifungal activity was verified considering the inhibition in vitro of C. albicans and C. tropicalis. The extract of P. sanguineus was not effective and was not used as a component in elastomers. The elastomers produced with furfural and cinnamon essential oil were tested for their chemical physical properties, being carried out tests of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and mechanical analysis. The analyzes showed that the degradation temperature of the essential oil of cinnamon was 435,6°C whereas the furfural was decomposed at a temperature of 120°C, temperature lower than the one used for the vulcanization process, thus not evolving to the impregnation phase. The elastomers were then vulcanized at 100°C and 150°C and subsequently tested for inhibition of C. albicans. It was observed that vulcanization at 100°C was more effective compared to 150°C, with higher inhibition even in the elastomer without addition of cinnamon essential oil. Finally, three different methods of sterilization were tested, with ethylene oxide sterilization capable of maintaining antifungal activity of the elastomers. Thus, an elastomer with biomedical potential was developed, later to be used in impregnated urinary catheters, thus avoiding contamination by fungi in the urethra. [resumo fornecido pelo autor]