Development of innovative medical devices by dispersing fatty acid eutectic blend on gauzes using supercritical particle generation processes

• Published in: Materials Science & Engineering C Vol. 99; pp. 599 - 610
• Main Authors: Silva, Joana M., Akkache, Salah, Araújo, Ana C., Masmoudi, Yasmine, Reis, Rui L., Badens, Elisabeth, Duarte, Ana Rita C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.06.2019; Elsevier BV; Elsevier
• Subjects: Antibacterial; Antibacterial agents; Biocompatibility; Bioengineering; Biomedical materials; Chemical and Process Engineering; Chemical engineering; Chemical Sciences; Cytotoxicity; D-RESS; Engineering Sciences; Eutectic mixture; Fatty acids; Gauze; Lauric acid; Life Sciences; Materials science; Medical devices; Medical electronics; Medical equipment; Medical innovations; Melting point; Melting points; PGSS; Phase separation; Phase transitions; Physiology; Properties (attributes); Supercritical fluids; Temperature effects; Thermosensitive devices; Toxicity; Eutectic mixture; PGSS; Antibacterial; D-RESS; Fatty acids; Thermosensitive devices
• ISSN: 0928-4931; 1873-0191
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2019.02.012

In order to limit bacterial infections during wound treatment, it is interesting to consider the concept of loading medical devices with antibacterial agents. With this in mind, an innovative system with thermosensitive properties was produced: loading a commercially available gauze with a fatty acid eutectic blend based on lauric acid (LA) and myristic acid (MA). This eutectic blend presents a melting point near physiological temperature, which together with its antibacterial properties make an appealing alternative in biomedical applications. At room temperature, the properties and the efficacy of the eutectic blend loaded onto gauzes are preserved, whereas at physiological temperature the eutectic blend undergoes a phase change that facilitates its diffusion from the gauze. The loading of the eutectic blend onto gauzes was performed using two different supercritical fluid technologies, namely, particle from gas saturated solutions (PGSS) and a derived version of rapid expansion of supercritical solution (D-RESS). The PGSS led to a heterogeneous dispersion of the eutectic blend in the gauze, whereas the D-RESS process led to the formation of a homogeneous dispersion along the surface of the gauze. Additionally, with D-RESS no phase separation of the eutectic blend occurred and the cytotoxicity was greatly improved compared with PGSS without compromising the antibacterial properties of the fatty acid eutectic blend. Hence, the present study highlights the potential use of the flexible D-RESS process to load the fatty acid eutectic blend with antibacterial properties onto medical devices in a controllable way. Overall, the effects produced by the loaded gauzes suggest the enormous potential of the developed technology in health-related areas. [Display omitted] •The eutectic blend presents a melting temperature near the physiological temperature.•Particls from gas saturated solution (PGSS) led to a heterogenous dispersion of eutectic blend and higher cytotoxicity.•Derived version of rapid expansion of supercritical solution (D-RESS) allows a homogeneous dispersion of the eutectic blend along the gauze surface.•The antibacterial properties of the eutectic blend were not comprised after the D-RESS process.