Preparation and characterization of hydroxyapatite-coated iron oxide particles by spray-drying technique

Magnetic particles of iron oxide have been increasingly used in medical diagnosis by magnetic resonance imaging and in cancer therapies involving targeted drug delivery and magnetic hyperthermia. In this study we report the preparation and characterization of iron oxide particles coated with bioceramic hydroxyapatite by spray-drying. The iron oxide magnetic particles (IOMP) were coated with hydroxyapatite (HAp) by spray-drying using two IOMP/HAp ratios (0.7 and 3.2). The magnetic particles were characterized by way of scanning electronic microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, flame atomic absorption spectrometry,vibrating sample magnetometry and particle size distribution (laser diffraction). The surface morphology of the coated samples is different from that of the iron oxide due to formation of hydroxyapatite coating. From an EDX analysis, it was verified that the surface of the coated magnetic particles is composed only of HAp, while the interior containsiron oxide and a few layers of HAp as expected. The results showed that spray-drying technique is an efficient and relatively inexpensive method for forming spherical particles with a core/shell structure.

As partículas de óxido de ferro têm sido extensivamente usadas em diagnósticos médicos como agente de contraste para imagem por ressonância magnética e na terapia do câncer, dentre estas, liberação de fármacos em sitos alvos e hipertermia magnética. Neste estudo nós reportamos a preparação e caracterização de partículas magnéticas de óxido de ferro revestidas com a biocerâmica hidroxiapatita. As partículas magnéticasde óxido de ferro (PMOF) foram revestidas com hidroxiapatita por spray-drying usando duas razões PMOF/HAp (0,7 e 3,2). As partículas magnéticas foram caracterizadas por microscopia eletrônica de varredura, energia dispersiva de raios X, difração de raios X, espectroscopia de absorção no infra vermelho com transformada de Fourier, espectrometria de absorção atômica com atomização em chama, magnetometria de amostra vibrante e distribuição do tamanho de partícula (difração a laser). A morfologia da superfície das amostras revestidas é diferente das de óxido de ferro devido à formação do revestimento de hidroxiapatita. A partir da análise de energia dispersiva de raios X foi verificado que a superfície das partículas magnéticas é composta somente por hidroxiapatita, enquanto o interior contém óxido de ferro e uma pequena camada de hidroxiapatita, como esperado. Os resultados mostraram que atécnica de spray-drying é um método eficiente e relativamentede baixo custo para formação de partículas esféricas com estrutura núcleo/casca.

Production of fungal chitosan in liquid cultivation using apple pomace as substrate / Produção de quitosana fungica em cultivo liquido utilisando bagaço de maçã como substrato

In this work, we propose the reuse of apple pomace as a substrate for fungal chitosan production by liquid cultivation of Gongronella butleri CCT4274. Different concentrations of reducing sugars and sodium nitrate were added to the aqueous extract of apple pomace and the best result was obtained with 40 g/L of reducing sugars and 2.5 g/L of sodium nitrate. The results indicate the possibility of producing 1.19 g/L of chitosan per liter of culture medium after 72.5 hours of cultivation, representing around 21% of the biomass content.

Este trabalho propõe o reuso do bagaço de maçã como substrato para a produção de quitosana fúngica em cultivo liquido do fungo Gongronella butleri CCT4274. Diferentes concentrações de açúcares redutores e nitrato de sódio foram adicionadas ao extrato aquoso do bagaço de maçã. O melhor resultado foi obtido para concentrações de 40 g/L e 2,5 g/L de açúcares redutores e nitrato de sódio, respectivamente. Os resultados indicam a possibilidade de produzir 1,19 g/L de quitosana após 72,5 horas de cultivo, representando 21% da composição da biomassa.

Synthesis of Calcium-Phosphate and Chitosan Bioceramics for Bone Regeneration

Bioceramic composites were obtained from chitosan and hydroxyapatite pastes synthesized at physiological temperature according to two different syntheses approaches. Usual analytical techniques (X-ray diffraction analysis, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, Thermo gravimetric analysis, Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray dispersive energy analysis and Porosimetry) were employed to characterize the resulting material. The aim of this investigation was to study the bioceramic properties of the pastes with non-decaying behavior from chitosan-hydroxyapatite composites. Chitosan, which also forms a water-insoluble gel in the presence of calcium ions, and has been reported to have pharmacologically beneficial effects on osteoconductivity, was added to the solid phase of the hydroxyapatite powder. The properties exhibited by the chitosan-hydroxyapatite composites were characteristic of bioceramics applied as bone substitutes. Hydroxyapatite contents ranging from 85 to 98% (w/w) resulted in suitable bioceramic composites for bone regeneration, since they showed a non-decaying behavior, good mechanical properties and suitable pore sizes