Preparação e caracterização de biomembranas de látex de Hevea brasiliensis e própolis de Scaptotrigona polysticta para aplicações médicas

Abstract

There has been a growing interest in materials based on latex. Recent findings have confirmed the suitability of these for regenerative medicine, in which the angiogenic properties of the natual rubber latex are exploited, and also in drug delivery systems. Propolis is a resinous material which exhibits antimicrobial, immunemodulatory and anti-inflammatory activity. Among bees that produce popolis, in Brazil, there are bees species of Meliponinae subfamily, known as indigenous stingless bees. In this group are bees of the Scaptotrigona genus, whose propolis was used. This work aimed to prepare and characterize a system formed by látex matrix with propolis extract. The membranes were obtained from the homogenization of latex with propolis extract at the proportion of 10, 20 and 30% and then taken to an oven for 12 hours at 65 ˚ C. The characterization of the membranes was carried out by atomic force microscopy, determination of the roughness and wettability, and infrared spectroscopy. The antifungal activity of the membranes was evaluated with Candida albicans. The incorporation of propolis became the latex membrane more evenly, thereby decreased roughness and increased its hydrophilicity. The infrared spectrum of latex membrane was altered by the presence of propolis, which suggests that a new material was formed. The membranes exhibited the ability to inhibit the growth of C. albicans. Then, the membrane proposed is a strong candidate for wound healing, since it combines the therapeutic properties of latex and propolis.