Use of Statistical Design Strategies to Produce Biodegradable and Eco-Friendly Films from Cashew Gum Polysaccharide and Polyvinyl Alcohol

Production of anti-inflammatory films based on cashew gum polysaccharide and polyvinyl alcohol for wound dressing applications

In the present study, we aimed to produce CGP/PVA films containing entrapped anti-inflammatory drugs for wound dressing applications. Using a 33-1 fractional factorial design, the effect of each component was evaluated on the physicochemical and morphological properties of the produced materials. The best formulation for entrapment of diclofenac sodium and ketoprofen was also determined. The produced films presented high swelling capacity, with some formulations showing o porous structure. CGP/PVA films showed a maximum retention of 75.6% for diclofenac sodium and 32.2% for ketoprofen, and both drugs were released in a controlled manner for up to 7 h. The drug release kinetic was studied, and the data were fitted using a Korsmeyer-Peppas model, which suggested that the release mechanism is controlled by diffusion. These results indicate that CGP/PVA-based matrices have great potential to be used as drug-delivery systems for wound dressing applications, contributing to prolonging the drug's action time and then improving their anti-inflammatory efficacy.

Polysaccharide-Based Membrane Biocompatibility Study of Anacardium occidentale L. and Polyvinyl Alcohol after Subcutaneous Implant in Rats

Polymeric membranes are a viable and sustainable option for the biotechnology industry from an economic and environmental point of view. In this study, we evaluated tissue response and tolerance to the implantation of a polymeric membrane prepared with cashew gum polysaccharide (CGP) associated with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The objective was to characterize the biocompatibility of the CGP/PVA membrane in vivo. Following the evaluation criteria of the ISO 10993-6 standard, we demonstrated that the CGP/PVA membrane showed moderate tissue reaction, with a non-irritating ISO pattern, a thinner fibrous capsule, and a smaller amount of collagen compared to the positive control group. At 30 and 60 days, the membrane presented a similar amount of mast cells to that observed in the negative control group. The data demonstrate that the CGP/PVA membrane presents biocompatibility in accordance with the ISO 10993-6 standard.

Cashew Gum Polysaccharide Nanoparticles Grafted with Polypropylene Glycol as Carriers for Diclofenac Sodium

This investigation focuses on the development and optimization of cashew gum polysaccharide (CGP) nanoparticles grafted with polypropylene glycol (PPG) as carriers for diclofenac sodium. The optimization of parameters affecting nanoparticles formulation was performed using a central composite rotatable design (CCRD). It was demonstrated that the best formulation was achieved when 10 mg of CGP was mixed with 10 μL of PPG and homogenized at 22,000 rpm for 15 min. The physicochemical characterization evidenced that diclofenac was efficiently entrapped, as increases in the thermal stability of the drug were observed. The CGP-PPG@diclofenac nanoparticles showed a globular shape, with smooth surfaces, a hydrodynamic diameter around 275 nm, a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.342, and a zeta potential of -5.98 mV. The kinetic studies evidenced that diclofenac release followed an anomalous transport mechanism, with a sustained release up to 68 h. These results indicated that CGP-PPG nanoparticles are an effective material for the loading/release of drugs with similar structures to diclofenac sodium.