Speaker
Description
Skin cancer is the most commom of all cancers and can be divided in three types: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma, the latter being the most aggressive. Current therapies for melanoma present several drawbacks, which highlights the need for new therapeutic approaches.
Electroactive, biocompatible, and biodegradable polymers, such as poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and silk fibroin (SF), are attracting increasing interest for the development of active scaffolds in tissue engineering applications.
Nanotechnology applied to the healthcare area has demonstrated a significant impact in regenerative medicine and in conventional melanoma therapies. New alternative approaches to treat cancer are being based on nanotechnology and, among several alternatives, photodynamic effects based therapies have increased treatment efficacy.
In this study, fibers with different PHBV/SF ratios were produced by electrospinning. The materials were subjected to physicochemical and biological characterization. Their biological performance was evaluated using HaCat keratinocyte cells to mimic skin conditions. The effect of an active microenvironment was investigated by applying mechanical stimulation to induce an electrical response through the piezoelectric properties of fibers. Mechanoelectrical stimulation appears to enhance keratinocyte proliferation. The antimicrobial activity of the developed materials was also evaluated against E. coli and S. aureus and preliminary results showed that the developed materials have antimicrobial properties against both strains.
In parallel, a study of nanoparticles was performed. Lab made and commercial samples were characterized regarding physical properties and photothermal behaviour. These nanoparticles showed different size, shape and light absorption. The different nanoparticles react to light and when included in the system add a new functionality.
In conclusion, this study shows promising materials and nanoparticles for the development of skin patches for regeneration and cancer treatment.
| Which topic best fits your talk? | Condensed Matter Physics and Nanomaterials |
|---|---|
| Affiliations | Physics Centre of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP) |