Browsing by Author "Antunes, Filipe"
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- Corncob cellulose scaffolds: A new sustainable temporary implant for cartilage replacementPublication . Cordeiro, Rachel; Henriques, Marta; Silva, João C.; Antunes, Filipe; Alves, Nuno; Moura, CarlaTissue engineering using scaffolds is a promising strategy to repair damaged articular cartilage, whose self-repair is inefficient. Cellulose properties have been recognized for their application in the biomedical field. The aim of this study was to fabricate and characterize novel scaffolds based on poly(E-caprolactone) (PCL) and sustainable cellulose. Thus, the performance of corncob-derived cellulose (CC) in scaffolds as an alternative to wood cellulose (WC) was also investigated to reduce the environmental footprint. Two concentrations of CC in scaffolds were tested, 1% and 2% (w/w), and commercial WC using the same concentrations, as a control. Morphologically, all the developed scaffolds presented pore sizes of ~300 m, 10 layers, a circular shape and well-dispersed cellulose. Thus, all of these characteristics and properties provide the manufactured scaffolds suitable for use in cartilage-replacement strategies. The use of 2% CC results in higher porosity (54.24%), which promotes cell infiltration/migration and nutrient exchange, and has similar mechanical properties to WC. As for the effects of enzymatic degradation of the scaffolds, no significant changes (p > 0.05) were observed in resistance over time. However, the obtained compressive modulus of the scaffold with 2% CC was similar to that of WC. Overall, our results suggest that the integration of 2% corncob cellulose in PCL scaffolds could be a novel way to replace wood-cellulose-containing scaffolds, highlighting its potential for cartilage-replacement strategies.
- Microstructure of Thermoplastic Composites Reinforced with Wool and WoodPublication . Batista, Catarina; Martins, Gabriela; Santos, Cyril; Mateus, Artur; Antunes, FilipeIn the last decades the studies on thermoplastic composites reinforced with natural fibres have been mostly focused on vegetable lignocellulosic or cellulosic fibres. These materials provide eco-sustainable solutions for a large range of applications and have been actually adopted by multiple industries. The interest on fibres of animal origin is more recent and research on composites reinforced with these fibres predominantly composed of keratin, such as wool, feathers or silk, is increasing in virtue of some advantageous properties that may overcome some of the intrinsic limitations from vegetable fibres. The combined use of vegetable and animal fibres in composites appropriate for melt blending processing is at early stages of research. After chemical treatments, the fibres of animal origin have been mostly applied as binders between vegetable fibres and polymers, but not as main constituents of these composites. The use of both types of fibres simultaneously in composites of thermoplastic matrices is the subject of the present study where the fibres of animal origin (wool) are sourced from different kinds of residues from a textile industry and the fibres of vegetable origin (wood) are the residues from carpentry activities. The chemical composition, the macro and microstructure of the fibres is analyzed, as well as that of the composites that combine non-biodegradable and biodegradable polymers with diverse ratios of the fibres in different conditions (wool as cards, yarns and felt cloths; wood as sawdust). The addition of coupling agents to enhance the compatibility between wool, wood and different polymers is also analysed.