Estudo da associação de micropartículas de poli-L-ácido láctico e policaprolactona na síntese de colágeno in vitro

Abstract

Skin photoaging, characterized by the replacement of the collagen matrix with dysfunctional fibers, drives the growing demand for biomaterials capable of stimulating collagen production in aesthetics and tissue engineering. Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) are widely used biomaterials aimed at promoting neocollagenesis. This study evaluated the effect of the combined use of PLLA and PCL microparticles on type I collagen synthesis in vitro, using murine fibroblast and macrophage cultures. Microparticles with an average diameter of 2􀀀μm were obtained and characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and particle size distribution analysis. Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay on days 1, 3, and 7. Type I collagen production was quantified by ELISA over a 14-day period. The results demonstrated that the microparticles retained their chemical and mechanical properties, and the combination of PLLA and PCL did not impair cell viability. Moreover, it resulted in significantly higher collagen production (p􀀀<􀀀0.01) compared to isolated microparticles. The association of both polymers created a more favorable microenvironment for collagen fiber production by fibroblasts, possibly due to improved particle internalization. It is concluded that the combination of PLLA and PCL microparticles represents a simple and more effective therapeutic strategy for stimulating neocollagenesis, showing promising potential as a dermal biostimulant in orofacial harmonization and/or the treatment of dermal soft tissue defects