Natural rubber latex (NRL) from Hevea brasiliensis has showed interesting biomedical properties as improving wound healing, cell adherence, tissue formation, and angiogenesis. It is used for biosynthesis of nanoparticles, sensors and prosthesis and for drug delivery systems (for drugs, plant extracts, and nanoparticles). To enhance its wound healing properties was incorporated Casearia sylvestris Swartz extract, whose pharmacological activity includes anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiseptic, antiulcer, and antitumor due to its casearins and phenols. Results showed the prolonged release of its compounds (35 days) and the mechanism of release is super case II (n>1) by Korsmeyer-Peppas model. Although SEM shows different sizes of clusters at the surface, the release is homogeneous through the biomembrane. FTIR shows no interaction between the matrix and the extract, with computation of the presence of some casearins.

In order to create a new sustained drug delivery system applied for tissue regeneration, this study beget a natural rubber latex (NRL) film with Casearia sylvestris extract and ciprofloxacin. Manipulated from the biomaterial latex obtained by the rubber tree Hevea brasiliensis, the NRL film has shown to be a great angiogenic compound and also has shown a great potential in being a possible carrier for sustained drug release. In order to increase the therapeutic spectrum of the film two substances was added to it: the C. sylvestris extract which has antiulcer, anti-inflammatory and Bolognesi et al.; ACSj, 5(1): 17-25, 2015; Article no. ACSj.2015.003 18 wound healing effects due to its casearins and the antibiotic ciprofloxacin which is considered as one of the main drugs used for open wounds in the skin. The study occurred at State São Paulo University in Assis (UNESP-FCL), Brazil. The substances were mixed and a film was made by casting at ambient temperature creating circular films with 5cm of diameter. After that the film was placed in 1 liter of water to start the release study. The release behavior was analyzed by UV-VIS spectrophotometry being the casearins related to the wavelength of 235nm and the ciprofloxacin of 320nm. The film supported the release of compounds, releasing 93.73% of the extract and 56.53% of the drug, along 29 hours. In addition, the incorporation was proven by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), which showed the morphology of pure and incorporated films and also by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) which has shown that no chemical change occurred during the process. Thereby, according to results, the material has a possible approach to biomedical application. Original Research Article

Background Nipple pain is the second most common reason for early weaning, exceeded only by the insufficient milk supply. Nipple fissures can bring other problems, acting also as a portal for bacteria and leading to mastitis. This work proposes the breast protector composite development using materials with tissue repair and moisturizing properties, aligned with a low‐cost procedure, aiming not only to relieve pain, but also to heal the nipple fissures caused by breastfeeding. Materials and methods For the dressings, production was used Natural Latex extracted from the rubber tree and glycerol. The Samples were evaluated chemically and physically by the techniques of Scanning Electron Microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, mechanical traction, and contact angle. The samples were also biologically evaluated by the hemolytic and cytotoxic activity assays. Results From the physical‐chemical assays, the matrix with glycerol has high pore density; the natural latex and glycerol do not covalently interact, indicating that the glycerol can be released; the glycerol addition makes the matrix more elastic but fragile, and increase the wettability. From the biological assays, both materials showed no hemolytic effects; and the cytotoxicity results showed that glycerol did not present cytotoxicity in the fibroblasts, but show a dose‐dependent influence in the keratinocytes. Conclusion The material developed for application in breast fissures has mechanical properties similar to those found for materials for dermal applications, present high wettability and pore density. Furthermore, the material showed no cytolytic activity and the tests with skin cell cultures demonstrated the biocompatibility.

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