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    Thermal annealing of natural rubber films controls wettability and enhances cytocompatibility

    Year: 2022

    Journal: Surf. Interfaces, Volume 31, JUL

    Authors: Nascimento, Rodney Marcelo do; Rodrigues, Joao Elias F. S.; Favarin, Bruno Z.; Ramos, Ana P.; Ciancaglini, Pietro; Pecharroman, Carlos; Rahouadj, Rachid; Hernandes, Antonio Carlos; Bechtold, Ivan Helmuth

    Keywords: Natural rubber; Thermal treatment; Wettability; Surface energy; Cytocompatibility

    In spite of the widespread use of natural rubber in regenerative therapies, thermally induced modifications of its complex chemical structure and their effect on the surface properties and the cell response (attachment-adhesion proliferation) are still an unexplored topic. Here, we demonstrate how thermal treatments enhance the cell response due to changes to the inner and surface structures of natural rubber. In situ studies of the temperature effects conducted via infrared spectroscopy revealed both molecular rearrangements and anharmonic effects in the polymeric lattices. Thermal treatments at different temperatures allowed to control the wetting regime. Contributions of different surface parameters to the wettability were decoupled by statistical analysis of the principal component. The polar component of the surface free energy was recognized as the main surface player, which influences cell spreading, attachment, proliferation, and tissue growth. A simple thermal annealing of the natural rubber film at 373 K alters the local structure of the latex inducing an increase in cell viability. The experimental-statistical analysis approach allows an accurate correlation of physicochemical properties with cell supportability. The results highlight the potential of natural rubber polymers by tuning surface wettability, via simple thermal treatment, for biomedical applications.
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