The present study has shown a systematic evaluation of the
natural rubber angiogenic properties using the CAM method.
The results obtained shown that the natural rubber latex films
produced by casting induces the vessel growth in the CAM
and it can be considered as a potential biomaterial. The angiogenic evaluation according to the heat treatment of the
NR latex film revealed that the angiogenic behavior remains
active and increase in temperatures ranging from 65-85oC.
It is particularly interesting, since the NR films are prepared
by heating the latex system. The results showed here may
suggest a maximum temperature (85oC) to be used for this
procedure.
The second important effect achieved in this study was the
demonstration that the bioactive fraction of the NR latex is
the non-rubber constituents of the latex systems and the polyisoprene chains are not the main responsible for these material activity. Here we proposed an easy method to isolate
the angiogenic fraction from NR latex. The curve for the
percentage of vessels as a function of heating for NR film
and NR serum was very similar and it suggests that the active fraction extracted from the rubber could be study to be
incorporated in other systems such as thin polymer films.
The FTIR experiments suggested changes in the secFIG. 7: FTIR spectra of the NR serum fraction for different temperatures of heating.
ondary structure of the NR serum fraction as a function of
heating. However, the fact we did not have a completely purified angiogenic fraction turned difficulty the evaluation of
the structural changes as a function of heating. One of the
suppositions is that the variation in the secondary structure
can exhibit the angiogenic part of the NR bioactive protein
and increase the potential behavior of the material.
Acknowledgemen