Compatibility of Cassava Starch Films as Nitric Oxide Carrier for Potential Medical Device

Films prepared with bioabsorbable materials (cassava starch, glycerol, and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)) can be used as an external support in the myocardial revascularization surgery, releasing nitric oxide (NO) during the tissue regeneration. In the present study, these materials submitted to in vitro degradation tests under physiological conditions, presented the reduction of 38% of weight loss by the modification of native starch using sodium trimetaphosphate (STMP) (15 g/100g of starch). The CMC addition of 10 g/100g of cassava starch increased 119% of the tensile strength of the films in comparison with films prepared without CMC. It was verified that the ruthenium complex trans-[Ru(NH3)4(isn)(NO)](BF4)3 incorporated in the starch based films behave similarly as in aqueous solution, releasing NO by photochemical reaction. Macrophage cells were detected in in vivo degradation tests in rats around the implant after 1 and 7 days, and complete biodegradation was observed after 30 days. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41382.