Brazilians develop a dressing based on pineapple that facilitates healing

The badociation of pineapple proteins with the cellulose produced by the bacteria resulted in effective wound healing, ulceration, and burn, according to researchers at Universities Sorocaba (Uniso) and Unicamp, with support from the Foundation

They produced a compound in the form of gel or plaster based on pineapple protein, called bromelain, and bacterial cellulose – two elements already used

Bromelain has the property to break down the molecules of other proteins – cellular debridement – and is therefore used even to soften the meat. the same characteristic causes it to remove the dead cells in the wound, clean them and accelerate its healing, "says Janaína Artem Ataide, of Unicamp, author.

Cellulose is the most abundant natural biopolymer, produced mainly by plants, it is the most abundant biopolymer of nature. But there are also certain micro-organisms, such as the bacterium Gluconacetobacter xylinus capable of synthesizing it.

"This bacterium is a biofabrication," says researcher Angela Faustino Jozala, Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology and Fermentation Processes of Uniso, another author of the article. "It produces cellulose as if it was a polymer of glucose (sugar) .As the product is woven into nanostructures (a nanometer equals one millionth of a millimeter or a billionth of a meter ), we call it nanocellulose. "

Jozala explains that "Bacterial cellulose is a highly crystalline linear glucose polymer synthesized extracellularly by the bacterium Gluconacetobacter xylinus in the form of nanofibers, because it is produced without other polymers (such as l? hemicellulose and lignin), can be considered a biocompatible material. "

Pineapple residues used in research;

For this reason, it has already been used in several medical applications, such as, for example, transplants and temporary skin substitutes or dressings in the treatment of wounds.

The two teams knew the work of each other and decided to partner to produce the new bandage. "As bacterial nanocellulose has already been applied as a healing product, we had the idea of ​​badociating it with a protein with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties."

"We chose bromelain because we already knew its characteristics and the food industry, when it produces pineapple pulp, discard the bark and stalk of the fruit. C & # 39; is a cheap source to obtain it.We take advantage of the fact that the Unicamp team had already extracted this waste to work together. "

Researcher Priscila Gava Mazzola, d & # 39; Unicamp, Ataide consultant and other article author, says that extracting bromelain from pineapple residue decreases the environmental impact of industrialization and produces a high added value product. In addition, it highlights other important points of the work.

"Nanocellulosic biomembranes are promising in the supply of active ingredients," he says. "Its interesting features for the development of a pharmaceutical or cosmetic product have been aligned with those of bromelain. The final bandage has potential use to help healing processes."

Ataide, in turn, says that a few years ago Bromelain was the subject of research at Unicamp. "We went from extracting this biomolecule to pineapple residues to studying its application in topical and cosmetic pharmaceuticals," says

. "In this scenario, the idea of ​​inserting it in bacterial nanocellulose appeared. (A substance found in the exoskeleton of crustaceans, which has healing properties.)"

The next step is to test the compound in animals / Disclosure

The first laboratory tests were performed to check if bromelain actually created an antimicrobial barrier. "Untreated wounds are an open door for microorganisms, which can lead to serious infections," says Jozala. "Therefore, they need a good dressing, which helps with healing and avoids contamination.In addition, it should be able to provide antioxidant activity to decrease the inflammatory process of dead cells and pus."

Pineapple Protein

Test Phase

To perform the tests, bacterial nanocellulose membranes were immersed for 24 hours in a bromelain solution. The researchers observed that, 30 minutes after incorporation into cellulose, there was greater release and a nine-fold increase in the antimicrobial activity of the membrane

"In other words, A selective barrier has been created.According to her, the new dressing has already gone through the first phase of development of a drug, which is done in the laboratory, to check whether it has the desired effect is non-toxic.

Now there will be phase two, which is animal testing, in the new Uniso lab, and in addition to the dressing, the new facilities will be used to test, produce and purify biomolecules of interest in several industrial segments (biotechnology, environmental, food, pharmaceutical).