Contribuição para o desenvolvimento da técnica de plastinação com polímeros de base vinílica

Abstract

The use of cadavers and anatomical specimens remains the primary tool for teaching and learning anatomy. However, the use of post-mortem biological material necessitates preservation methods that prevent natural tissue deterioration. The preservation and, consequently, the conservation of anatomical specimens for anatomy classes are largely carried out by anatomy laboratories through the application of formaldehyde, an organic compound that is inexpensive to obtain and use through specific techniques and equipment and has a high degree of tissue penetration. However, formaldehyde is toxic to humans and the environment, being both carcinogenic and mutagenic. The adoption of safer techniques for preserving anatomical specimens is an essential strategy. Plastination, for example, has gained prominence in this context, emerging as an alternative to formaldehyde use. In plastination, water and inter- and extracellular fluids are first replaced by an organic solvent, followed by a curable polymer. The final result is a specimen impregnated with plastic material, odorless, non-toxic, and with preserved anatomical features. The traditional plastination technique uses patented silicone or epoxy polymers. Although it is an excellent alternative to formaldehyde, the traditional technique is costly, making it unfeasible for many anatomy laboratories. The main factors increasing the cost of traditional plastination are the need for dehydration in acetone at -25°C and the curing process, which requires specialized equipment with an isolated atmosphere. This study aims to contribute to the development of a new plastination technique and a new curing method being developed by the Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory at the Federal University of Technology – Paraná, Dois Vizinhos Campus (LAFH – DV). These techniques offer a better cost-benefit ratio than the traditional method while yielding satisfactory results in the preservation of anatomical specimens. In this project, dehydration processes using ethanol or acetone at room temperature or under cold conditions (-25°C) were evaluated to develop a new plastination technique. This study assessed the effects of different dehydration methods on the morphology of plastinated material, in addition to analyzing practical aspects of its use and financial cost. The feasibility of the curing solution with the polymer used was also investigated. The objective was to establish a dehydration and curing protocol that offers the best costbenefit ratio. The solvent that showed the best result was fuel ethanol at room temperature. The curing solution demonstrated excellent performance with the polymer used.