Incorporação de carvão ativado com atividade antimicrobiana ao poliuretano visando à utilização em cateteres

Abstract

Healthcare-associated infections related to the use of intravascular catheters represent a significant public health concern due to their high morbidity and mortality rates and the increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance, highlighting the need for materials capable of reducing bacterial colonization on medical devices. In this context, the present study aimed to develop and characterize thermoplastic polyurethane composites incorporated with activated carbon exhibiting antimicrobial activity for potential application in catheter manufacturing. The activated carbon was obtained from the pseudostem of Musa sp. and chemically activated with zinc chloride before being incorporated into the polymer matrix at different concentrations. The produced materials were evaluated regarding their mechanical, morphological, chemical, and microbiological properties through tensile testing, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, laser diffraction particle size analysis, contact angle measurements, and zinc release quantification by atomic absorption spectrometry. Antimicrobial activity was investigated against clinically relevant microorganisms. The results demonstrated that the incorporation of 5% activated carbon provided the best balance between mechanical performance and antimicrobial activity, significantly reducing the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Streptococcus pyogenes. Higher concentrations negatively affected the structural integrity of the composites. Structural analyses confirmed the adequate dispersion of activated carbon within the polymer matrix and revealed the presence of zinc, which may be associated with the observed antimicrobial activity. It can be concluded that the developed composites exhibit potential for application in intravascular catheters, representing a promising alternative for preventing device-associated infections by combining suitable mechanical properties with effective antimicrobial activity.