Análise do potencial biomédico de filmes de quitosana incorporados com óleo de sementes de tamarindus indica l

Abstract

Tamarindus indica, originally from equatorial Africa and India, has been widely used in traditional medicine due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. The oil extracted from its seeds (OST), rich in fatty acids, exhibits well-recognized healing and antimicrobial potential. Chitosan, in turn, is a polysaccharide with high biocompatibility, and its association with OST represents a promising strategy for producing bioactive films for biomedical applications. This study aimed to isolate and characterize OST by evaluating physicochemical parameters such as color, acid value, refractive index, and peroxide index, as well as incorporating it into chitosan films obtained by the solvent evaporation method. A Box–Behnken design (15 runs) was employed with three independent factors (chitosan concentration, OST concentration, and stirring time) and three response variables (pH, contact angle, and water vapor permeability – WVP). The results showed that increasing the chitosan concentration decreased the film pH (≈ 4.0), whereas higher OST levels increased hydrophobicity, with contact angles close to 90° (θ ≈ 90°). Regarding barrier properties, the Q2OST5 formulation (2% chitosan, 5% OST, 22.5 min) exhibited the lowest WVP (0.02 g·m⁻²·day⁻¹), being classified as an excellent barrier, albeit more acidic. A combined analysis of the results revealed an optimal formulation window at 1% chitosan, 3% OST, and 22.5 min of stirring, achieving physiological pH (5), moderate hydrophilicity (θ = 70°), controlled permeability (3.6 g·mm/m²·day), homogeneous morphology, transparency with UV protection, and antifungal activity against Candida albicans. Films with higher OST levels (3% and 5%) showed superior thermal stability (TGA/DTG), chemical interactions confirmed by FTIR, and more pronounced antimicrobial activity. In conclusion, incorporating OST into chitosan films resulted in materials with suitable biocompatibility, barrier properties, and antimicrobial performance, reinforcing their potential for biomedical applications, such as wound dressings and controlled topical delivery systems.