Polymer membranes have been widely used in guided tissue regeneration (GTR) and guided bone regeneration (GBR). The literature recognizes that poly (lactic acid) (PLA)/poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) blends have better physicochemical properties and that a porous polymer surface facilitates cell adhesion and proliferation. In addition, hydroxyapatite (HAp) incorporated into the polymer matrix promotes osteoinduction properties and osteoconduction to the polymer-ceramic biocomposite. Therefore, polymer membranes of PLA/PCL blend with the addition of HAp could be an alternative to be used in GBR. HAp was obtained by precipitation using the mixture of solutions of tetrahydrate calcium nitrate and monobasic ammonium phosphate salts. The porous membranes of the PLA/PCL (80/20) blend with the addition of HAp were obtained by solvent casting with a controlled humidity method, with the dispersion of HAp in chloroform and subsequent solubilization with the components of the blend. The solution was poured into molds for solvent evaporation under a controlled humidity atmosphere. The membranes showed the formation of pores on their surface, together with dispersed HAp particles. The results showed an increase in the surface porosity and improved bioactivity properties with the addition of HAp. Moreover, in biological studies with cell culture, it was possible to observe that the membranes with HAp have no cytotoxic effect on MC3T3 cells. These results indicate a promising use of the new biomaterial for GBR.

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Medical sutures are used in tissues to join the edges of wounds to help a healing process or stabilize implants. The patient's feverish state can lead to premature suture rupture, due to the increase in body temperature and the swelling due to an inflammatory process in the wound. Some materials can adapt to body temperature and may prevent this disruption, being polymers with shape memory an alternative for this application, such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). The addition of carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) can induce antimicrobial activity since the wound and/or suture tend to facilitate the proliferation of microorganisms, which can harm or avoid the healing process. In this work, PLA/TPU (60/40) and nanocomposites with 2 wt% of GNP and hybrids with 1 wt% of MWCNT and 1 wt% of GNP are prepared using the extrusion process. The samples are characterized by tensile test, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry, field emission scanning electron microscopy, shape memory, and antimicrobial activity. The polymer blend and nanocomposites present an average shape recovery (≈6.5% in length) and the addition of nanofillers induced antimicrobial activity, being these materials promising for application in antimicrobial sutures with shape memory.