**Acknowledgement**

This work was financially supported by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Fundação de Amparo à Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Pernambuco (FACEPE), Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Biological Engineering, Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal. We are grateful to Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Ambientais (NPCIAMB) laboratories, Universidade Católica de Pernambuco, Brazil.

## **6. References**


[8] Rodrigues LR, Moldes A, Teixeira JA, Oliveira R. Kinetic study of fermentative biosurfactant production by *Lactobacillus* strains. Biochemical Engineering Journal 2006e; 28: 109-116.

254 Practical Applications in Biomedical Engineering

**Author details** 

Leonie Asfora Sarubbo

*Recife-Pernambuco, Brazil* 

**Acknowledgement** 

Pernambuco, Brazil.

**6. References** 

antimicrobial agent in the medical field for applications against microorganisms responsible for diseases and infections, making it a suitable alternative to conventional antibiotics.

Raquel Diniz Rufino, Juliana Moura de Luna and Galba Maria de Campos-Takaki *Nucleus for Research in Environmental Sciences and Center for Sciences and Technology, Catholic University of Pernambuco, Rua do Príncipe, Boa Vista, Recife- PE, Brazil* 

*Centre of Science and Technology, Catholic University of Pernambuco, Boa Vista,* 

*IBB, Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Biological Engineering,* 

This work was financially supported by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Fundação de Amparo à Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Pernambuco (FACEPE), Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Biological Engineering, Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal. We are grateful to Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Ambientais (NPCIAMB) laboratories, Universidade Católica de

[1] Rufino RD, Sarubbo LA, Barros-Neto B, Campos-takaki GM. Experimental design for the production of tensio-active agent by *Candida lipolytica*. Journal Industrial

[2] Luna JM, Rufino RD, Sarubbo LA, Rodrigues LRM, Teixeira JAC, Campos-Takaki GM. Evaluation Antimicrobial and Antiadhesive Properties of the Biosurfactant Lunasan Produced by *Candida sphaerica* UCP 0995. Current Microbiology 2011; 62: 1527-1534. [3] Sarubbo LA, Farias CBB, Campos-Takaki GM. Co-utilization of canola oil and glucose on the production of a surfactant by *Candida lipolytica*. Current Microbiology 2007; 54: 68-73. [4] Sobrinho HBS, Rufino RD, Luna JM, Salgueiro AA, Campos-takaki GM, Leite LFC, Sarubbo LA. Utilization of two agroindustrial by-products for the production of a

surfactant by *Candida sphaerica* UCP0995. Process Biochemistry 2008; 912-917. [5] Rahman KSM, Gakpe E. Production, characterization and applications of

hydrocarbon biodegradation in soil. Curr Microbial 2007; 56: 445-449.

[6] Benincasa M. Rhamnolipid produced from agroindustrial wastes enhances

[7] Das P, Mukherjee S, Sen R. Antiadhesive action of a marine microbial surfactant.

Lígia Raquel Marona Rodrigues and José Antônio C. Teixeira

Microbiology and Biotechnology 2008; 35: 907-914.

biosurfactants- Review. Biotechnology 2008; 7: 360-370.

Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces 2009; 71: 183–186.

*University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal* 


[26] Gudiña EJ, Teixeira JA, Rodrigues LR. Isolation and functional characterization of a biosurfactant produced by *Lactobacillus paracasei.* Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces 2010; 76: 298-304.

**Chapter 11** 

© 2012 Kronek et al., licensee InTech. This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

© 2012 Kronek et al., licensee InTech. This is a paper distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

**Biocompatibility and Immunocompatibility** 

Synthetic polymers are considered to be the promising materials for biomedical applications. Various polymer formulations have been employed to achieve the desired chemical, physical and biological properties. Recently, there has been much interest in the development of environmentally responsive polymers for use as biomaterials [1]. Such behavior is significant for the controlled release of drugs upon the application of a stimulus, such as pH, temperature, light or ionic strength. These mentioned properties are necessary for the utilization of polymeric materials for biomedical applications, such as drug and gene delivery, biomembrane technology and biocatalysis [2,3]. Polymer materials can be used in medicine as a part of implant, dialysis membranes, bone scaffolds or components of artificial organs. It means that polymers covers very broad range of biomedical applications. A critical point of the usage of synthetic polymers in living bodies is their utilization, accompanied with the interactions of the foreign material, with the living matter (cells, tissues etc.). The implantation of polymeric materials to a body is usually associated with the inflammation and biofouling. The inflammation is the first defense mechanism of the immune system followed by unspecific cell and protein adhesion and the formation of fibrotic tissue which leads to implant´s dysfunctions. The fundamental role in the implantation of these materials is to increase the tolerance of body to implanted material

Assessments of polymeric material biocompatibility and immunotoxicity are key issues to consider material to be suitable for biomedical applications. Biocompatibility assessment of a polymeric material includes adequate testing for undesired responses. To evaluate biocompatibility, examinations of acute and system toxicity, tissue cultures, cell growth inhibition, mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, teratogenicity and allergenic potential should be

**Assessment of Poly(2-Oxazolines)** 

Juraj Kronek, Ema Paulovičová, Lucia Paulovičová,

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

Zuzana Kroneková and Jozef Lustoň

and to avoid the foreign body reaction [4,5].

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/51501

**1. Introduction** 

