A new epoxy for plastination: feasibility and applicability analysis of the conservation of biological tissues

Plastination is a technique for preserving biological tissues, in which body fluids are replaced by a curable polymer. Epoxy resin is used for 2-5 mm sections of anatomical segments, with the German-made Biodur® E12 being the best known and most widely used resin. A few alternative epoxies can be used in the technique, but research should be developed to identify options that are cheaper and less bureaucratic to acquire. This study aimed to find, adapt, and apply an alternative epoxy resin formulation and its curing system for the plastination process as a potential substitute for Biodur® E12. The methodology was divided into the search of a resin for national commercialization in Brazil, the development of the final formulation, the testing of its use in plastination, and the evaluation of the resin and final specimens. From market research, E48 epoxy (brand not disclosed) was selected, and its formulation was changed with the addition of a plasticizer for use in impregnation. A total of 150 Wistar rat cross-sections were plastinated with the control polymer (E12) and with the developed test resin (E48). Based on the positive results of the shrinkage analysis (no statistical difference) and confocal and stereoscopic microscopy, it was concluded that the modified E48 is a great alternative to E12.