Alessia Del Pioluogo

Visiting student (University of Padua, Italy)

Development and characterization of 3D hierarchical scaffold fabricated via melt electrowriting and electrospinning for wound healing

 

Supervisors: Sena Harmanci, Dr.Ing-Irem Unalan, Prof. Aldo R. Boccaccini

Wound healing is a complex process essential for restoring the structure and function of damaged skin. When natural repair is insufficient, new engineered biomaterials are needed to support and guide tissue regeneration actively. Three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds are particularly promising since their structure mimics the morphology and functionality of the extracellular matrix (ECM). This project focuses on the development and characterization of 3D hierarchical scaffolds produced by electrospinning and melt electrowriting (MEW). Electrospinning will be used to fabricate multilayered nanofiber scaffolds, while MEW will produce microfibrous scaffolds with controllable fiber orientations to study their effects on cellular response and mechanical stability [1, 2]. Additionally, the 3D hierarchical structure will be functionalized to improve properties such as bioactivity and biocompatibility [3, 4]. In this project, the microstructure, surface chemistry, and mechanical behavior will be examined.

[1] Dalton, P. D., Melt electrowriting with additive manufacturing principles, Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering, 2, 2017, 49-57.

[2] Unalan, I., Occhipinti, I., Miola, M., Vernè, E., & Boccaccini, A. R., Development of Super‐Paramagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticle‐Coated Melt Electrowritten Scaffolds for Biomedical Applications. Macromolecular Bioscience, 24, 2024, 2300397.

[3] Ege D, Zheng K, Boccaccini AR. Borate Bioactive Glasses (BBG): Bone Regeneration, Wound Healing Applications, and Future Directions. ACS Appl Bio Mater. 15, 2022, 3608-3622.

[4] Unalan, I., Slavik, B., Buettner, A., & Boccaccini, A. R., Phytotherapeutic Hierarchical PCL‐Based Scaffolds as a Multifunctional Wound Dressing: Combining 3D Printing and Electrospinning. Macromolecular Bioscience, 24, 2024, 2400253.