Daniela Jaramillo

PhD Student (Alexander Dubček University of Trenčín, Slovakia)

Development of novel bone filler composites with enhanced bioactivity and biological response

 

Supervisor in Trenčín: Dr. Martin Michálek

Supervisor in Erlangen: Prof. Aldo R. Boccaccini

This project focuses on the development of injectable bone cement composites combining calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) with bioactive glasses (BGs) to create multifunctional bone void fillers for bone regeneration. The first stage of the project focuses on overcoming the limitations of conventional CPCs, such as slow degradation and limited bioactivity by utilizing the biological reactivity, bone-bonding ability, and cell-stimulating potential of BGs. Previous studies from the FAU Institute of Biomaterials have demonstrated the benefits of integrating BGs into CPC matrices, highlighting their complementary biological and physicochemical properties [1]. Building upon this research, the project advances toward the design of multifunctional composites by tuning the structure and composition of the bioactive glass to enable further functionalization and the incorporation of therapeutic ions into the system [2]. These modifications are expected to introduce additional effects such as antibacterial activity, and controlled degradation, resulting in injectable CPC–BG composites with enhanced and versatile performance for advanced bone regeneration.

[1] Demir-Oğuz, Ö., Boccaccini, A. R., & Loca, D. (2023). Injectable bone cements: What benefits the combination of calcium phosphates and bioactive glasses could bring? Bioactive Materials, 19, 217–236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioactmat.2022.04.007

[2] Lu, H. H., Ege, D., Salehi, S., & Boccaccini, A. R. (2024). Ionic medicine: Exploiting metallic ions to stimulate skeletal muscle tissue regeneration. Acta Biomaterialia, 190, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2024.10.033