Daniela Jaramillo Raquejo

Visiting PhD student (FunGlass Centre, Trencin, Slovakia)

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

Supervisor in Erlangen: Prof. Aldo R. Boccaccini

Supervisor in Trencin: Dr. Martin Michalek

The project focuses on the development of injectable bone cement composites combining calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) with mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) to create multifunctional bone void fillers for bone regeneration. The research aims to overcome the limitations of conventional CPCs, such as limited bioactivity and slow degradation, by exploiting the high surface area, ion release capability, and bone-bonding ability of MBGs. Previous studies have demonstrated that the incorporation of bioactive glasses into CPC matrices enhances their physicochemical and biological properties [1]. Building upon this approach, the project advances toward the design of multifunctional composites through the control of MBG composition and mesoporous structure to enable the
incorporation of therapeutic ions and additional functionalities [2]. These modifications are expected to provide enhanced bioactivity, controlled degradation, and improved clinical handling, resulting in injectable CPC–MBG composites suitable for advanced bone regeneration applications.

[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