İlayda Nur Çetin

Visiting student (Çukurova University, Turkey)

Fabrication and Characterization of Bioactive Glass Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering Applications

 

Supervisors: Dr. Qaisar Nawaz, Prof. Aldo R. Boccaccini

In this project, 45S5 bioactive glass scaffolds will be produced using the standard foam replica technique for bone tissue engineering (1). The scaffolds will surface functionalize by different approaches. Three groups will be compared: (i) non-coated scaffolds, (ii) scaffolds coated with mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs), and (iii) scaffolds coated with MBGNs and gelatin. Bioactivity will be evaluated by hydroxyapatite formation after incubation in simulated body fluid for 1, 3, 7, and 14 days. Scaffolds morphology will be examined by SEM, elemental composition by EDX, and chemical structure by FTIR. This comprehensive characterization will enable a detailed analysis of the effects of coating methods on the mechanical strength and bioactivity of the scaffolds.

1. P. Newby et al., Ag-doped 45S5 Bioglass®-based bone scaffolds by molten salt ion exchange: processing and characterization, J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Med. 22 (2011) 557–569. LINK: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10856-011-4240-8