Kinga Kowalska

Visiting PhD student, AGH University of Krakow, Poland.

Title: Mg- or Sr- Doped Phosphate Bioactive Glass modified 3D-printed CaP Composite Scaffolds for Bone Regeneration

Supervisor in Erlangen: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Dr. h.c. Aldo R. Boccaccini

Supervisor in Krakow: Prof.  Aneta Zima

The project focuses on the development of multifunctional 3D-printed composite scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration, combining β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) with phosphate-based bioactive glasses. While β-TCP exhibits excellent biocompatibility and osteoconductivity, it lacks the ability to provide controlled therapeutic ion release. To address this limitation, the research explores the incorporation of magnesium- or strontium-doped phosphate bioactive glasses to enhance biological performance and enable additional functionalities such as improved mineralization and angiogenesis [1]. Phosphate-based glasses, although less studied than silicate systems, offer high solubility and a strong capacity for incorporating therapeutic ions, making them promising candidates for advanced biomaterials [2]. Scaffolds are fabricated via direct ink writing (DIW) using composite pastes, followed by optimized thermal treatment to achieve controlled crystallization of the glass phase. This approach aims to improve mechanical properties while preventing excessive ion release, leading to the design of advanced biomaterials for bone regeneration applications.

[1] Hohenbild F, Arango Ospina M, Schmitz SI, Moghaddam A, Boccaccini AR, Westhauser F. An In Vitro Evaluation of the Biological and Osteogenic Properties of Magnesium-Doped Bioactive Glasses for Application in Bone Tissue Engineering. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Nov 24;22(23)

[2] Abou Neel, E.A., O’Dell, L.A., Smith, M.E. et al. Processing, characterisation, and biocompatibility of zinc modified metaphosphate-based glasses for biomedical applications. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 19, 1669–1679 (2008).