Lucille Vivant

visiting master student (ENSIL-ENSCI, University of Limoges, France)

Fabrication and characterisation of polymer-bioactive glass composite scaffolds incorporating bioactive glass microspheres

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

Bioactive glass microspheres (BGMs) are actively used in various medical applications, from drug delivery to bone tissue regeneration, due to their unique properties such as large surface area and low density. This study focuses on the effect of BGMs on the mechanical strength and biological responses of composite bone scaffolds fabricated using fused deposition modeling (FDM). Initially, BGMs will undergo chemical treatment to incorporate active surface groups, thereby strengthening the interfacial bond with the poly(lactic) acid (PLA) matrix. Composite filaments containing BGMs will then be produced and characterized. The main idea is to use these BGMs/PLA filaments in the fabrication and characterization of composite bone scaffolds as potential bone graft substitutes.