Sara Biba

 Visiting student (University of Padua, Italy)

Ion doped mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles incorporated in hydrogel matrices for bone tissue regeneration

Supervisors: Luiza Mirt, Andrada Damian-Buda , Prof. Aldo R. Boccaccini

Bone defects resulting from trauma, disease, or aging remain a persistent clinical challenge, requiring biomaterials that not only support but also actively promote bone regeneration. Mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs) are highly biocompatible and compositionally versatile materials whose ordered mesoporous structure and tunable chemistry enable the incorporation and controlled release of biologically active ions capable of stimulating osteogenesis, angiogenesis and antibacterial responses [1,2].  This project focuses on the synthesis, functionalization, and characterization of ion-doped MBGNs to enhance their bioactivity and biocompatibility [3]. In addition, the project explores the incorporation of these nanoparticles into hydrogel matrices to develop composite systems with improved mechanical stability and controlled ion release behavior. Analytical techniques such as FTIR, SEM and XRD are employed to correlate compositional and surface modifications with biological performance. The ultimate goal is to develop multifunctional biomaterials and 3D scaffolds for advanced bone tissue engineering. This research is conducted in collaboration between Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and the University of Padua (Italy).

References

[1] Erol-Taygun, M., Unalan, I., Idris, M. I. B., Mano, J. F., Boccaccini, A. R. (2019). Bioactive Glass-Polymer Nanocomposites for Bone Tissue Regeneration Applications: A Review. Adv. Eng. Mater., 21(10), 1800905.

[2] Kurtuldu, F., Kaňková, H., Beltrán, A. M., Liverani, L., Galusek, D., Boccaccini, A. R. (2021). Mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles: A multifunctional platform for regenerative medicine. Mater. Today Bio, 12, 100150.

[3] Damian-Buda, A.-I., Nawaz, Q., Unalan, I., Beltrán, A. M., Boccaccini, A. R. (2023). Ion-doped mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles for bone tissue engineering. Ceram. Int., 49, 29923–29933.