Cu-releasing bioactive glass/polycaprolactone coating on Mg with antibacterial and anticorrosive properties for bone tissue engineering - Yang, Yuyun; Zheng, Kai; Liang, Ruifang; Mainka, Astrid; Taccardi, Nicola; Roether, Judith; Detsch, Rainer; Goldmann, Wolfgang; Virtanen, Sannakaisa; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Biomedical Materials, 2017)
Copper (Cu)-containing bioactive glass nanoparticles (Cu-BGNs) were introduced in polycaprolactone (PCL) coating systems to improve the bioactivity, antibacterial property, and corrosion resistance of vulnerable magnesium matrices under physiological conditions. The influence of different amounts of Cu-BGNs in PCL coatings was thoroughly investigated determining the wettability, electrochemical properties, and antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus carnosus and Escherichia coli, as well as their cyto-compatibility. Cu-BGNs were observed randomly scattered in PCL coatings. Increasing concentration of Cu-BGNs resulted in slightly decreasing water contact angle, and reducing anti-corrosion properties of the Cu-BGNs composite coatings. Yet higher Cu-BGNs content in coatings led to more calcium phosphate formation on the surface after 7 days of immersion in DMEM, which was confirmed by FTIR and XPS. The growth of S. carnosus and E. coli was inhibited by Cu2+ ion released from Cu-BGN coatings. In addition, both direct and indirect cyto-compatibility experiments showed that the viability and proliferation of MG-63 cells on Cu-BGN coatings were highly increased compared to pure magnesium; however, an additional increase of Cu-BGNs concentration showed a slight decrease of cell proliferation and cell activity. In summary, Cu-BGN/PCL composite coatings impart magnesium-based biomaterials antibacterial and anticorrosive properties for clinical applications.
EVALuna2:13499

Current state of nanostructured biomaterials for oral and craniomaxillofacial rehabilitation - Souza, Júlio C.M.; Galarraga-Vinueza, M. E.; Henriques, Bruno; Hotza, Dachamir; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Elsevier Inc., 2018)
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-08-05

Custom-Made Poly(urethane) Coatings Improve the Mechanical Properties of Bioactive Glass Scaffolds Designed for Bone Tissue Engineering - Boffito, Monica; Servello, Lucia; Arango-Ospina, Marcela; Miglietta, Serena; Tortorici, Martina; Sartori, Susanna; Ciardelli, Gianluca; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Polymers, 2022)
The replication method is a widely used technique to produce bioactive glass (BG) scaffolds mimicking trabecular bone. However, these scaffolds usually exhibit poor mechanical reliability and fast degradation, which can be improved by coating them with a polymer. In this work, we proposed the use of custom-made poly(urethane)s (PURs) as coating materials for 45S5 Bioglass®-based scaffolds. In detail, BG scaffolds were dip-coated with two PURs differing in their soft segment (poly(ε-caprolactone) or poly(ε-caprolactone)/poly(ethylene glycol) 70/30 w/w) (PCL-PUR and PCL/PEG-PUR) or PCL (control). PUR-coated scaffolds exhibited biocompatibility, high porosity (ca. 91%), and improved mechanical properties compared to BG scaffolds (2–3 fold higher compressive strength). Interestingly, in the case of PCL-PUR, compressive strength significantly increased by coating BG scaffolds with an amount of polymer approx. 40% lower compared to PCL/PEG-PUR-and PCL-coated scaffolds. On the other hand, PEG presence within PCL/PEG-PUR resulted in a fast decrease in mechanical reliability in an aqueous environment. PURs represent promising coating materials for BG scaffolds, with the additional pros of being ad-hoc customized in their physico-chemical properties. Moreover, PUR-based coatings exhibited high adherence to the BG surface, probably because of the formation of hydrogen bonds between PUR N-H groups and BG surface functionalities, which were not formed when PCL was used.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-01-14
Keywords: Bioactive glass; Bioglass; Bone tissue engineering; Dip-coating; Poly(urethane)s; Replication method

Cu, Zn doped borate bioactive glasses: antibacterial efficacy and dose-dependent in vitro modulation of murine dendritic cells - Schuhladen, Katharina; Stich, Lena; Schmidt, Jochen; Steinkasserer, Alexander; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Zinser, Elisabeth (Biomaterials Science, 2020)
Among emerging biomaterials, bioactive glasses (BGs) are being widely explored for various applications in tissue engineering. However, the effects of BGs (in particular BG ionic dissolution products) on immune cells and specifically on dendritic cells (DCs), which are the most potent antigen-presenting cells of the immune system, have not been previously investigated in detail. Such interactions between BGs and DCs must be assessed as a novel biocompatibility criterion for biomaterials, since, with the increased application possibilities of BGs, the modulation of the immune system may induce potential complications and undesired side effects. Indeed, the effects of BG exposure on specific immune cells are not well understood. Thus, in this study we investigated, for the first time, the effect of borate BGs doped with biologically active ions on specific immune cells, such as DCs and we further investigated the antibacterial properties of these borate BGs. The compositions of the borate BGs (B3) were based on the well-known 13-93 (silicate) composition by replacing silica with boron trioxide and by adding copper (3 wt%) and/or zinc (1 wt%). By performing an agar diffusion test, the antibacterial effect depending on the compositions of the borate BGs could be proved. Furthermore we found a dose-dependent immune modulation of DCs after treatment with borate BGs, especially when the borate BGs contained Zn and/or Cu. Depending on the ion concentration and the rise in pH, the phenotype and function of DCs were modified. While at low doses B3 and Zn-doped B3 BGs had no impact on DC viability, Cu containing BGs strongly affected cell viability. Furthermore, the surface expression of DC-specific activation markers, such as the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-II, CD86 and CD80, was modulated. In addition, also DC mediated T-cell proliferation was remarkably reduced when treated with high doses of B3-Cu and B3-Cu-Zn BGs. Interestingly, the release of inflammatory cytokines increased after incubation with B3 and B3-Zn BGs compared to mock-treated DCs. Considering the essential role of DCs in the modulation and regulation of immune responses, these findings provide first evidence of phenotypic and functional consequences regarding the exposure of DCs to BGs in vitro.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2020-04-28

Cytocompatibility, bioactivity and mechanical strength of calcium phosphate cement reinforced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes and bovine serum albumin - Gholami, Fatemeh; Zein, Sharif Hussein Sharif; Gerhardt, Lutz Christian; Low, Kah Ling; Tan, Soon Huat; McPhail, David S.; Grover, Liam M.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Ceramics International, 2013)
This paper reports on the in vitro cytotoxicity, bioactivity behaviour and mechanical properties of novel injectable calcium phosphate cement filled with hydroxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes and bovine serum albumin (CPC/MWCNT-OH/BSA). To predict the in vitro bioactivity of the calcium phosphate composites, we investigated apatite formation on CPC/MWCNT-OH/BSA composites after soaking in simulated body fluid (SBF) for up to 28 days. Compressive strength tests, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and cell culture experiments with human CCD-18Co fibroblasts cell lines were performed to evaluate the effect of SBF pre-treatment on the mechanical, structural and biological properties of the CPC/MWCNT-OH/BSA composites. Although apatite formation increased significantly with SBF immersion period, the results showed that all soaked CPC/MWCNT-OH/BSA composites exhibited up to 2.5 times lower compressive strength (13-20 MPa), which were however higher than values reported for the strength of trabecular bone (2-12 MPa). Cell culture experiments showed that low concentrations (6.25 and 12.5 μg/ml) of bio-mineralised CPC/MWCNT-OH/BSA composites led to cell proliferative rather than cytotoxic effects on fibroblasts, evidenced by high cell viabilities (104-113%). The novel CPC/MWCNT-OH/BSA composites presented in this study showed favourable cytocompatible and bioactive behaviour along with high compressive strength (13-32 MPa) and are therefore considered as an attractive bone filling material. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2013.tech.IW.LM.cytoco
Keywords: Compressive strength; CPCs; Cytotoxicity; In vitro bioactivity

Cytotoxicity, chemical stability, and surface properties of ferroelectric ceramics for biomaterials - Acosta, Matias; Detsch, Rainer; Gruenewald, Alina; Rojas, Virginia; Schultheiss, Jan; Wajda, Aleksandra; Stark, Robert W.; Narayan, Suman; Sitarz, Maciej; Koruza, Jurij; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 2017)
Keywords: biocompatible materials; cytotoxicity; ferroelectrics; mouse embryonic fibroblasts; piezoelectric materials

Deepening our understanding of bioactive glass crystallization using TEM and 3D nano-CT - Contreras Jaimes, Altair T.; de Pablos-Martín, Araceli; Hurle, Katrin; Martins de Souza e Silva, Juliana; Berthold, Lutz; Kittel, Thomas; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Brauer, Delia S. (Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2021)
One key issue influencing a broader application of Bioglass 45S5 in tissue engineering is its inherent crystallization tendency, severely limiting the mechanical strength of 3D porous scaffolds. Despite numerous studies, Bioglass 45S5 crystallization is not yet fully understood with regard to the mechanisms involved or morphology of the crystal phases forming. Here we show how two cutting-edge imaging techniques, state-of-the-art transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with image correction including energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray nano-computed tomography (nano-CT), allowed us to visualize changes in microstructure from near-nucleation to almost full crystallization in bulk Bioglass 45S5. At early times of heat treatment at 660 °C the formation of phase-separated nano-droplets within the glassy matrix was observed. Later, besides surface crystallization, bulk crystallization of combeite spheres was predominant. The formation of the first combeite spheres, their coarsening with time and finally their merging at near full crystallization were recorded by in situ high-temperature optical microscopy videos. The 3D nature of these spheres was confirmed by nano-CT, while TEM showed that their internal structure was composed of sub-micron grains. X-ray diffraction analysis at early time points showed a much higher crystalline fraction in bulk samples compared to powder samples, highlighting the influence of processing and sample morphology. These results show the importance of using complementary techniques for gaining insight into the crystallization process in the volume. In addition, we show that TEM and nano-CT are suitable characterization techniques to visualize the crystallization even in fast crystallizing systems, such as bioactive glasses.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2021-04-19
Keywords: Biomaterials; Crystallization; Non-metallic glasses; Transmission electron microscopy; X-ray computed tomography

Degradable and bioactive synthetic composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. - Boccaccini, Aldo R.; et al. (Springer New York, 2012)
There is significant information and knowledge acquired in the last years on the fabrication, characterisation, and application of bioactive composite scaffolds based on combinations of biodegradable polymers and inorganic fillers intended for bone tissue engineering. Of particular importance is the complete understanding of the degradation behaviour of these scaffolds in order to assess the effects of pore structure, scaffold geometry, permeability, and the influence of bioactive fillers on the scaffold mechanical properties and biological performance. The present chapter examines the development of such bioactive and biodegradable scaffolds discussing their mechanical properties and degradation behaviour. A general background on biodegradable polymers with focus on the fabrication and properties of scaffolds made from polyesters is included, followed by a complete overview of the development of scaffolds based on biodegradable polymer/bioactive glass composites. The general degradation behaviour of composite polymer/inorganic phase scaffolds is presented and a specific example is discussed, e.g. poly(d,l lactide) (PDLLA)/bioactive glass composite, based on recent results on a long-term (600 days) degradation study in simulated body fluid. Remaining areas of research in this field are indicated, highlighting the need for appropriate characterisation techniques coupled with predictive analytical models and the requirement for accurate characterisation of the interface between the polymer matrix and the inorganic fillers in order to ascertain the scaffold degradation behaviour in vitro and in vivo.

Degradable magnesium implants: improving bioactive and antibacterial performance by designed hybrid coatings - Merlo, Julieta Letizia; Detsch, Rainer; Cere, Silvia; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Ballarre, Josefina (Journal of Materials Research, 2021)
Magnesium and its alloys are promising material candidates for degradable fracture fixation devices due to their suitable mechanical properties and biocompatibility; however, their fast corrosion in aqueous media causes pain and swelling. In this study, a hybrid coating system composed by a sol–gel silica-based matrix with bioactive glass microparticles and silica–gentamicin nanoparticles was deposited by spray technology on magnesium AZ91D alloy. The coating was homogeneously distributed on the surface and protected the degradation of AZ91D alloy in simulated body fluid for at least 28 days, preventing the pH increase of the solution and accelerating the formation of calcium phosphate-related compounds on the surface. Moreover, inhibition of bacteria growth was proved for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and increased cell adhesion and proliferation of ST-2 and differentiated MC3T3-E1 cells was shown. The generated coating is a promising surface treatment for providing bioactive and antibacterial proprieties to new degradable implants. Graphic abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2021-03-05
Keywords: Coating; Mg alloy; Spray deposition

Delivery systems for astaxanthin: A review on approaches for in situ dosage in the treatment of inflammation associated diseases - Rivera-Hernández, Gabriela; Roether, Judith; Aquino, Carolina; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Sánchez, Mirna L. (International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2025)
Astaxanthin is a red–orange keto-carotenoid exhibiting antioxidant activity. AST is mainly used in the cosmetic, food, and healthcare industries. Nevertheless, because of its anti-inflammatory effects and immune modulation activity, AST use in pharmacology has been proposed as an alternative for treating neurodegenerative disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis, atherosclerosis, or diabetic foot ulcers, among others. However, before an AST clinical implementation, it is still necessary to solve challenges related to the use of AST, such as lack of solubility, poor bioavailability, and sensitivity to light, oxygen, and temperature. For that reason, the development of several biomaterials to encapsulate, protect, and dosage AST has been proposed in recent years. This review discusses the use of liposomes, hydrogels, and polymer micro and nanoparticles as vehicles for AST release based on available literature. Additionally, an analysis of released, encapsulated, and effective AST doses is presented, as well as the regulatory landscape of different delivery systems to reveal details of AST delivery, which should inform future strategies for implementing AST in the clinic.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2025-02-17
Keywords: Astaxanthin; Chronic inflamation disease; Drug delivery; Hydrogels; Microparticles; Nanoparticles; Wound healing

Deposition of bioactive gelatin coatings on porous titanium: Influence of processing parameters, size and pore morphology - Torres, Y.; Begines, B.; Beltrán, A. M.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Surface & Coatings Technology, 2021)
In this work porous commercially pure Ti substrates fabricated by spacer-holder technique (50 vol% NH4HCO3 and three range pores sizes, 100–200 μm, 250–355 μm and 355–500 μm) were coated with two types of gelatinous materials, one as a linear polymer (non-crosslinked) and another one crosslinked. The role of the crosslink, as well as the morphology, size and degree of interconnectivity of gelatins coatings on their tribo-mechanical behavior (P-h curves and scratch tests) were analyzed. Results revealed a new promising route to manufacture composite porous implants which are potential candidates to develop new treatments, not only for osteochondral defects, but also for other types of damages involving tissues of different nature (hard and soft) perfectly joined.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2021-06-18
Keywords: Biphasic implant; Gelatin coating; Osteochondral defects; Porous titanium substrates; Structural characterization; Tribomechanical behavior

Designing dental composites with bioactive and bactericidal properties - Chatzistavrou, Xanthippi; Velamakanni, Saalini; Direnzo, Kyle; Lefkelidou, Anna; Fenno, J. Christopher; Kasuga, Toshihiro; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Papagerakis, Petros (Materials Science and Engineering C, 2015)
Objectives The aim of this work was to fabricate and evaluate new antibacterial and bioactive composites capable of strictly controlling oral bacteria, enhancing apatite layer formation and retaining their mechanical properties. Methods A new Ag-doped bioactive glass (Ag-BG) was incorporated into flowable dental composite (COMP) in different concentrations (1, 5, and 15 wt.%) in order to fabricate new combined bioactive and antibacterial composite materials (Ag-BGCOMPs). The antibacterial properties, bioactivity, and total bond strength of the Ag-BGCOMPs were evaluated. Results The bioactivity of the Ag-BG was confirmed after its immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF). The total bond strength between the surrounding tooth tissue and the new composites or the control (dental composite alone) has not shown any statistically significant difference in the performed pilot study. Antibacterial activity was observed against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) for the Ag-BGCOMP 5 wt.% and 15 wt.% but not for the Ag-BGCOMP 1 wt.% or the control. Conclusions This work contributes to our long term aim which is the fabrication of dental materials capable of reducing bacteria invasion and enhancing remineralization of the surrounding dental tissues. Significance We anticipate that these new composites could ultimately prevent restoration failure by inhibiting the formation of secondary caries and by remineralizing the hard tissues surrounding tooth lesions.
Keywords: Ag-doped bioactive glass; Antibacterial properties; Bioactivity; Dental composite; Total bond strength

Designing Porous Bone Tissue Engineering Scaffolds with Enhanced Mechanical Properties from Composite Hydrogels Composed of Modified Alginate, Gelatin, and Bioactive Glass - Sarker, Bapi; Li, Wei; Zheng, Kai; Detsch, Rainer; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering, 2016)
Keywords: alginate; bioactive glass; bone tissue engineering; freeze-drying; hydrogel; scaffold

Design, processing and characterization of mesoporous glass coatings with therapeutic ion release capability - Ciraldo, Francesca (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 2019)

Developing a bioactive glass coated dental floss: antibacterial and mechanical evaluations - Simila, Hazel; Beltrán, Ana M.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 2023)
In the present study, we investigated commercial dental floss coated with chitosan or chitosan + mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs) in order to determine the antimicrobial and mechanical properties of the newly fabricated flosses. Whereas these coatings showed notable ability to inhibit growth of both Gram (+) and Gram (−) bacteria after 24 h, the impact was negligible at 3 h. Furthermore, the tensile strength of the floss was improved by the addition of these layers, making it more durable and effective for cleaning between teeth. We therefore propose enhanced investigations of these composites since they demonstrate enormous potential in promoting oral health. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2023-11-03
Keywords: Antibacterial dental floss; Mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs); Oral health; Preventive dentistry; Tensile properties

Developing surface pre-treatments for electrophoretic deposition of biofunctional chitosan-bioactive glass coatings on a WE43 magnesium alloy - Höhlinger, Michael; Heise, Svenja; Wagener, Victoria; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Virtanen, Sannakaisa (Applied Surface Science, 2017)
The use of Mg alloys as biodegradable implants requires optimizing the surface performance. A high number of surface modification and coating approaches have been previously explored, for instance to make magnesium and its alloys more corrosion resistant. The current study focuses on developing surface pre-treatments as a corrosion protection and primer for further surface modifications by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of bioadaptive chitosan-bioactive glass coatings. For this, different surface treatments were tested on a WE43 Mg alloy. These treatments include immersion in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium (DMEM), a calcium phosphate treatment, immersion in hydrofluoric acid, and a hydrothermal procedure in NaOH. The resulting coatings were analyzed in view of the surface morphology and composition by SEM/EDX, as well as in view of their short-term corrosion protection ability by electrochemistry. Finally, the suitability of the different pre-treatments as an interfacial protection layer for subsequent EPD of a chitosan/bioactive glass-coating was explored.
Keywords: Pre-treatment; WE43; EPD; Chitosan; Bioactive glass; Corrosion

Development and characterisation of high-density oxide fibre-reinforced oxide ceramic matrix composites with improved mechanical properties - Boccaccini, Aldo R.; et al. (Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2009)
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2009.tech.IW.LM.develo_5

Development and characterisation of transparent glass matrix composites - Boccaccini, Aldo R.; et al. (Advances in Science and Technology, 2010)
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2010.tech.IW.LM.develo_7

Development and Characterization of a New Scaffold Bio-composite of Chitosan Coated Bioglass (R) for Bone Tissue Engineering - Posada, J.; Li, W.; Escobar, D.; Ossa, C.; Pavon, J. J.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (2013)
Several research groups and projects are aiming to find materials for scaffolding that allow the growing of bone tissue in vitro at laboratory and a guided regeneration of tissues in vivo after implantation [1-2]. The Bioglass (R) (BG) has shown interesting features for bone tissue engineering, but their mechanical properties are not adequate for direct implantation of dense or porous scaffolds. In this work, we produced porous scaffolds with microparticulate BG, by the slurry dipping method, and then proceeded to coat the samples with chitosan (CHI), to biofunctionalize the surface and improve the mechanical properties. The coatings integrated correctly to the scaffolds (proved by FT-IR) and the mechanical properties were similar to human cancellous bone.
Keywords: Bioactive glass; chitosan; scaffolds; bone tissue engineering; slurry dipping

Development and Characterization of Bioactive Glass Containing Composite Coatings with Ion Releasing Function for Antibiotic-Free Antibacterial Surgical Sutures - Ciraldo, Francesca; Schnepf, Kristin; Goldmann, Wolfgang; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials, 2019)
Resorbable (Vicryl((R)) Plus) sutures were coated with zinc-doped glass (Zn-BG) and silver-doped ordered mesoporous bioactive glass (Ag-MBG) particles by a dip coating technique. A multilayer approach was used to achieve robust coatings. The first coating was a polymeric layer (e.g., PCL or chitosan) and the second one was a composite made of BG particles in a polymer matrix. The coatings were characterized in terms of morphology by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), in vitro bioactivity, and antibacterial properties. Chitosan/Ag-MBG coatings showed the ability to form hydroxyl-carbonate-apatite on their surfaces after immersion in SBF. An antibacterial effect against Gram (+) and Gram (-) bacteria was confirmed, highlighting the potential application of the coated sutures for antibiotic-free approaches.
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2019-03-22

Development and characterization of glass-ceramics from combinations of slag, fly ash, and glass cullet without adding nucleating agents - Valderrama, Diana M.Ayala; Cuaspud, Jairo A.Gómez; Roether, Judith; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials, 2019)
Developments in the field of materials science are contributing to providing solutions for the recycling of industrial residues to develop new materials. Such approaches generate new products and provide optimal alternatives to the final disposal of different types of industrial wastes. This research focused on identifying and characterizing slag, fly ash, and glass cullet from the Boyacá region in Colombia as raw materials for producing glass-ceramics, with the innovative aspect of the use of these three residues without the addition of nucleating agents to produce the glass-ceramics. To characterize the starting materials, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) techniques were used. The results were used to evaluate the best conditions to produce mixtures of the three waste components and to determine the specific compositions of glass-ceramics to achieve products with attractive technical properties for potential industrial applications. The proposed mixtures were based on three compositions: Mixture 1, 2, and 3. The materials were obtained through thermal treatment at 1200 °C in a tubular furnace in accordance with the results of a comprehensive characterization using thermal analysis. The microstructure, thermal stability, and structural characteristics of the samples were examined through SEM, differential thermal analysis (DTA), and XRD analyses, which showed that the main crystalline phases were diopside and anorthite, with a small amount of enstatite and gehlenite. The obtained glass-ceramics showed properties of technical significance for structural applications.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2019-07-09
Keywords: Fly ash; Glass cullet; Glass-ceramics; Slag

Development and characterization of lithium-releasing silicate bioactive glasses and their scaffolds for bone repair - Miguez Pacheco, Valentina; Büttner, Teresa; Macon, A. L. B.; Jones, J. R.; Fey, Tobias; de Ligny, Dominique; Greil, Peter; Chevalier, J.; Malchere, A.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 2016)
Incorporation of therapeutic ions into the structure of bioactive glasses for direct stimulation of cells is a very attractive approach for tissue engineering strategies. Lithium has recently been identified as a biologically active ion which can stimulate osteoblast cell activity. In this study, lithium-containing bioactive glasses (Li-BGs) where Li2O substitutes Na2O in different amounts (2.5, 5 and 10 wt.% Li2O) in 45S5 bioactive glass (BC) were produced and made into 3D scaffolds by the foam replica method. The structural changes that occur after heat treatment, the effect of lithium-content on the bioactivity of the glasses and their lithium ion release profiles were investigated. The results show that the novel Li-BC formulations exhibit the formation of an apatite-like layer on their surface after immersion in SBF for 1 day thus confirming their high surface reactivity, similar to undoped 45S5 BC. XRD results showed that the Li-doped BGs crystallize mainly to combeite (Na2Ca2Si3O9) and silicorhenanite (SiO4(PO4)(2)Ca-5) but also Li6P6O18 and Li3PO4 phases were detected. In terms of lithium ion release, the formulations at 2.5 wt.% and 5 wt.% Li2O content were the only ones to be within the therapeutic range (<83 ppm). (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Development and characterization of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles with a cisplatin-bearing polymer coating for targeted drug delivery - Unterweger, Harald; Tietze, Rainer; Janko, Christina; Zaloga, Jan; Lyer, Stefan; Dürr, Stephan; Taccardi, Nicola; Goudouri, Ourania Menti; Hoppe, Alexander; Eberbeck, Dietmar; Schubert, Dirk W.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; et al. (International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2014)
A highly selective and efficient cancer therapy can be achieved using magnetically directed superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) bearing a sufficient amount of the therapeutic agent. In this project, SPIONs with a dextran and cisplatin-bearing hyaluronic acid coating were successfully synthesized as a novel cisplatin drug delivery system. Transmission electron microscopy images as well as X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the individual magnetite particles were around 4.5 nm in size and monocrystalline. The small crystallite sizes led to the superparamagnetic behavior of the particles, which was exemplified in their magnetization curves, acquired using superconducting quantum interference device measurements. Hyaluronic acid was bound to the initially dextran-coated SPIONs by esterification. The resulting amide bond linkage was verified using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The additional polymer layer increased the vehicle size from 22 nm to 56 nm, with a hyaluronic acid to dextran to magnetite weight ratio of 51:29:20. A maximum payload of 330 μg cisplatin/mL nanoparticle suspension was achieved, thus the particle size was further increased to around 77 nm with a zeta potential of -45 mV. No signs of particle precipitation were observed over a period of at least 8 weeks. Analysis of drug-release kinetics using the dialysis tube method revealed that these were driven by inverse ligand substitution and diffusion through the polymer shell as well as enzymatic degradation of hyaluronic acid. The biological activity of the particles was investigated in a nonadherent Jurkat cell line using flow cytometry. Further, cell viability and proliferation was examined in an adherent PC-3 cell line using xCELLigence analysis. Both tests demonstrated that particles without cisplatin were biocompatible with these cells, whereas particles with the drug induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner, with secondary necrosis after prolonged incubation. In conclusion, combination of dextran-coated SPIONs with hyaluronic acid and cisplatin represents a promising approach for magnetic drug targeting in the treatment of cancer.

Development and characterization of multi-element doped hydroxyapatite bioceramic coatings on metallic implants for orthopedic applications - Furko, Monika; Havasi, Viktor; Kónya, Zoltán; Grünewald, Alina; Detsch, Rainer; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Balázsi, Csaba (Boletin De La Sociedad Espanola De Ceramica Y Vidrio, 2017)
Keywords: Bioceramics; Coatings; Corrosion; Microstructure

Development and characterization of new bioactive and antibacterial coatings for biomedical applications using electric field assisted processing - Ramos Rivera, Laura (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 2019)

Development and characterization of niobium-releasing silicate bioactive glasses for tissue engineering applications - Miguez-Pacheco, Valentina; de Ligny, Dominique; Schmidt, Jochen; Detsch, Rainer; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2018)
Novel niobium-containing bioactive glass formulations (Nb-BGs) were designed, produced and used to fabricate sintered glass-ceramic granules to examine their in vitro bioactivity and angiogenic potential. Nb-BGs were prepared by melting and quenching. Afterwards, the glasses were crushed and milled into fine powders. These powders were used to make aqueous slurries which were poured into molds, dried and sintered to produce pellets, from which granules of 0.5-0.85 mm in size were obtained. In vitro bioactivity was tested by immersing the granules in simulated body fluid for up to 14 days. Cell biology tests were carried out by indirect culture of bone marrow stromal cells (ST-2) with supernatants resulting from incubation of BG granules in cell culture medium. The effect of dissolution products from Nb-BGs on the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was assessed to characterize the angiogenic potential of the new Nb-containing BG compositions.
Keywords: Bioactive glasses; Scaffolds; Tissue engineering; Niobium; Angiogenesis

Development and characterization of novel electrically conductive PANI-PGS composites for cardiac tissue engineering applications - Qazi, Taimoor H.; Rai, Ranjana; Dippold, Dirk; Roether, Judith; Schubert, Dirk W.; Rosellini, Elisabetta; Barbani, Niccoletta; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Acta Biomaterialia, 2014)
Cardiovascular diseases, especially myocardial infarction, are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world, also resulting in huge economic burdens on national economies. A cardiac patch strategy aims at regenerating an infarcted heart by providing healthy functional cells to the injured region via a carrier substrate, and providing mechanical support, thereby preventing deleterious ventricular remodeling. In the present work, polyaniline (PANI) was doped with camphorsulfonic acid and blended with poly(glycerol-sebacate) at ratios of 10, 20 and 30 vol.% PANI content to produce electrically conductive composite cardiac patches via the solvent casting method. The composites were characterized in terms of their electrical, mechanical and physicochemical properties. The in vitro biodegradability of the composites was also evaluated. Electrical conductivity increased from 0 S cm for pure PGS to 0.018 S cm for 30 vol.% PANI-PGS samples. Moreover, the conductivities were preserved for at least 100 h post fabrication. Tensile tests revealed an improvement in the elastic modulus, tensile strength and elasticity with increasing PANI content. The degradation products caused a local drop in pH, which was higher in all composite samples compared with pure PGS, hinting at a buffering effect due to the presence of PANI. Finally, the cytocompatibility of the composites was confirmed when C2C12 cells attached and proliferated on samples with varying PANI content. Furthermore, leaching of acid dopants from the developed composites did not have any deleterious effect on the viability of C2C12 cells. Taken together, these results confirm the potential of PANI-PGS composites for use as substrates to modulate cellular behavior via electrical stimulation, and as biocompatible scaffolds for cardiac tissue engineering applications. © 2014 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Biocompatibility; Cardiac patch; Conductive composite; Poly(glycerol-sebacate); Polyaniline

Development and characterization of PEEK/B2O3-doped 45S5 bioactive glass composite coatings obtained by electrophoretic deposition - Miola, Marta; Vernè, Enrica; Piredda, Antonella; Seuß, Sigrid; Cabanas Polo, Sandra; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Key Engineering Materials, 2015)
Three different glasses were synthesized by doping 45S5 bioactive glass with BO. The bioactivity of the glasses was evaluated by immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) up to 3 days; all glasses showed the precipitation of hydroxyapatite (HAp) after one day of soaking in SBF. Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) was used to prepare PEEK/B2O3-doped 45S5 glass composite coatings on stainless steel substrates. The coatings were characterized by means of tape test (ASTM D3359-B), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), contact angle measurements, thermogravimetric analysis and in vitro bioactivity test. All composite coatings exhibited a porous and homogenous structure with a hydrophobic surface, according to the wettability test. The in vitro test in SBF demonstrated that the coatings were highly bioactive.
Keywords: Bioactive glasses; Composite coatings; Electrophoretic deposition

Development and Characterization of Therapeutical Ion Doped Mesoporous Bioactive Silicate Glasses (MBGs) - Kaya, Seray; Cresswell, Mark; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Summer School & International Workshop on Advanced Materials Challenges for Health and Alternative Energy Solutions, 2016)
After the first invention of bioactive silicate glass (BG) (45S5- 46.1SiO2, 24.4Na2O, 26.9CaO and 2.6P2O5 (mol%)) by Larry Hench in at the University of Florida in 1969 (Hench et al. 1971), there has been great interest to develop new BGs and in this perspective in 2004 (Yan et. al. 2004)produced the first MBG with the combination of sol-gel and surfactant templating methods. There is a general trend to modify the properties of MBGs with some of the well-known therapeutical ions (Hoppe, Güldal, and Boccaccini 2011)(Hoppe and Boccaccini 2015)(Mourino, Cattalini, and Boccaccini 2012). Substitution of small amounts of oxides, can improve the osteogenesis, antibacterial capacity, angiogenesis or cementogenesis (Chengtie Wu and Chang 2014)(C. Wu and Chang 2012)(Chengtie Wu et al. 2011)properties of these MBGs. In this study, a new family of MBGs doped with several biologically active ions (Ag, Cu, Ce and Zn) has been synthesized via sol-gel technique in combination with surfactant-templating and evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) processes. SEM, EDS, FTIR and XRD analyses were performed to characterize the obtained MBGs, in terms of their morphological structure and degradation behavior in simulated body fluid- SBF. Undoped and doped MBGs were compared in terms of their bioactivity responses. Results proved that all of the MBGs showed good bioactivity responses with the formation of hydroxyapatite (HAP) phase, which can further enable them to be used in bone tissue applications.

Development and Characterization of Thermoresponsive Double-Network Nanocomposite Hydrogel for Bone Tissue Engineering - Indurkar, Abhishek; Rubenis, Kristaps; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Locs, Janis (Macromolecular Materials and Engineering, 2024)
In this study, a thermoresponsive double-network (DN) nanocomposite hydrogel is developed. The primary hydrogel network comprises Pluronic P123, while the secondary network comprises gelatinmethacrylate (GELMA) and polyacrylamide (PAM). A systematic approach is adopted to develop DN hydrogels. Initially, the impact of Pluronic P123 concentrationon the mechanical properties of PAM-GELMA hydrogel is investigated. Results from the tensile strength and the oscillatory shear tests reveal that an increasing P123 concentration has a marginal effect on the storage modulus while significantly reducing the loss modulus of the PAM-GELMA hydrogel, thereby improving mechanical properties. Notably, DN3 hydrogel containing 7.5w/v% P123 in PAM-GELMA exhibits osteoid matrix-like mechanical properties. To further enhance the mechanical properties, citrate-containing amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP_CIT) is incorporated in DN3 hydrogel at varying concentrations. At a lower concentration of ACP_CIT (0.75 w/v%), the mechanical properties of DN3-ACP0.75 hydrogel are notably enhanced. Incorporating ACP_CIT in DN3 hydrogel (DN3-ACP0.75) decreases creep strain, rapid stress relaxation, and reduced water uptake capacity while maintaining the thermoresponsive behavior. Finally, an in vitro analysis confirms the cytocompatibility of the hydrogels with MC3T3-E1 cells, indicating the potential use in bone tissue engineering.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2024-11-22
Keywords: amorphous calcium phosphate citrate; double network hydrogels; gelatin methacrylate; macromolecular materials; nanocomposite; Pluronic P123; polyacrylamide; shape memory hydrogel

Development and Investigation of Mesoporous Bioactive Glass/Zein Coatings Electrodeposited on Titanium Alloy for Biomedical Applications - Maciag, F.; Moskalewicz, T.; Cholewa-Kowalska, K.; Hadzhieva, Zoya; Dziadek, M.; Lukaszczyk, A.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A-Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science, 2022)
The objective of the present work was the development of cathodic electrophoretic deposition (EPD) to obtain composite coatings of mesoporous sol-gel glass (MSGG) particles embedded in a zein matrix on Ti-13Nb-13Zr substrates. To deposit robust and repeatable coatings, a direct current EPD and pulsed direct current EPD as well as the deposition kinetics were investigated, including the deposition yield and deposition rate. The stability of the suspension was determined based on the zeta potential and conductivity. Macroscopically homogeneous coatings with a thickness of about 10 mu m and various volume fractions of MSGG were subjected to further examination. Coatings were uniform, exhibiting open porosity and showing excellent adhesion to the substrates. Both zein and MSGG particles revealed an amorphous structure. The coated substrates demonstrated greater resistance to electrochemical corrosion in Ringer's electrolyte in comparison with the virgin (non-coated) substrate. The coatings showed high roughness and moderate hydrophilicity. The incubation of the coated substrates in concentrated 1.5 simulated body fluid (1.5SBF) showed the formation of carbonate hydroxyapatite. The composite coatings showed improved antibacterial properties against gram-negative E. coli and gram-positive S. aureus bacteria compared to pure zein coatings. Electrophoretic MSGG/zein composite coatings should be further investigated in terms of their osteoconductive behavior, to confirm their suitability for medical applications in orthopedics.
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2022-11-18

Development of 3D Biofabricated Cell Laden Hydrogel Vessels and a Low-Cost Desktop Printed Perfusion Chamber for In Vitro Vessel Maturation - Distler, Thomas; Ruther, Florian; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Detsch, Rainer (Macromolecular Bioscience, 2019)
The vascular system represents the key supply chain for nutrients and oxygen inside the human body. Engineered solutions to produce sophisticated alternatives for autologous or artificial vascular implants to sustainably replace diseased vascular tissue still remain a key challenge in tissue engineering. In this paper, cell-laden 3D bioplotted hydrogel vessel-like constructs made from alginate di-aldehyde (ADA) and gelatin (GEL) are presented. The aim is to increase the mechanical stability of fibroblast-laden ADA-GEL vessels, tailoring them for maturation under dynamic cell culture conditions. BaCl2 is investigated as a crosslinker for the oxidized alginate-gelatin system. Normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF)-laden vessel constructs are optimized successfully in terms of higher stiffness by increasing ADA concentration and using BaCl2, with no toxic effects observed on NHDF. Contrarily, BaCl2 crosslinking of ADA-GEL accelerates cell attachment, viability, and growth from 7d to 24h compared to CaCl2. Moreover, alignment of cells in the longitudinal direction of the hydrogel vessels when extruding the cell-laden hydrogel crosslinked with Ba2+ is observed. It is possible to tune the stiffness of ADA-GEL by utilizing Ba2+ as crosslinker. In addition, a customized, low-cost 3D printed polycarbonate (PC) perfusion chamber for perfusion of vessel-like constructs is introduced.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2019-08-23
Keywords: alginate; biofabrication; bioreactors; dermal fibroblasts; vessel tissue engineering

Development of a bioactive glass-polymer composite for wound healing applications - Moura, D.; Souza, M. T.; Liverani, Liliana; Rella, Giulia; Luz, G. M.; Mano, J. F.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials Science and Engineering C, 2017)
Keywords: Bioactive glass; Electrospinning; Mineralization; PCL; Wound healing

Development of a biofabrication process for the manufacture of vessel like structures - Ruther, Florian; Singh, Raminder; Zehnder, Tobias; Cicha, Iwona; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Detsch, Rainer (Band 17, 2016)

Development of advanced chitosan-based biodegradable coatings for Mg alloys with potential applications in orthopedic implants - Heise, Svenja (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 2018)

Development of alginate dialdehyde-gelatin based bioink with methylcellulose for improving printability - Reakasame, Supachai; Dranseikiene, Dalia; Schrüfer, Stefan; Zheng, Kai; Schubert, Dirk W.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials Science and Engineering C, 2021)
This study used methylcellulose (MC) to improve the printability of the alginate dialdehyde-gelatin (ADA-GEL) based bioink. The printability as well as the capability to maintain shape fidelity of ADA-GEL could be enhanced by the addition of 9% (w/v) MC. Moreover, the properties of the ink crosslinked with Ca2+ and Ba2+ were investigated. The samples crosslinked with Ba2+ were more stable and stiffer than the Ca2+ crosslinked samples. However, both Ca2+ and Ba2+ crosslinked samples exhibited a similar trend of MC release during incubation under cell culture conditions. The toxicity test indicated that both samples (crosslinked with Ca2+ and Ba2+) exhibited no toxic potential. The fabrication of cell-laden constructs using the developed bioinks was evaluated. The viability of ST2 cells in Ba2+ crosslinked samples increased while for Ca2+ crosslinked samples, a decreased viability was observed over the incubation time. After 21 days, cell spreading in the hydrogels crosslinked with Ba2+ occurred. However, a certain degree of cell damage was observed after incorporating the cells in the high viscosity bioink.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2021-09-10
Keywords: Alginate; Alginate dialdehyde; Biofabrication; Bioinks; Methylcellulose

Development of a novel hybrid bioactive hydrogel for future clinical applications. - Francis, Lydia; Greco, Karin V.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Roether, Judith; English, Nicholas R.; Huang, Honglei; Ploeg, R.; Ansari, Tahera (Journal of Biomaterials Applications, 2018)
Three-dimensional hydrogels are ideal for tissue engineering applications due to their structural integrity and similarity to native soft tissues; however, they can lack mechanical stability. Our objective was to develop a bioactive and mechanically stable hydrogel for clinical application. Auricular cartilage was decellularised using a combination of hypertonic and hypotonic solutions with and without enzymes to produce acellular tissue. Methacryloyl groups were crosslinked with alginate and PVA main chains via 2-aminoethylmathacrylate and the entire macromonomer further crosslinked with the acellular tissue. The resultant hydrogels were characterised for its physicochemical properties (using NMR), in vitro degradation (via GPC analysis), mechanical stability (compression tests) and in vitro biocompatibility (co-culture with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells). Following decellularisation, the cartilage tissue showed to be acellular at a significant level (DNA content 25.33 ng/mg vs. 351.46 ng/mg control tissue), with good structural and molecular integrity of the retained extra cellular matrix (s-GAG= 0.19 μg/mg vs. 0.65 μg/mg ±0.001 control tissue). Proteomic analysis showed that collagen subtypes and proteoglycans were retained, and SEM and TEM showed preserved matrix ultra-structure. The hybrid hydrogel was successfully cross-linked with biological and polymer components, and it was stable for 30 days in simulated body fluid (poly dispersal index for alginate with tissue was stable at 1.08 and for PVA with tissue was stable at 1.16). It was also mechanically stable (Young's modulus of 0.46 ± 0.31 KPa) and biocompatible, as it was able to support the development of a multi-cellular feature with active cellular proliferation in vitro. We have shown that it is possible to successfully combine biological tissue with both a synthetic and natural polymer and create a hybrid bioactive hydrogel for clinical application.

DEVELOPMENT OF APPROACHES FOR A TWO-LAYER PATCH COMBINING ELECTROSPINNING AND 3D PRINTING WITH IMPROVED ELECTRICAL STIMULUS TRANSMISSION AND SELF-REGULATING VISCOELASTIC PROPERTIES FOR APPLICATION IN CARDIAC TISSUE ENGINEERING - Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Vogt, Lena; Ruther, Florian; Roshanbinfar, Kaveh; Engel, Felix (TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A, 2022)
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2022-08-12

Development of bioactive composite coatings based on combination of PEEK, bioactive glass and Ag nanoparticles with antibacterial properties - Seuß, Sigrid; Heinloth, Marion; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Surface & Coatings Technology, 2016)
Keywords: Ag nanoparticles; Antibacterial coatings; Bioactive glass; Electrophoretic deposition; PEEK

Development of bioactive glass based scaffolds for controlled antibiotic release in bone tissue engineering via biodegradable polymer layered coating - Nooeaid, Patcharakamon; Li, Wei; Roether, Judith; Mourino, Viviana; Goudouri, Ourania Menti; Schubert, Dirk W.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Biointerphases, 2014)
Highly porous 45S5 Bioglass(®)-based scaffolds coated with two polymer layers were fabricated to serve as a multifunctional device with controlled drug release capability for bone regeneration applications. An interior poly(d,l-lactide)/poly(ethylene glycol)-(polypropylene glycol)-poly(ethylene glycol) triblock copolymer (Pluronic P123) coating improved the mechanical stability of Bioglass-based scaffolds, while an exterior natural polymer (alginate or gelatin) coating served as an antibiotic drug carrier. The results showed improved mechanical properties of Bioglass-based scaffolds by the bilayer polymer coating. In addition, hydrochloride tetracycline loaded in either alginate or gelatin coatings was released rapidly at the initial stage (∼1 h), while the released rate subsequently decreased and was sustained for 14 days in phosphate buffered saline. Therefore, these layered polymer coated scaffolds exhibit attractive characteristics in terms of improved mechanical properties and controlled drug release, simultaneously with the added advantage that the drug release rate is decoupled from the intrinsic scaffold Bioglass degradation mechanism. The layered polymer coated scaffolds are of interest for drug-delivery enhanced bone regeneration applications.

Development of biocompatible and fully bioabsorbable PLA/Mg films for tissue regeneration applications - Ferrández-Montero, A.; Lieblich, M.; González-Carrasco, J. L.; Benavente, R.; Lorenzo, V.; Detsch, Rainer; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Ferrari, B. (Acta Biomaterialia, 2019)
During recent years, Mg reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) composites have emerged as potential biocompatible and bioabsorbable materials for biomedical applications. It has been shown that Mg particles added to a matrix based on a biodegradable polymer can address the lack of bioactivity and the low mechanical properties of the polymers and, furthermore, it can counteract the detrimental effects associated to the high degradation rate of Mg, as alkalinization and elevated H2 release. Additionally, the polymer can protect the Mg particles, by tailoring their degradation rate. Former processing of these composites performed by extrusion, compression and injection molding employed Mg contents up to 10 wt%. Higher amounts of Mg resulted in heterogeneous materials and thermally degraded matrices, with the corresponding higher degradation rate. In the present work, Mg reinforced PLA films with Mg content as high as 50 wt% were obtained without compromising the thermal stability of the polymer. Firstly, a successful dispersion of Mg microparticles was achieved by a breakthrough in processing introducing a colloidal step where organic additives were added to modify the Mg particle surface and promote a chemically stable suspension. The resulting colloidal suspension was then used as feedstock to obtain composite films by tape casting. The films show advantageous in vitro behaviour in terms of degradation, hydrogen release and oxygen permeability. In addition, the viability with fibroblast cells (MEF) opens a window of opportunity for these composite films as bioabsorbable material for tissue engineering and wound dressing applications. Statement of Significance: Magnesium materials have extraordinary biodegradable properties and bioactive behavior due to release of Mg2+ ions, which offer a promising opportunity for their applicability as biomaterials for tissue regeneration. However, Mg is one of the most reactive metals with a high degradation rate. In contact with water produces H2, associated with a risk of failure of the implant. One alternative to minimize this drawback is the use of Mg particles surrounded by a biodegradable biocompatible polymer such as polylactic acid (PLA) to obtain PLA/Mg composites. In this work we processed Mg reinforced PLA in the shape of films that would be suitable for tissue regeneration. In vitro behavior of PLA/Mg films demonstrated that Mg2+ ions increase the fibroblast cells growth.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2019-06-04
Keywords: Film; Magnesium; PLA; Tape casting; Tissue regeneration

Development of geopolymers from plasma vitrified air pollution control residues from energy from waste plants - Kourti, Ioanna; Amutha Rani, D.; Deegan, D.; Cheeseman, C. R.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Ceramic Transactions, 2010)
The aim of this study was to develop low energy sustainable geopolymers using DC plasma vitrified Air Pollution Control (APC) residues as the main component. APC residues are generated from the air pollution abatement systems of Energy from Waste (EfW) plants. They are classified as hazardous waste because of their high alkalinity, heavy metal and soluble salt content. DC plasma technology combines APC residues with glass forming additives at temperatures above 1400°C and produces a stable, non-hazardous inert glass that has been qualified as a product for potential beneficial reuse. In this research plasma vitrified glass has been used to develop geopolymers. The effect of NaOH concentration and curing time on compressive strength is reported. The microstructure of selected APC geopolymer samples was investigated by SEM, X-ray diffraction and SEM/EDS analysis. In order to evaluate the potential for using this material in a range of construction applications the density and water absorption were assessed. Optimum APC glass geopolymers were prepared with 6M NaOH in the activating solution resulting in compressive strengths of ∼110 MPa after 28 days. This material had high density (2070 kg/m3), low water absorption (11%) and low porosity. The results demonstrate that the glass derived from DC plasma vitrification of APC residues can be used to form high strength geopolymers, with potential for use in a range of applications.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2010.tech.IW.LM.develo

Development of glass-ceramics from boron containing waste and meat bone ash combinations with addition of waste glass - Cicek, B.; Tucci, A.; Bernardo, Enrico; Will, Julia; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Ceramics International, 2014)
Glass-ceramic materials represent a great resource for environmental cleanup, because they can stabilize pollutants by vitrification and, at the same time, they may present remarkable mechanical and functional properties enabling novel applications. In this paper, different mixes of three different industrial wastes, namely boron waste (BW), meat bone and meal ash (MBM) and recycled soda lime silica glass (SLG) were prepared by considering the combined effects of thermal cycle requirement, particle sizes of the selected wastes and amount (content) of boron waste. Glass-ceramics were prepared from selected waste mixtures and the physical and mechanical properties of the obtained glass-ceramics were measured. The results underline that boron containing waste-derived glass-ceramics are attractive for applications as gas concrete blocks or as an additive in new generation insulation ceramics. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l.
Keywords: Borates; Building materials; Glass-ceramics; Recycled glass; Waste recycling

Development of highly porous scaffolds based on bioactive silicates for dental tissue engineering - Goudouri, Ourania Menti; Theodosoglou, E.; Kontonasaki, E.; Will, Julia; Chrissafis, K.; Koidis, P.; Paraskevopoulos, K. M.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials Research Bulletin, 2014)
Various scaffolding materials, ceramics and especially Mg-based ceramic materials, including akermanite (Ca2MgSi2O7) and diopside (CaMgSi2O6), have attracted interest for dental tissue regeneration because of their improved mechanical properties and controllable biodegradation. The aim of the present work was the synthesis of an Mg-based glass-ceramic, which would be used for the construction of workable akermanite scaffolds. The characterization of the synthesized material was performed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) X-Ray Diffractometry (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Finally, the apatite forming ability of the scaffolds was assessed by immersion in simulated body fluid. The scaffolds were fabricated by the foam replica technique and were subsequently coated with gelatin to provide a functional surface for increased cell attachment. Finally, SEM microphotographs and FTIR spectra of the scaffolds after immersion in SBF solution indicated the inorganic bioactive character of the scaffolds suitable for the intended applications in dental tissue engineering. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2014.tech.IW.LM.develo
Keywords: A. Ceramics; A. Glasses; B. Sol-gel chemistry; C. Infrared spectroscopy; C. X-ray diffraction

Development of liquid-phase fabrication of nanotube array-based multiferroic nanocomposite film - Kawamura, Go; Shahbudin, Irna Puteri Binti; Tan, Wai Kian; Goto, Taichi; Nakamura, Yuichi; Inoue, Mitsuteru; Muto, Hiroyuki; Yamaguchi, Kazuhiro; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Matsuda, Atsunori (Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2021)
Owing to their unique characteristics, multiferroic materials are expected to be widely used in the next-generation multifunctional devices. In addition to improving their characteristics, developing affordable fabrication processes for multiferroic materials is highly demanded in both industry and academia. In this paper, we show a novel process named electric-assisted magnetophoretic deposition for the fabrication of nanotube array-based multiferroic nanocomposite films. Magnetic nanoparticles were homogeneously deposited on the inner walls of the nanotube array substrate. A BaTiO3-CoFe2O4 nanotube array-based multiferroic nanocomposite film prepared in this work exhibited a magnetoelectric effect originating from the strain transfer between the two components.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2021-03-19
Keywords: Anodization; Electrophoretic deposition; Magnetophoretic deposition; Multiferroics; Nanocomposite film fabrication; Nanotube arrays

Development of multifunctional wound dressings by using newly designed ion-doped borosilicate and borate bioactive glasses - Schuhladen, Katharina (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 2020)

Development of nanocomposite hydrogel using citrate-containing amorphous calcium phosphate and gelatin methacrylate - Indurkar, Abhishek; Rubenis, Kristaps; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Locs, Janis (Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2024)
Nanocomposite hydrogels are suitable in bone tissue engineering due to their resemblance with the extracellular matrix, ability to match complex geometries, and ability to provide a framework for cell attachment and proliferation. The nanocomposite hydrogel comprises organic and inorganic counterparts. Gelatin methacrylate (GELMA) is an extensively used organic biomaterial in tissue engineering due to its excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and bioactivity. The photo-crosslinking of GELMA presents a challenge when aiming to create thicker nanocomposite hydrogels due to opacity induced by fillers, which obstructs the penetration of ultraviolet (UV) light. Therefore, using a chemical crosslinking approach, we have developed nanocomposite GELMA hydrogel in this study by incorporating citrate-containing amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP_CIT). Ammonium persulfate (APS) and Tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED) were deployed to crosslink the methacrylate group of GELMA. The oscillatory shear tests have confirmed that crosslinking enhances both storage (G′) and loss modulus (G″) of GELMA. Subsequently, incorporation of ACP_CIT in GELMA hydrogel shows further enhancement in G′ and G″ values. In vitro analysis of the developed hydrogels revealed that chemical crosslinking and incorporation of ACP_CIT do not compromise the cytocompatibility of the GELMA. Hence, for developing nanocomposite GELMA hydrogels employing APS/TEMED crosslinking emerges as a promising alternative to photo-crosslinking.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2024-11-22
Keywords: amorphous calcium phosphate; biomaterials; bone tissue engineering; chemical crosslinking; citrate-containing amorphous calcium phosphate; gelatin methacrylate; nanocomposite hydrogel

Development of new sol-gel derived Ag-doped biomaterials for dental applications - Chatzistavrou, Xanthippi; Kontonasaki, Eleana; Bakopoulou, Athina; Theocharidou, Anna; Sivropoulou, Afroditi; Paraskevopoulos, Konstantinos M.; Koidis, Petros; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Kasuga, Toshihiro (Materials Research Society, 2012)
The aim of this work was to develop a new Ag-doped bioactive material with antibacterial behavior, optimizing the properties of the new fabricated composite material in the system SiO 58.6 -PO 7.2 -AlO 4.2 -CaO 24.9 -NaO 2.1 -KO 3 (wt%). Two systems with different concentrations in Ag O (Ba with 2.1 and Bb with 4.2 wt%) were prepared by the sol-gel method and compared to the respective silver-free control composite (CONTROL). The microstructural characteristics of the developed compositions were characterized by different techniques as UV/VIS spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The antibacterial properties of the Ag-doped glass-ceramics were tested against the bacterial colony Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) which is very characteristic oral bacteria and the material-cell interaction was monitored in a primary culture of Human Gingival Fibroblasts (HGFs). Our study shows the successful incorporation of the silver ions in the ceramic structure and the preparation of new Ag-doped composite materials with cell-proliferation-inductive, as well as antibacterial properties indicating their potential application dental tissue restoration strategies. © 2012 Materials Research Society.

Development of Novel Mesoporous Silica-Based Bioactive Glass Scaffolds with Drug Delivery Capabilities - Philippart, Anahi; Boccardi, Elena; Pontiroli, Lucia; Beltrán, Ana Maria; Inayat, Alexandra; Vitale-Brovarone, Chiara; Schwieger, Wilhelm; Spiecker, Erdmann; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Advances in Science and Technology, 2014)
Novel silica-based bioactive glasses were successfully prepared by the sol-gel method. The optimized glass composition for fabrication of the scaffolds was (in mol.%) 60% SiO2 – 30% CaO - 5% Na2O - 5% P2O5 (60S30C5N5P). This composition was confirmed to develop a thick hydroxycarbonate apatite (HCA) layer in Simulated Body Fluid (SBF) after 7 days, as revealed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), indicating the bioactive character of the scaffolds. The mesoporous nature of the glass structure allows the load of tetracycline and a sustained release of the drug in PBS during 7 days was measured.
Keywords: Mesoporous material; Bioactive glasses; sol-gel; drug delivery; Scaffolds; Bone Tissue Engineering

Development of novel zirconia implant's materials gradated design with improved bioactive surface - Faria, D.; Pires, J. M.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Carvalho, O.; Silva, F. S.; Mesquita-Guimarães, J. (Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 2019)
Zirconia implants are becoming a preference choice for different applications such as knee, dental, among others. In order to improve osseointegration, implant's surfaces are usually coated with bioactive materials like hydroxyapatite (HAp) and beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) that are very similar to the calcium phosphates found in bones. However, due to the implantation process, these coatings can be detached from the zirconia surface, leading to implant premature failure. In this work, a new component materials design aiming to avoid this coating detachment problem is proposed. It is based on the use of a bioactive zirconia-calcium phosphate composite outer layer onto the zirconia bulk, where the zirconia bulk provides mechanical strength and the outer layer provides biological performance. In order to assess the potential of this new materials design, two types of bioactive zirconia outer composite layers (zirconia reinforced by 10 vol% of HAp and by 10 vol% of β-TCP) were produced by press and sinter process and the gradated samples were fully characterized concerning materials, mechanical resistance, fatigue resistance, and biological performance, as measured by different approaches. Results showed that the novel component materials design and the manufacturing process proposed for producing the bioactive zirconia samples with outer composite layers on zirconia bulk substrates are a promising solution for implants, with improved biological performance without substantially compromising their overall mechanical and fatigue properties.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2019-05-10
Keywords: Beta-tricalcium phosphate; Hydroxyapatite; Mechanical and fatigue resistance; Outer composite layer; Zirconia

Development of Super-Paramagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticle-Coated Melt Electrowritten Scaffolds for Biomedical Applications - Ünalan, Irem; Occhipinti, Ilenia; Miola, Marta; Vernè, Enrica; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Macromolecular Bioscience, 2023)
Polycaprolactone (PCL) is usually the material chosen for melt electrowriting (MEW) due to its biocompatibility, mechanical strength, and melt processability. This work first investigates the effect of different processing parameters to obtain optimum PCL-MEW scaffolds. Secondly, to increase PCL`s hydrophilicity and cell affinity, and to enable coating with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and silica-coated-SPIONs (Si-SPIONs), the scaffolds are modified with alkaline surface treatment. Finally, SPIONs and Si-SPIONs are successfully coated on MEW scaffolds. Results show that reproducible scaffolds are fabricated. Additionally, the alkaline treatment does not change the three-dimensional morphology of scaffolds while reducing fiber diameter. Furthermore, SEM images and ATR-FTIR results confirmed that SPIONs and Si-SPIONs-were coated on scaffolds. A cytocompatibility assay showed a non-toxic effect on MG-63 osteoblast-like cells in all scaffolds. Additionally, higher MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblastic cell adhesion efficiency and proliferation are achieved for the alkaline-treated scaffolds and SPIONs/Si-SPIONs-coated scaffolds. All samples demonstrated the ability to generate heat, useful for hyperthermia-treatment, when subjected to an alternating magnetic field. Overall, the findings suggest that the strategy of coating PCL-MEW scaffolds with SPIONs/Si-SPIONs has the potential to improve scaffold performance for biomedical applications, especially for producing magnetically responsive MEW scaffolds.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2023-11-24
Keywords: alkaline surface treatment; biomedical applications; magnetic nanoparticles; melt electrowriting; polycaprolactone

Development of titania coatings on glass foams - Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Rossetti, M.; Roether, J. A.; Zein, Sharif Hussein Sharif; Ferraris, M. (Construction and Building Materials, 2009)
TiO2 coatings on glass foam substrates were produced by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) and sol-gel method with the aim to impart surface functional properties to glass foam such as antibacterial and photocatalytic effects. Starting with charged TiO2 nanoparticles (21 nm) suspended in acetylacetone, EPD was shown to be a useful method to obtain TiO2 coating on the glass foam substrates placed close to the deposition electrodes in the EPD cell. Best results were obtained by applying 25 V for 4 min and a subsequent thermal treatment (450 °C for 1 h). In the second approach, multilayer sol-gel TiO2 coatings on glass foam were fabricated, which were heat-treated at 450 °C for 1 h to obtain pure anatase structure. Both techniques led to partially microcracked coatings which were however well adhered to the glass foam substrate (qualitatively assessed). The presence of microcracks was not considered to be a disadvantage as they increase the surface area of the coating, which is required to maximise the interaction of the titania layers with the environment for their antibacterial and photocatalytic function. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2009.tech.IW.LM.develo
Keywords: Antibacterial; Ceramic coating; Civil engineering; Electrophoretic deposition; Glass foam; Nanoparticles; Photocatalytic; Sol-gel; TiO

Development of ZrO2 interfaces for all-oxide composites - Desimone, D.; Jayaseelan, D. D.; Lee, W. E.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Composites Science and Technology, 2012)
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2012.tech.IW.LM.develo

Dextran-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for magnetic resonance imaging: Evaluation of size-dependent imaging properties, storage stability and safety - Unterweger, Harald; Dezsi, Laszlo; Matuszak, Jasmin; Janko, Christina; Poettler, Marina; Jordan, Jutta; Bäuerle, Tobias; Szebeni, Janos; Fey, Tobias; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Alexiou, Christoph; Cicha, Iwona (International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2018)
Keywords: Irritation potential; Cross-linking; CARPA; Storage stability; SPION; MRI

Different calcium phosphate granules for 3-D printing of bone tissue engineering scaffolds - Detsch, Rainer; et al. (Advanced Engineering Materials, 2009)
A study was conducted to transfer the 3-D printing technique to the fabrication of TCP and BCP ceramics and evaluate the influence of the granulate composition on the 3-D printed scaffolds. An aqueous solution of dextrin (20 wt.-%) and saccharose (2.5 wt.-%) were used as printing binder. The printing raster resolution and the thickness of the powder layers were selected as 0.29mm for the grid test parts and 0.26mm for the compression test parts. The granulates were characterized in terms of their particle size distribution using laser granulometry and their morphology. It was observed that spray-dried granulates could be fabricated from 'HA and TCP powders' and from a mixture of HA and TCP with the same composition of organic additives. The study also concluded that the mechanical properties of 3-D printed scaffolds can be adjusted by the design of the inner channel structure of the scaffolds.

Differential responses to bioink‐induced oxidative stress in endothelial cells and fibroblasts - Genc, Hatice; Hazur, Jonas; Karakaya, Emine; Dietel, Barbara; Bider, Faina; Groll, Jürgen; Alexiou, Christoph; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Detsch, Rainer; Cicha, Iwona (International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2021)
A hydrogel system based on oxidized alginate covalently crosslinked with gelatin (ADA‐ GEL) has been utilized for different biofabrication approaches to design constructs, in which cell growth, proliferation and migration have been observed. However, cell–bioink interactions are not completely understood and the potential effects of free aldehyde groups on the living cells have not been investigated. In this study, alginate, ADA and ADA‐GEL were characterized via FTIR and NMR, and their effect on cell viability was investigated. In the tested cell lines, there was a concen-tration‐dependent effect of oxidation degree on cell viability, with the strongest cytotoxicity observed after 72 h of culture. Subsequently, primary human cells, namely fibroblasts and endothelial cells (ECs) were grown in ADA and ADA‐GEL hydrogels to investigate the molecular effects of oxidized material. In ADA, an extremely strong ROS generation resulting in a rapid depletion of cellular thiols was observed in ECs, leading to rapid necrotic cell death. In contrast, less pronounced cytotoxic effects of ADA were noted on human fibroblasts. Human fibroblasts had higher cellular thiol content than primary ECs and entered apoptosis under strong oxidative stress. The presence of gelatin in the hydrogel improved the primary cell survival, likely by reducing the oxidative stress via binding to the CHO groups. Consequently, ADA‐GEL was better tolerated than ADA alone. Fibroblasts were able to survive the oxidative stress in ADA‐GEL and re‐entered the proliferative phase. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that shows in detail the relationship between oxidative stress‐induced intracellular processes and alginate di‐aldehyde‐based bioinks.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2021-03-19
Keywords: Alginate di‐aldehyde; Cell death; Cell viability; Gelatin; Glutathione; Oxidative stress

Different storage conditions influence biocompatibility and physicochemical properties of iron oxide nanoparticles - Zaloga, Jan; Janko, Christina; Agarwal, Rohit; Nowak, Johannes; Müller, Robert; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Lee, Geoffrey; Odenbach, Stefan; Lyer, Stefan; Alexiou, Christoph (International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2015)
Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have attracted increasing attention in many biomedical fields. In magnetic drug targeting SPIONs are injected into a tumour supplying artery and accumulated inside the tumour with a magnet. The effectiveness of this therapy is thus dependent on magnetic properties, stability and biocompatibility of the particles. A good knowledge of the effect of storage conditions on those parameters is of utmost importance for the translation of the therapy concept into the clinic and for reproducibility in preclinical studies. Here, core shell SPIONs with a hybrid coating consisting of lauric acid and albumin were stored at different temperatures from 4 to 45 °C over twelve weeks and periodically tested for their physicochemical properties over time. Surprisingly, even at the highest storage temperature we did not observe denaturation of the protein or colloidal instability. However, the saturation magnetisation decreased by maximally 28.8% with clear correlation to time and storage temperature. Furthermore, the biocompatibility was clearly affected, as cellular uptake of the SPIONs into human T-lymphoma cells was crucially dependent on the storage conditions. Taken together, the results show that the particle properties undergo significant changes over time depending on the way they are stored.
Keywords: Colloidal stability; Iron oxide biocompatibility; Iron oxide nanoparticles; Magnetic drug targeting; Magnetite maghemite biocompatibility; Nanomedicine; Nanoparticle stability

Dipping and electrospraying for the preparation of hydroxyapatite foams for bone tissue engineering - Boccaccini, Aldo R.; et al. (Biomedical Materials, 2008)
A novel fabrication technique, a combination of slurry dipping and electrospraying, was used to produce hydroxyapatite foams as potential matrices for bone tissue engineering applications. In this study, scaffolds that were slurry dipped and electrosprayed for different time intervals were compared with foams prepared by the individual methods of dipping and electrospraying. Significant differences in the distribution of cracks on the struts, the strut thickness and porosity were observed on the sintered foams prepared under the varied conditions. All the sintered structures had average porosities in the range 84-94% and desirable pore interconnections, while the combined method produced foams of uniform pore distribution, thicker struts and improved mechanical properties. Further improvement of the mechanical properties has also been achieved by altering the sintering conditions.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2008.tech.IW.LM.dippin

Direct ink writing of silica-bonded calcite scaffolds from preceramic polymers and fillers - Fiocco, L.; Elsayed, Hamada; Badocco, D.; Pastore, Paolo; Bellucci, D.; Cannillo, V.; Detsch, Rainer; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Bernardo, E. (Biofabrication, 2017)
Keywords: bioactivity; biocompatibility; calcite; direct 3D printing; preceramic polymers

Direct Laser Interference Patterning of Zirconia Using Infra-Red Picosecond Pulsed Laser: Effect of Laser Processing Parameters on the Surface Topography and Microstructure - Henriques, Bruno; Fabris, Douglas; Voisiat, Bogdan; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Lasagni, Andrés Fabián (Advanced Functional Materials, 2023)
This study investigates the influence of processing parameters when applying direct laser interference patterning (DLIP) on the morphology and microstructure of zirconia surfaces using a 10 ps-pulsed laser source with 1064 nm wavelength. An experimental testing matrix is built with different values of laser fluence (5.7–18.2 J cm−2) and pulse overlap (66–98%). Surface morphology and microstructure are characterized by confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Homogeneous line-like patterns with periodic spatial repetition of 5.0 µm, with varying depths, widths, and aspect ratio, are fabricated using proper processing parameters (5.7–7.6 J cm−2 and 92–96%). Structures with maximum depth of 1.5 µm and sharp edges are obtained (7.6 J cm−2 and 96% overlap). Ablated regions presented a morphology typical of photophysical ablation mechanism, with signs of molten material at the surface. Sub-micrometric pores and nanodroplets are registered for all conditions, while sub-micrometric cracks developed only for higher fluences. A processing window conducing to homogenous DLIP structures is set based on experimental data. Periodic structures with multiscale topographic features are successfully obtained on zirconia surfaces using DLIP technology in this study. These outcomes open new perspectives for fabrication of multifunctional zirconia surfaces for advanced biomedical and engineering applications.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2023-10-06
Keywords: direct laser interference patterning; surface microstructuring; ultrashort pulsed laser; zirconia

Dispersing silicon nanoparticles in a stirred media mill - investigating the evolution of morphology, structure and oxide formation - Frank, Gerhard; Peukert, Wolfgang; Reindl, Armin; Altin, Ergün; Aldabergenova, Saule (physica status solidi (a), 2007)
Silicon nanoparticles were dispersed for 24 hours in 1-butanol using a stirred media mill. Via this process intrinsically stable suspensions (in regard to aggregation) of Si nanoparticles were produced after 6 hours of dispersing. The evolution of morphology, particle size and structure was investigated by dynamic light scattering, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy as a function of dispersing time. The average crystallite size decreased from about 18 nm down to about 10 nm within 24 hours of milling as determined by X-ray diffraction and Raman scattering measurements. In addition careful analysis of the Raman spectra revealed a decrease of the crystalline volume fraction from 75% down to 24% and a corresponding increase of the amorphous phase. The microstructural development with varying crystallite size and crystalline volume fraction was directly confirmed by transmission electron microscopy measurements. Elemental analysis showed an increase of oxygen content that was directly proportional to the increase in specific surface area of the silicon nanoparticles during the dispersing process. The surface chemistry of the Si nanoparticles was analyzed by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy that indicated vibrational bands of HSi-Si 3-xO x, SiO x, and residual 1-butanol. The final product of the dispersing process seems to be a two-phase mixture of amorphous Si and Si nanocrystallites covered with SiO x on the surface. © 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2007.tech.IW.LM.disper
Keywords: nano; particle; dispersion

Dissolution of borate and borosilicate bioactive glasses and the influence of ion (Zn, Cu) doping in different solutions - Schuhladen, Katharina; Wang, Xiaoju; Hupa, Leena; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 2018)
Keywords: Borosilicate glass; Copper; Bioactivity; Borate; Zinc; Dynamic dissolution; Lactic acid; Bioactive glasses

Do bioresorbable polyesters have antimicrobial properties? - Gritsch, Lukas; Lovell, Christopher; Goldmann, Wolfgang; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 2018)

Dosage and composition of bioactive glasses differentially regulate angiogenic and osteogenic response of human MSCs. - Qazi, Taimoor H.; Berkmann, Julia C.; Schoon, Janosch; Geiler, Sven; Duda, Georg N.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Lippens, Evi (Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 2018)
Vascularization of the fracture site and cell-mediated deposition of the mineralized matrix are crucial determinants for successful bone regeneration after injury. Ceramic biomaterials such as bioactive glasses (BAGs) that release bioactive ions have shown promising results in bone defect regeneration. However, it remains unclear how the dosage and composition of bioactive ions influence the angiogenic and osteogenic behavior of primary human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). Here, we show that exposure to ionic dissolution products from 1393 and 45S5 BAGs can evoke distinct angiogenic and osteogenic responses from primary MSCs in a dose- and composition-dependent manner. Significantly higher concentrations of the pro-angiogenic factors VEGF, HGF, PIGF, angiopoietin, and angiogenin were detected in conditioned media (CM) from MSCs exposed to 45S5, but not 1393, BAGs. Application of this CM to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) resulted in robust 2D tube formation in vitro. Osteogenic differentiation of MSCs was assessed by gene expression analysis and mineralization assays. Low concentrations (0.1% w/v) of 1393 BAGs significantly enhanced the gene expression of RUNX2 and ALP and induced an earlier onset of matrix mineralization compared to all other groups. We further tested whether simultaneous exposure to both BAGs would improve both angiogenic secretion and osteogenic differentiation of MSCs, and did not find evidence to support this hypothesis. Our results provide evidence of BAG composition-dependent enhancement of primary human MSCs' regenerative function, besides also underlining the importance of an in vitro evaluation of the dose-response relationship to translate BAG based approaches into safe and effective clinical therapies. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 2827-2837, 2018., 2018.

Durability assessment of hydrogel mountings for contrast-enhanced micro-CT - Hildebrand, Torben; Novak, Jan; Nogueira, Liebert Parreiras; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Haugen, Håvard Jostein (Micron, 2023)
Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) provides valuable data for studying soft tissue, though it is often affected by sample movement during scans and low contrast in X-ray absorption. This can result in lower image quality and geometric inaccuracies, collectively known as 'artefacts'. To mitigate these issues, samples can be embedded in hydrogels and enriched with heavy metals for contrast enhancement. However, the long-term durability of these enhancements remains largely unexplored. In this study, we examine the effects of two contrast enhancement agents – iodine and phosphotungstic acid (PTA) – and two hydrogels – agarose and Poloxamer 407 – over a 14-day period. We used Drosophila melanogaster as a test model for our investigation. Our findings reveal that PTA and agarose are highly durable, while iodine and poloxamer hydrogel exhibits higher leakage rates. These observations lay the foundation for estimating contrast stabilities in contrast-enhanced micro-CT with hydrogel embedding and serve to inform future research in this field.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2023-09-29
Keywords: Agarose; Contrast enhancement; Drosophila melanogaster; Iodine; Phosphotungstic acid; Poloxamer 407

Dynamic mechanical characterization of poly(glycerol sebacate)/poly (butylene succinate-butylene dilinoleate) blends for cardiac tissue engineering by flat punch nanoindentation - Merle, Benoit; Kraus, X.; Tallawi, Marwa; Scharfe, B.; El Fray, Miroslawa; Aifantis, K. E.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Göken, Mathias (Materials Letters, 2018)
The viscoelastic properties of polymer blends of poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) and poly(butylene succinate-dilinoleate) (PBS-DLA) copolymer intended for cardiac tissue patches are investigated by dynamic flat punch nanoindentation at frequencies ranging from 1 to 45 Hz. The storage modulus is found to depend weakly on the testing frequency, the lowest value being for 1 Hz, which corresponds to the usual heart rate. More significantly, it is found that varying the PGS content between 40 and 70 wt% allows tuning the storage modulus of the blends between 11 and 39 MPa. The reliability of the nanoindentation method is validated by reference dynamic mechanical measurements on thicker PBS-DLA samples using a tensile testing machine. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Nanoindentation; Dynamic mechanical analysis; Cardiac tissue engineering

Ectopic bone formation in rapidly fabricated acellular injectable dense collagen-Bioglass hybrid scaffolds via gel aspiration-ejection - Miri, Amir K.; Muja, Naser; Kamranpour, Neysan O.; Lepry, William C.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Clarke, Susan A.; Nazhat, Showan N. (Biomaterials, 2016)
Gel aspiration-ejection (GAE) has recently been introduced as an effective technique for the rapid production of injectable dense collagen (IDC) gel scaffolds with tunable collagen fibrillar densities (CFDs) and microstructures. Herein, a GAE system was applied for the advanced production and delivery of IDC and IDC-Bioglass (IDC-BG) hybrid gel scaffolds for potential bone tissue engineering applications. The efficacy of GAE in generating mineralizable IDC-BG gels (from an initial 75-25 collagen-BG ratio) produced through needle gauge numbers 8G (3.4 mm diameter and 6 wt% CFD) and 14G (1.6 mm diameter and 14 wt% CFD) was investigated. Second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging of as-made gels revealed an increase in collagen fibril alignment with needle gauge number. In vitro mineralization of IDC-BG gels was confirmed where carbonated hydroxyapatite was detected as early as day 1 in simulated body fluid, which progressively increased up to day 14. In vivo mineralization of, and host response to, acellular IDC and IDC-BG gel scaffolds were further investigated following subcutaneous injection in adult rats. Mineralization, neovascularization and cell infiltration into the scaffolds was enhanced by the addition of BG and at day 21 post injection, there was evidence of remodelling of granulation tissue into woven bone-like tissue in IDC-BG. SHG imaging of explanted scaffolds indicated collagen fibril remodelling through cell infiltration and mineralization over time. In sum, the results suggest that IDC-BG hybrid gels have osteoinductive properties and potentially offer a novel therapeutic approach for procedures requiring the injectable delivery of a malleable and dynamic bone graft that mineralizes under physiological conditions.
Keywords: Collagen remodelling; Dense collagen; Hydrogel; Hydroxyapatite; Osteoinduction; Subcutaneous injection

Editorial: Advanced Cell Culture Technologies to Boost Cell-Based Therapies - Egger, Dominik; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Correa, Diego; Kasper, Cornelia; O'Brien, Fergal J. J. (Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2021)
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2021-08-13
Keywords: 3D cell culture; cell-based therapy; physiological conditions; stem cells; therapeutic potential

Editorial: Antimicrobial Nanostructured Polymeric Materials and Nanocomposites - Stevanovic, Magdalena M.; Vukomanovic, Marija; Milenkovic, Marina; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Frontiers in Materials, 2021)
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2021-09-03

Editorial: Antimicrobial nanostructured polymeric materials and nanocomposites, volume II - Stevanovic, Magdalena M.; Vukomanovic, Marija; Milenkovic, Marina; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2022)
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-10-07
Keywords: antimicrobial polymeric materials; mechanisms of action of antimicrobial nanomaterials; nanocomposites; nanoparticles; nanostructured materials with antimicrobial activity

Editorial: Bioengineering of biomimetic microenvironments for cardiac tissue engineering - Rosellini, Elisabetta; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Quaini, Federico; Zhang, Yu Shrike (Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2023)
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2024-12-16
Keywords: biomimetic approach; bioreactor; cardiac tissue engineering; extracellular matrix; functionalization; in vitro models; scaffold; signals

Editorial: Biofabrication and Biopolymeric Materials Innovation for Musculoskeletal Tissue Regeneration - Cooke, Megan E.; Rosenzweig, Derek H.; Liu, Chaozong; Ghorbani, Farnaz (Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2022)
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2022-06-24

Editorial: Biomaterials at PacRim9 - Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Wang, Min (Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 2012)

Editorial: Combating Bacterial Infections Through Biomimetic or Bioinspired Materials Design and Enabling Technologies - Ciardelli, Gianluca; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Roy, Ipsita; Nostro, Antonia; Salber, Jochen (Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2021)
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2022-01-14

Editorial: Hybrids Part B: Hybrids for Drug Delivery - Li, Wei; Zheng, Kai; Petrikaite, Vilma (Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2021)
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2021-07-23

Editorial: Inorganic biomaterials - Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Hoeland, Wolfram (Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2016)
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-08-05
Keywords: Bioactive glasses; Bioceramics; Biomaterials; Bone engineering; Coatings; Dental restoration; Editorial; Scaffolds

Editorial: Manufacturing meets biofabrication: Part 1 - Hutmacher, Dietmar W.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (BioNanoMaterials, 2014)

Editorial: Multifunctional Bioactive Nanomaterials for Tissue Regeneration - Lei, Bo; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Chen, Xiaofeng (Frontiers in Chemistry, 2019)
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2019-11-08
Keywords: bioactive nanomaterials; biomedical applications; multifunctional biomaterials; tissue engineering; tissue regeneration

Editorial: Multifunctional Bioactive Nanomaterials for Tissue Regeneration, Volume 2 - Lei, Bo; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Chen, Xiaofeng (Frontiers in Chemistry, 2022)
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-02-25
Keywords: bioactive; cancer therapy; multifunctional; nanomaterials; tissue engineering

Editorial on Bioceramics for Bone Repair - Saiz, Eduardo; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Chevalier, Jérôme; Peroglio, Marianna (Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2018)
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-08-05

Editorial: Polydopamine-based structures innovation for surface engineering and Musculoskeletal Tissue Regeneration - Ghorbani, Farnaz; Ghalandari, Behafarid; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Rosenzweig, Derek H. (Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2023)
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2023-03-10
Keywords: coating; musculoskeletal; podydopamine; surface engineering; tissue engineering

Effect of additives on the dispersion and electrophoretic deposition of highly diluted enamel suspensions - Dignatici, M.; Chavez-Valdez, A.; Andreola, F.; Siligardi, C.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Interceram, 2015)
This work examines the rheological behaviour of aqueous highly diluted suspensions (1 mass-%) to identify additives that may improve the application of vitreous enamel coatings by electrophoretic deposition (EPD). Slurries for EPD were prepared by ball milling frit glass in water with suspending agents. The effect of different additives in the solids concentration range from 0.2 to 2.0 mass-% on the rheological properties of coating solutions was investigated using rotational rheometry and zeta potential measurements. Different sedimentation times were observed for the tested dispersant, binder and coagulator additives. Densicer, an organic-inorganic mix additive, showed the best properties in terms of suspension stability. The high zeta potential measured with this product confirms its potential suitability as a suspension additive for vitreous enamel coatings applied by EPD.
Keywords: Diluted suspensions; EPD; Rheology; Vitreous enamel; Zeta potential

Effect of benign solvents composition on poly(epsilon-caprolactone) electrospun fiber properties - Bongiovanni Abel, Silvestre; Liverani, Liliana; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Abraham, Gustavo A. (Materials Letters, 2019)
Green electrospinning is a flourishing trend in the field of electrospinning (ES) of polymeric/composite materials for biomedical applications. The use of non-toxic solvents instead of the most commonly used solvents in electrospinning is needed to avoid the possible presence toxic solvents traces in the electrospun mats, enhancing their cytocompatibility. It was found that a single solvent or solvent mixtures have a critical role in fiber formation and properties. In this work, fibers in the micro/nanoscale were obtained by electrospinning technique from different poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) solutions. Benign solvents (i.e. acetic and formic acids, water and their mixtures) and standard organic solvents for ES (i.e. chloroform) were explored in order to compare the fiber characteristics and properties. Morphology, size, crystallinity, thermal and polymer stability of fibers were analyzed. The obtained results showed the suitability of the use of benign solvents for ES, highlighting that for the use of formic acid the degradation of PCL should be taken into consideration. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2019-04-04

Effect of bioactive glasses on angiogenesis: A review of in vitro and in vivo evidences - Boccaccini, Aldo R.; et al. (Tissue Engineering - Part A, 2010)
The incorporation of bioactive glass into bone tissue-engineered scaffolds can be widely beneficial based on emerging evidence in the literature about the angiogenic potential of this material, particularly 45S5 Bioglass((R)). This article reviews the literature discussing in vitro studies which have demonstrated that increases in angiogenic indicators have been achieved through both direct and indirect contact of relevant cells with 45S5 Bioglass((R)) particles or with their dissolution products. A few available in vivo studies confirming the ability of bioactive glass, incorporated into scaffolds, to stimulate neovascularization are also discussed. Suggestions for further research are given, highlighting the need for specific investigations designed to assess the effect of particular ion dissolution products from bioactive glasses and their relative concentration on angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2010.tech.IW.LM.effect_8

Effect of Boron-Doped Mesoporous Bioactive Glass Nanoparticles on C2C12 Cell Viability and Differentiation: Potential for Muscle Tissue Application - Ege, Duygu; Nawaz, Qaisar; Beltran, Ana M.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering, 2022)
Mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) exhibit a high surface area and a highly ordered mesoporous structure. MBGs have potential for both hard and soft tissue engineering applications. MBGs may be doped with biologically active ions to tailor their biological activity. Boron is being widely studied as a dopant of bioactive glasses. Recently, research has demonstrated the potential of boron-containing bioactive glasses for muscle regeneration. In this study, boron-containing MBGs, 10B-MBG and 18B-MBG nanoparticles, were produced by a microemulsion-assisted sol-gel approach for potential muscle regeneration applications. First, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analyses were conducted to study the chemical structure and composition of the nanoparticles. To examine the nanoparticle morphology, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images were analyzed. Both SEM images and particle size distribution determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS) indicated a decrease of the average particle size after boron doping. TEM images indicated a slit-shaped mesoporous structure of nanoparticles for all compositions. The ζ potential was measured, and a negative surface charge was found for all study groups due to the presence of silanol groups. Cytocompatibility and fluorescence microscopy studies were also carried out. The results indicated that low concentrations (0.1 and 1 mg mL-1) of all MBG nanoparticles led to high viability of C2C12 cells. Fluorescence microscopy images indicated that at lower nanoparticle concentrations (0.1 and 1 mg mL-1), C2C12 cells appeared to differentiate into myotubes, which was indicated by a spindle-shaped morphology. For 10 mg mL-1concentration of nanoparticles, C2C12 cells had a lower aspect ratio (estimated qualitatively by inspection of the images), which implied a lower degree of differentiation. Boron-doped MBG nanoparticles in reduced concentrations are suitable to induce differentiation of C2C12 cells into myotubes, indicating their potential for applications in muscle tissue repair.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-12-23
Keywords: actin; bioactive glass; fluorescence microscopy; MBG; myoblast cell; myotube

Effect of buffer in simulated body fluid on morphology and crystallinity of hydroxyapatite precipitated on 45S5 bioactive glass-derived glass–ceramic scaffolds: comparison of Good's buffer systems and TRIS - Horkavcová, D.; Stříbny, A.; Schuhladen, Katharina; Bezdička, P.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Rohanová, D. (Materials Today Chemistry, 2021)
In vitro tests that verify the ability of a material to form bone-like apatite precipitated (HAp) use a solution that imitates the inorganic part of blood plasma, simulated body fluid (SBF). During such tests, it is necessary to maintain a neutral pH, for which purpose the International Standards Organization recommends the TRIS (tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane) buffer (ISO 23,317:2014). To do this, TRIS buffer must remain inert, but, as we have previously reported, TRIS interacts with highly bioreactive materials (such as 45S5 Bioglass-derived scaffolds), thereby accelerating scaffold dissolution. In the search for an alternative to TRIS, we have also recently published results for the 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) and 3-(N-morpholino) propanesulfonic acid (MOPS) buffers, which were also unable to maintain a neutral pH in SBF. Thus, we here continue our search for a more suitable Good's buffer by comparing BES (N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) and TES (2-[(2-hydroxy-1,1-bis(hydroxymethyl) ethyl) amino] ethanesulfonic acid) with TRIS. 45S5-derived glass–ceramic scaffolds were tested under static–dynamic conditions for bone-like apatite formation using SBF + BES and SBF + TES solutions. The pH measurements, leachate analysis [atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) (Ca2+, SiIV), UltraViolet-Visible (UV-VIS) spectrophotometry (PO4)3−], and scaffold analysis [X-Ray powder diffraction analysis (XRD), X-ray fluorescent analysis (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Brunauer.Emmett.Teller specific surface area analysis (BET)] all showed that both BES and TES quickly interacted with the tested material. Moreover, the kinetics of the glass–ceramic dissolution affected the crystallinity and morphology of the precipitated HAp. Based on our previous results and the present data, it appears that Good's buffers are not suitable for the in vitro testing of bioactivity of highly bioreactive materials.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2021-08-06
Keywords: BES buffer; Bioactive high porous material; In vitro test; SBF; TES buffer

Effect of Ca and B incorporation into silicon oxycarbide on its microstructure and phase composition - Xie, Fangtong; Gonzalo-Juan, Isabel; Breitzke, Hergen; Fasel, Claudia; Trapp, Maximilian; Buntkowsky, Gerd; Kleebe, Hans Joachim; Riedel, Ralf; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Ionescu, Emanuel (Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 2019)
Ca- and/or B-modified silicon oxycarbides were synthesized via pyrolysis of suitable polysilsesquioxane-based single-source precursors. Their polymer-to-ceramic transformation was investigated with thermogravimetric analysis, coupled with in situ evolved gas analysis. The prepared silicon oxycarbides were investigated with respect to their crystallization behavior, network architecture, and chemical compositions. The network connectivity in silicon oxycarbides can be affected/tuned upon using two different “tools”: (a) first, the use of network modifiers, such as Ca in our study, leads to a slight depolymerization of the network via generation of a small amount of Q3 sites; (b) second, the modification of silicon oxycarbide with B/Ca leads to a decrease of the carbon content in the network and thus to a significant decrease of its connectivity. Using these two different effects, the network connectivity in silicon oxycarbides can be finely tuned.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2019-06-28
Keywords: network connectivity; silicon oxycarbides; SiOC

Effect of Cu-and Zn-doped bioactive glasses on the in vitro bioactivity, mechanical and degradation behavior of biodegradable PDLLA scaffolds - Bejarano, Julian; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Covarrubias, Cristian; Palza, Humberto (Materials, 2020)
Biodegradable polymer scaffolds filled with bioactive glass particles doped with therapeutic metal ions are a novel and promising strategy to repair critical-sized bone defects. In this study, scaffolds based on a poly (D, L-lactide acid) (PDLLA) matrix filled with un-doped and Cu-, Zn-and CuZn-doped bioactive glass particles were produced by freeze-drying and a salt-leaching method. The effects of the doping and content of the glass particles (10 and 30 wt. %) on the morphology, compression properties, apatite formation, and degradation behavior of the scaffolds were evaluated. The scaffolds presented high porosity ( 93%) with pores ranged from 100 to 400 μm interconnected by smaller pores and this porosity was kept after the glass particles incorporation. The glass particles reinforced the polymer scaffolds with improvements as high as 130% in elastic moduli, and further promoted the apatite formation on the scaffold surface, both properties depending on the amount and type of filler. The bioactive glass particles boosted the scaffold degradation with the PDLLA/un-doped glass scaffold showing the highest rate, but still retaining structural and dimensional integrity. Our findings show that the incorporation of un-doped and metal-doped bioactive glasses increases the mechanical strength, promotes the bioactivity and modifies the degradation profile of the resulting polymer/glass scaffolds, making them better candidates for bone repair.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2020-07-24
Keywords: Bioactive glass particles; Bone repair; Copper-and zinc-doped glasses; Degradation; In vitro bioactivity; Mechanical properties; Polymer scaffolds

Effect of glycerol and H3PO4 on the bioactivity and degradability of rod-like SBA-15 particles with active surface for bone tissue engineering applications - Vargas-Osorio, Zulema; Klotschan, Artem; Arango Ospina, Marcela; Piñeiro, Yolanda; Liverani, Liliana; Rivas, José; Michálek, Martin; Galusek, Dušan; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 2022)
In the quest to increase the quality of life and life expectancy, there is a great demand to develop advanced medical devices capable of facing current health challenges. Santa Barbara Amorphous (SBA-15) mesoporous silica has been demonstrated to be a remarkable option for a variety of biomedical applications, from tissue engineering to drug delivery, due to its unique hierarchical porous structure. This work reports on the effect of using different ratios and concentrations of an acid mixture mediated by HCl/H3PO4 that in combination with a glycerol-modified silane precursor favoured obtaining bioactive SBA-15 mesoporous silica rods. The surfactant was removed by solvent extraction which allowed to keep a substantial amount of silanol groups (SiOH) at the surface. All the evaluated samples showed homogeneous rod shape and particle size, as well as high bioactivity after being immersed for 14 days in simulated body fluid (SBF). Different structural arrangements of needle-type carbonate hydroxyapatite (HCA) crystals were produced from SBA-15 upon immersion in SBF. By scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterization, it was observed that rod-shaped SBA-15 materials displayed higher degradability when the concentration of H3PO4 was increased. An indirect cell viability assay with MC3T3-E1 osteoblast precursor cells was performed by incubating cells in cell culture medium exposed to SBA-15 particles for 1 and 4 days. The results obtained from the WST-8 assay and fluorescent staining showed no negative effect on cell viability, indicating a lack of cytotoxicity of the rod-like SBA-15 particles.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2021-11-19
Keywords: Bioactivity; Cytocompatibility; Degradability; Rod-like SBA-15 particles; Solvents extraction

Effect of hybrid polymer coating of Bioglass® foams on mechanical response during tensile loading - Bertolla, L.; Chlup, Zdenek; Stratil, L.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Dlouhy, I. (Advances in Applied Ceramics, 2015)
A simplified two-dimensional finite elements model was created for a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) coated Bioglass (R) strut undergoing tensile stresses (loading mode I). The strengthening contributions due to the infiltration of coating into surface cracks and coating's stiffness were evaluated in terms of stress intensity factor K-I and tensile stresses sigma(yy) in the proximity of the crack tip. The infiltration of the coating until the crack tip resulted as the most effective criterion for the struts strengthening. Bioglass (R) based scaffolds were dip coated into PVA and PVA/microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) aqueous solutions and tested in tensile load. Coated samples exhibited remarkably higher tensile strength than non-coated ones, which further raised with the increased amount of MFC. Contact angle theta and linear viscosity eta measurements of PVA/MFC solutions showed that MFC caused a reduction in theta and a drastic increase in eta, indicating that a balance between these two effects must be achieved.
Keywords: Bioceramics; Bioglassw scaffolds; Cellulose; Composite coating; Mechanical properties; Polymer coating; Tensile strength

Effect of ion release from Cu-doped 45S5 Bioglass® on 3D endothelial cell morphogenesis - Staehli, Christoph; James-Bhasin, Mark; Hoppe, Alexander; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Nazhat, Showan N. (Acta Biomaterialia, 2015)
Both silicate-based bioactive glasses and copper ions have demonstrated angiogenic activity and therefore represent promising bioinorganic agents for the promotion of vascularization in tissue-engineered scaffolds. This study examined the effect of ionic release products from 45S5 Bioglass® doped with 0 and 2.5 wt.% CuO (BG and Cu-BG respectively) on the formation of capillary-like networks by SVEC4-10 endothelial cells (ECs) seeded in a three-dimensional (3D) type I collagen matrix. Copper and silicon release following 24 h dissolution increased non-proportionally with Cu-BG concentration in cell culture medium, while calcium levels were decreased below the initial medium concentration. EC network length, connectivity, branching, quantified by means of a 3D morphometric image analysis method, as well as proliferation and metabolic activity were reduced in a dose-dependent fashion by BG and Cu-BG ionic release products. This reduction was less prominent for BG compared to an equivalent concentration of Cu-BG, which was attributed to a lower extent of silicon release and calcium consumption. Moreover, a CuCl2 dose equivalent to the highest concentration of Cu-BG exhibited no effect on ECs. In conclusion, while the previously reported pro-angiogenic activity of both Bioglass® and copper may not be reflected in a direct response of ECs, this study provides a maximum glass concentration for non-harmful angiogenic stimulation to be examined in future work.
Keywords: Angiogenesis; Bioactive glass; Bioinorganics; Capillary-like network; Copper

Effect of manganese, zinc, and copper on the biological and osteogenic properties of mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles - Westhauser, Fabian; Wilkesmann, Sebastian; Nawaz, Qaisar; Hohenbild, Frederike; Rehder, Felix; Saur, Merve; Fellenberg, Jörg; Moghaddam, Arash; Ali, Muhammad Saad; Peukert, Wolfgang; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 2020)
Mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs) have demonstrated promising properties for the local delivery of therapeutically active ions with the aim to improve their osteogenic properties. Manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) ions have already shown promising pro-osteogenic properties. Therefore, the concentration-dependent impact of MBGNs (composition in mol%: 70 SiO2, 30 CaO) and MBGNs containing 5 mol% of either Mn, Zn, or Cu (composition in mol%: 70 SiO2, 25 CaO, 5 MnO/ZnO/CuO) on the viability and osteogenic differentiation of human marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) was assessed in this study. Mn-doped MBGNs (5Mn-MBGNs) showed a small “therapeutic window” with a dose-dependent negative impact on cell viability but increasing pro-osteogenic features alongside increasing Mn concentrations. Due to a constant release of Zn, 5Zn-MBGNs showed good cytocompatibility and upregulated the expression of genes encoding for relevant members of the osseous extracellular matrix during the later stages of cultivation. In contrast to all other groups, BMSC viability increased with increasing concentration of Cu-doped MBGNs (5Cu-MBGNs). Furthermore, 5Cu-MBGNs induced an increase in alkaline phosphatase activity. In conclusion, doping with Mn, Zn, or Cu can enhance the biological properties of MBGNs in different ways for their potential use in bone regeneration approaches.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2020-12-25
Keywords: copper; manganese; mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles; osteogenic differentiation; zinc

Effect of nanoparticulate bioactive glass particles on bioactivity and cytocompatibility of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) composites - Misra, Superb K.; Ansari, Tahera I.; Valappil, Sabeel P.; Brunner, Tobias J.; Stark, Wendelin J.; Roy, Ipsita; Knowles, Jonathan C.; Sibbons, Paul D.; Valsami-Jones, Eugenia; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Salih, Vehid; et al. (Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 2010)
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2009.tech.IW.LM.effect

Effect of nanoparticulate bioactive glass particles on bioactivity and cytocompatibility of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) composites - Misra, Superb K.; Ansari, Tahera; Mohn, Dirk; Valappil, Sabeel P.; Brunner, Tobias J.; Stark, Wendelin J.; Roy, Ipsita; Knowles, Jonathan; Sibbons, Paul D.; Valsami-Jones, Eugenia; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Salih, Vehid (Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 2009)

Effect of nano-sized bioactive glass particles on the angiogenic properties of collagen based composites - Vargas, Gabriela E.; Haro Durand, Luis A.; Cadena, Vanesa; Romero, Marcela; Vera Mesones, Rosa; Mackovic, Mirza; Spallek, Stefanie; Spiecker, Erdmann; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Gorustovich, Alejandro A. (Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 2013)
Angiogenesis is essential for tissue regeneration and repair. A growing body of evidence shows that the use of bioactive glasses (BG) in biomaterial-based tissue engineering (TE) strategies may improve angiogenesis and induce increased vascularization in TE constructs. This work investigated the effect of adding nano-sized BG particles (n-BG) on the angiogenic properties of bovine type I collagen/n-BG composites. Nano-sized (20-30 nm) BG particles of nominally 45S5 Bioglass composition were used to prepare composite films, which were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The in vivo angiogenic response was evaluated using the quail chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) as an model of angiogenesis. At 24 h post-implantation, 10 wt% n-BG containing collagen films stimulated angiogenesis by increasing by 41 % the number of blood vessels branch points. In contrast, composite films containing 20 wt% n-BG were found to inhibit angiogenesis. This experimental study provides the first evidence that addition of a limited concentration of n-BG (10 wt%) to collagen films induces an early angiogenic response making selected collagen/n-BG composites attractive matrices for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. © Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2013.tech.IW.LM.effect

Effect of particle size on hydroxyapatite crystal-induced tumor necrosis factor alpha secretion by macrophages - Nadra, Imad; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Philippidis, Pandelis; Whelan, Linda C.; Mccarthy, Geraldine M.; Haskard, Dorian O.; Landis, R. Clive (Atherosclerosis, 2008)
Macrophages may promote a vicious cycle of inflammation and calcification in the vessel wall by ingesting neointimal calcific deposits (predominantly hydroxyapatite) and secreting tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α, itself a vascular calcifying agent. Here we have investigated whether particle size affects the proinflammatory potential of hydroxyapatite crystals in vitro and whether the nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway plays a role in the macrophage TNFα response. The particle size and nano-topography of nine different crystal preparations was analyzed by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and gas sorbtion analysis. Macrophage TNFα secretion was inversely related to hydroxyapatite particle size (P = 0.011, Spearman rank correlation test) and surface pore size (P = 0.014). A necessary role for the NF-κB pathway was demonstrated by time-dependent IκBα degradation and sensitivity to inhibitors of IκBα degradation. To test whether smaller particles were intrinsically more bioactive, their mitogenic activity on fibroblast proliferation was examined. This showed close correlation between TNFα secretion and crystal-induced fibroblast proliferation (P = 0.007). In conclusion, the ability of hydroxyapatite crystals to stimulate macrophage TNFα secretion depends on NF-κB activation and is inversely related to particle and pore size, with crystals of 1-2 μm diameter and pore size of 10-50 Å the most bioactive. Microscopic calcific deposits in early stages of atherosclerosis may therefore pose a greater inflammatory risk to the plaque than macroscopically or radiologically visible deposits in more advanced lesions. © 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2008.tech.IW.LM.effect
Keywords: Atherosclerosis pathophysiology; Calcification; Inflammation; Macrophage

Effect of poling direction of (Na0.5Bi0.5)TiO3 ceramics on the in vitro response of MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts and bacteria - Hermann-Muñoz, J. A.; Rincón-López, J. A.; Detsch, Rainer; Alvarado-Orozco, J. M.; Muñoz-Saldaña, J.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Ceramics International, 2023)
The use of smart materials as implantable devices for bone repair is an emerging field in which alternatives have been explored in the last decade, such as using piezoelectric ceramics to mimic bone self-healing ability using the direct piezoelectric effect (generation of charges under mechanical stress). Here, the feasibility of using (Na0.5Bi0.5)TiO3 dense ceramics as a potential biomaterial for bone repair was studied. The effect of poling direction on the osteogenic properties of (Na0.5Bi0.5)TiO3 ceramics was assessed through several indicators of osteoblast differentiation, including gene expression, cell morphology, and mineralization. An enhanced osteoconductivity, reflected in a higher amount of calcium deposits and the presence of large filopodia and dendritic cell morphology was observed on the negative side compared to non-poled, positive side, and controls. Regarding the ability of (Na0.5Bi0.5)TiO3 ceramics to accelerate osteoblastic differentiation, after 14 days, the gene expression measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed an up-regulation of osteopontin and osteocalcin from exposure, usually expressed during the late stages of osteoblastic differentiation. In addition, the positive side surface generated an antibacterial ratio of almost 50% on gram + bacteria, possibly due to the interaction between the positively charged surface and the membrane's negatively charged bacteria. The results reported here show that tunable (Na0.5Bi0.5)TiO3 ceramics have osteoconductive and antibacterial properties suitable for bone repair applications. Further studies are needed to deepen the understanding of the effect of the polarization level on the osteogenic and antibacterial properties.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2023-03-24
Keywords: Antibacterial properties; Bioceramics; In vitro osteogenesis

Effect of processing temperature on electrophoretic deposition (EPD)-derived bioactive composite coatings for metallic bone implants - Azari, Rezvan; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Surfaces and Interfaces, 2025)
Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is an advanced shaping technique used for obtaining biomedical coatings at room temperature. This research is intended, for the first time, to investigate the effect of the working temperature on the suspension behavior and quality of bioactive glass-chitosan (BGCS) composite coatings obtained by EPD on metallic substrates. To accomplish this, BGCS coatings were electrophoretically deposited on stainless steel planar foils at five working temperatures; from ambient temperature to below the vaporization point of the solution (∼ 83.1 °C). The successful incorporation of BG particles (∼4 µm) and CS in all coatings was confirmed by FTIR and EDS analyses. A comprehensive study of electrical-physical properties of BGCS suspensions at different temperatures revealed an increasing trend in electrophoretic mobility (µ), suspension conductivity (σ), and current density (J) with temperature rise. However, the zeta potential (ζ), which is a measure of suspension stability, recorded its highest level (43.53 ± 1.48 mV) at 35 °C. Furthermore, at 35 °C, the deposition weight verified the highest deposition yield with the lowest standard deviation (1.29 ± 0.07 mg.cm-2). SEM micrographs showed that BG particles were homogenously distributed in the CS matrix at room temperature. By increasing the temperature to 35 °C the proportion of bioactive particles in the coating grew tremendously, however at temperatures higher than 45 °C the quality of deposited BGCS coatings started to decrease. The BGCS-35 and BGCS-45 coatings exhibited the highest adhesion strength (classes 2 and 3) among other coatings, possibly due to the incorporation of more BG particles and thus a denser and stiffer microstructure. Correspondingly, a temperature of around 35 °C is considered the best working temperature for the deposition of advanced BGCS composite coatings for metallic implants.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2025-01-31
Keywords: Bioactive glass; Chitosan; Composite coating; Electrophoretic deposition; Metallic implants; Temperature

Effect of Sr, Mg and Fe substitution on the physico-chemical and biological properties of Si[sbnd]Ca[sbnd]P multilayer scaffolds Efecto de la sustitución de Sr, Mg y Fe en las propiedades físico-químicas y biológicas de andamios multicapa de Si-Ca-P - Mata, Nayarit A.; Arango Ospina, Marcela; Velasquez, Pablo; Murciano, Angel; De Aza, Piedad N.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Boletin De La Sociedad Espanola De Ceramica Y Vidrio, 2021)
In this work, a new combination of ceramic materials is proposed for bone tissue engineering applications. Multilayer scaffolds consisting of a core composed mainly of calcium pyrophosphate and external coatings of silica and calcium doped with Fe3+, Sr2+ and Mg2+ were prepared. To study the influence of the arrangement of dopant ions in the external coatings, two different scaffolds were developed: scaffolds 3J consisting of a single external coating with 9 mol% of Fe3+, Sr2+ and Mg2+ ions; and scaffolds 3S comprising three external coatings, each containing 3 mol% of Fe3+, Sr2+ and Mg2+ ions. Scaffolds were physico-chemically characterized and evaluated for in vitro bioactivity and cellular response in the presence of MG-63 cells. The results showed that the core scaffold displayed no in vitro bioactivity or good cellular response, but served as a support for the external coatings given its mechanical resistance. The cell viability of scaffolds 3J and 3S increased more than 100% in relation to the core, and also improved cell proliferation and adhesion resulting in a dense layer of cells that covered the scaffolds’ entire surface. The arrangement of ions in the external coatings did not influence the cellular response, but determined the bioactivity rate.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2021-12-24
Keywords: Bioceramics; Ion doping; Scaffolds; Sol–gel

Effect of Substrate Mechanics on Cardiomyocyte Maturation and Growth - Tallawi, Marwa; Rai, Ranjana; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Aifantis, Katerina E. (Tissue Engineering - Part B: Reviews, 2015)
Cardiac tissue engineering constructs are a promising therapeutic treatment for myocardial infarction, which is one of the leading causes of death. In order to further advance the development and regeneration of engineered cardiac tissues using biomaterial platforms, it is important to have a complete overview of the effects that substrates have on cardiomyocyte (CM) morphology and function. This article summarizes recent studies that investigate the effect of mechanical cues on the CM differentiation, maturation, and growth. In these studies, CMs derived from embryos, neonates, and mesenchymal stem cells were seeded on different substrates of various elastic modulus. Measuring the contractile function by force production, work output, and calcium handling, it was seen that cell behavior on substrates was optimized when the substrate stiffness mimicked that of the native tissue. The contractile function reflected changes in the sarcomeric protein confirmation and organization that promoted the contractile ability. The analysis of the literature also revealed that, in addition to matrix stiffness, mechanical stimulation, such as stretching the substrate during cell seeding, also played an important role during cell maturation and tissue development.

Effect of uniaxial load on the sintering behaviour of 45S5 Bioglass powder compacts - Guillon, Olivier; Cao, Shaoyong; Chang, Jaemyung; Wondraczek, Lothar; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2011)
The effect of a uniaxial compressive load on the sintering behaviour of 45S5 Bioglass® powder compacts was investigated by means of sinter-forging. In comparison to free sintering, densification kinetics was enhanced and the degree of crystallization was reduced. Significantly lower sintering temperatures, i.e. 610°C instead of 1050°C, can be employed to obtain dense Bioglass® parts when sintering is performed under uniaxial load. The effect of mechanical loading on microstructure (pore density, shape and orientation) is discussed. The results of the investigation are relevant in connection with the development of sintered Bioglass® substrates for bone replacement devices, where both porosity and crystallinity of the part require careful control and low densification temperatures are sought. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2011.tech.IW.LM.effect
Keywords: Biomedical applications; Crystallization; Glass; Microstructure-final; Sintering

Effect of Zn and Ga doping on bioactivity, degradation, and antibacterial properties of borate 1393-B3 bioactive glass - Mutlu, Nurshen; Kurtuldu, Fatih; Ünalan, Irem; Neščáková, Zuzana; Kaňková, Hana; Galusková, Dagmar; Michálek, Martin; Liverani, Liliana; Galusek, Dušan; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Ceramics International, 2022)
Borate 1393-B3 bioactive glasses doped with ZnO or Ga2O3 (1, 3, and 6% mol) were produced by conventional melt quenching. All doped glasses showed in-vitro bioactivity in simulated body fluid (SBF). For the first time, the dissolution behavior of the glasses both in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and cell culture medium was investigated. The ion release rate in the cell culture medium increased compared to that in PBS solution. All tested glass compositions, including the parent 1393-B3 glass, showed antibacterial effect against S. aureus and E. coli. The incorporation of Zn and Ga enhanced the viability of MG-63 osteoblast-like cells compared to the base 1393-B3 glass. The results show the potential of Zn and Ga-doped borate glasses in multifunctional tissue engineering applications.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-03-18
Keywords: Antibacterial activity; Bioactive glasses; Borate glasses; Gallium; Zinc

Effects of Cu-doped 45S5 bioactive glass on the lipid peroxidation-associated growth of human osteoblast-like cells in vitro - Milkovic, Lidija; Hoppe, Alexander; Detsch, Rainer; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Zarkovic, Neven (Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 2013)
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2013.tech.IW.LM.effect_9

Effects of magnesium silicate on the mechanical properties, biocompatibility, bioactivity, degradability, and osteogenesis of poly(butylene succinate)-based composite scaffolds for bone repair - Wu, Zhaoying; Zheng, Kai; Zhang, Jue; Tang, Tingting; Guo, Han; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Wei, Jie (Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 2016)

Effects of Medium pH and Preconditioning Treatment on Protein Adsorption on 45S5 Bioactive Glass Surfaces - Höhn, Sarah; Zheng, Kai; Romeis, Stefan; Brehl, Martin; Peukert, Wolfgang; de Ligny, Dominique; Virtanen, Sannakaisa; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Advanced Materials Interfaces, 2020)
Protein adsorption on 45S5 bioactive glass (BG, Bioglass) surfaces influences the biocompatibility of Bioglass and the cellular response to the material. The medium pH greatly affects protein adsorption behavior. However, the influence of pH variation on protein adsorption on Bioglass has not been investigated in detail before, although an acidifying pH has been observed in fractured or injured bone tissues. This study investigates how the medium pH (pH 7, 5, and 2) affects protein (serum albumin) adsorption on Bioglass with or without preconditioning in simulated body fluid (SBF). The results show that Bioglass can adsorb a larger amount of bovine serum albumin (BSA) than bioinert glasses at all tested pHs. The BSA adsorption on Bioglass surfaces is pH-dependent and a larger amount of adsorbed BSA is observed at lower pH (5 and 2). After preconditioning, BSA adsorption is significantly enhanced. However, the trend of pH-dependent adsorption is attenuated. No significant difference in BSA adsorption is observed at different pHs after preconditioning. The results reveal for the first time the influence of medium pH on protein adsorption on Bioglass with or without preconditioning treatment in SBF, which provides useful information for developing Bioglass based biomedical devices that will be in contact with protein-containing physiological fluids during applications.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2020-05-29
Keywords: 45S5 Bioglass; bovine serum albumin; pH influence; preconditioning; surface reactivity

Effects of silicon nitride (Si3N4) incorporation on physicochemical, bioactivity and antibacterial properties of 45S5 bioactive glass - Bagci, Cengiz; Bastan, Fatih Erdem; Nawaz, Qaisar; Hurle, Katrin; de Ligny, Dominique; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Ceramics International, 2024)
In this study, silicon nitride (Si3N4, SN) particles (10–30 wt%) were introduced into 45S5 bioactive glass (BG), and the impact of the incorporation on thermal and physicochemical features of the composite was analyzed. SN inclusion shifted the crystallization temperature of BG to higher temperatures, thus, the viscous flow of the glassy phase enhanced the sintering-ability and eventually reduced the sintering temperature from 1050 °C to 900 °C. XRD results revealed that increased SN fractions sustained higher amorphous content while decreasing the fraction of the main BG crystallization phase (combeite). BG + SN composites were cytocompatible with MG-63 cells. A higher number of cells was visualized on the BG + SN pellets, yet no statistically significant viability difference was determined between the BG + SN and BG samples. SN addition also endowed antibacterial activity to the BG + SN composites against S. aureus and E. coli pathogens, revealing that SN addition to BG is an alternative approach to developing biocompatible, bioactive, and antibacterial materials.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2024-10-04
Keywords: Antibacterial bone grafts; Bioactive ceramic composites; Glass-ceramic materials

Efficient Direct Cytosolic Protein Delivery via Protein-Linker Co-engineering - Wei, Lixia; Wang, Heyun; Özkan, Melis; Damian-Buda, Andrada-Ioana; Loynachan, Colleen N.; Liao, Suiyang; Stellacci, Francesco (ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 2025)
Protein therapeutics have enormous potential for transforming the treatment of intracellular cell disorders, such as genetic disorders and cancers. Due to proteins’ cell-membrane impermeability, protein-based drugs against intracellular targets require efficient cytosolic delivery strategies; however, none of the current approaches are optimal. Here, we present a simple approach to render proteins membrane-permeable. We use arginine-mimicking ligand N,N′-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine (DMPA) to functionalize the surface of a few representative proteins, varying in isoelectric point and molecular weight. We show that when these proteins have a sufficient number of these ligands on their surface, they acquire the property of penetrating the cell cytosol. Uptake experiments at 37 and 4 °C indicate that one of the penetration pathways is energy independent, with no evidence of pore formation, with inhibition assays indicating the presence of other uptake pathways. Functional tests demonstrate that the modified proteins maintain their main cellular function; specifically, modified ovalbumin (OVA) leads to enhanced antigen presentation and modified cytochrome C (Cyto C) leads to enhanced cell apoptosis. We modified bovine serum albumin (BSA) with ligands featuring different hydrophobicity and end group charges and showed that, to confer cytosolic penetration, the ligands must be cationic and that some hydrophobic content improves the penetration efficiency. This study provides a simple strategy for efficiently delivering proteins directly to the cell cytosol and offers important insights into the design and development of arginine-rich cell-penetrating peptide mimetic small molecules for protein transduction.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2025-05-09
Keywords: arginine-mimicking ligand; cell penetration; cytosolic delivery; membrane permeability; protein functionalization; protein therapeutics

Electrically Conductive and 3D-Printable Oxidized Alginate-Gelatin Polypyrrole:PSS Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering - Distler, Thomas; Polley, Christian; Shi, Fukun; Schneidereit, Dominik; Ashton, Mark D.; Friedrich, Oliver; Kolb, Jürgen F.; Hardy, John G.; Detsch, Rainer; Seitz, Hermann; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Advanced Healthcare Materials, 2021)
Electroactive hydrogels can be used to influence cell response and maturation by electrical stimulation. However, hydrogel formulations which are 3D printable, electroactive, cytocompatible, and allow cell adhesion, remain a challenge in the design of such stimuli-responsive biomaterials for tissue engineering. Here, a combination of pyrrole with a high gelatin-content oxidized alginate-gelatin (ADA-GEL) hydrogel is reported, offering 3D-printability of hydrogel precursors to prepare cytocompatible and electrically conductive hydrogel scaffolds. By oxidation of pyrrole, electroactive polypyrrole:polystyrenesulfonate (PPy:PSS) is synthesized inside the ADA-GEL matrix. The hydrogels are assessed regarding their electrical/mechanical properties, 3D-printability, and cytocompatibility. It is possible to prepare open-porous scaffolds via bioplotting which are electrically conductive and have a higher cell seeding efficiency in scaffold depth in comparison to flat 2D hydrogels, which is confirmed via multiphoton fluorescence microscopy. The formation of an interpenetrating polypyrrole matrix in the hydrogel matrix increases the conductivity and stiffness of the hydrogels, maintaining the capacity of the gels to promote cell adhesion and proliferation. The results demonstrate that a 3D-printable ADA-GEL can be rendered conductive (ADA-GEL-PPy:PSS), and that such hydrogel formulations have promise for cell therapies, in vitro cell culture, and electrical-stimulation assisted tissue engineering.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2021-03-19
Keywords: 3D-printing; biomaterials; electrically conductive hydrogels; oxidized alginate; polypyrrole; tissue engineering

Electrically conductive coatings in tissue engineering - Kohestani, Abolfazl Anvari; Xu, Zhiyan; Bastan, Fatih Erdem; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Pishbin, Fatemehsadat (Acta Biomaterialia, 2024)
Recent interest in tissue engineering (TE) has focused on electrically conductive biomaterials. This has been inspired by the characteristics of the cells’ microenvironment where signalling is supported by electrical stimulation. Numerous studies have demonstrated the positive influence of electrical stimulation on cell excitation to proliferate, differentiate, and deposit extracellular matrix. Even without external electrical stimulation, research shows that electrically active scaffolds can improve tissue regeneration capacity. Tissues like bone, muscle, and neural contain electrically excitable cells that respond to electrical cues provided by implanted biomaterials. To introduce an electrical pathway, TE scaffolds can incorporate conductive polymers, metallic nanoparticles, and ceramic nanostructures. However, these materials often do not meet implantation criteria, such as maintaining mechanical durability and degradation characteristics, making them unsuitable as scaffold matrices. Instead, depositing conductive layers on TE scaffolds has shown promise as an efficient alternative to creating electrically conductive structures. A stratified scaffold with an electroactive surface synergistically excites the cells through active top-pathway, with/without electrical stimulation, providing an ideal matrix for cell growth, proliferation, and tissue deposition. Additionally, these conductive coatings can be enriched with bioactive or pharmaceutical components to enhance the scaffold's biomedical performance. This review covers recent developments in electrically active biomedical coatings for TE. The physicochemical and biological properties of conductive coating materials, including polymers (polypyrrole, polyaniline and PEDOT:PSS), metallic nanoparticles (gold, silver) and inorganic (ceramic) particles (carbon nanotubes, graphene-based materials and Mxenes) are examined. Each section explores the conductive coatings’ deposition techniques, deposition parameters, conductivity ranges, deposit morphology, cell responses, and toxicity levels in detail. Furthermore, the applications of these conductive layers, primarily in bone, muscle, and neural TE are considered, and findings from in vitro and in vivo investigations are presented. Statement of significance: Tissue engineering (TE) scaffolds are crucial for human tissue replacement and acceleration of healing. Neural, muscle, bone, and skin tissues have electrically excitable cells, and their regeneration can be enhanced by electrically conductive scaffolds. However, standalone conductive materials often fall short for TE applications. An effective approach involves coating scaffolds with a conductive layer, finely tuning surface properties while leveraging the scaffold's innate biological and physical support. Further enhancement is achieved by modifying the conductive layer with pharmaceutical components. This review explores the under-reviewed topic of conductive coatings in tissue engineering, introducing conductive biomaterial coatings and analyzing their biological interactions. It provides insights into enhancing scaffold functionality for tissue regeneration, bridging a critical gap in current literature.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2024-09-06
Keywords: Cellular response; Conductive coating; Electrical stimulation; Scaffold; Tissue engineering

Electric Field-Assisted Orientation of Short Phosphate Glass Fibers on Stainless Steel for Biomedical Applications. - Chen, Qiang; Jing, Jiajia; Qi, Hongfei; Ahmed, Ifty; Yang, Haiou; Liu, Xianhu; Lu, T. L.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 2018)
Structural and compositional modifications of metallic implant surfaces are being actively investigated to achieve improved bone-to-implant bonding. In this study, a strategy to modify bulk metallic surfaces by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of short phosphate glass fibers (sPGF) is presented. Random and aligned orientation of sPGF embedded in a poly(acrylic acid) matrix is achieved by vertical and horizontal EPD, respectively. The influence of EPD parameters on the degree of alignment is investigated to pave the way for the fabrication of highly aligned sPGF structures in large areas. Importantly, the oriented sPGF structure in the coating, owing to the synergistic effects of bioactive composition and fiber orientation, plays an important role in directional cell migration and enhanced proliferation. Moreover, gene expression of MC3T3-E1 cells cultured with different concentrations of sPGF is thoroughly assessed to elucidate the potential stimulating effect of sPGF on osteogenic differentiation. This study represents an innovative exploitation of EPD to develop textured surfaces by orientation of fibers in the macroscale, which shows great potential for directional functionalization of metallic implants.

Electrochemical behavior of nanostructured TiO2/alginate composite coating on magnesium alloy AZ91D via electrophoretic deposition - Cordero Arias, Luis Eduardo; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Virtanen, Sannakaisa (Surface & Coatings Technology, 2015)

Electrochemical investigations of magnesium in DMEM with biodegradable polycaprolactone coating as corrosion barrier - Degner, Julia; Singer, Ferdinand; Cordero, Luis; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Virtanen, Sannakaisa (Applied Surface Science, 2013)
Magnesium and its alloys are being increasingly investigated as biodegradable metallic implant materials. However, the high corrosion rate and accumulation of hydrogen gas upon degradation prevent the clinical application of many magnesium based materials. Applying polymer or ceramic coatings is a popular approach to improve the corrosion behaviour of magnesium and its alloys. In the current research, a biodegradable polymer film of polycaprolactone (PCL) is prepared in different concentrations by spin coating, in order to influence the corrosion behaviour of 99.9% pure magnesium. The resulting polymer coating was qualified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and tape-test according to ASTM D3359-09 to measure the adhesion strength of the coating on the substrate. Furthermore, coated and uncoated specimens were stored up to 30 days at 37 ÌŠC in DMEM. The corrosion behaviour was investigated by polarization curves. The PCL-films were found to be uniform and without pores, but they show a low adhesion strength on the substrate. Nevertheless, remarkable improvement of the corrosion resistance of magnesium substrate can be obtained by the polymer films, depending on the film thickness and exposition time. In summary, coating magnesium with PCL is a promising method to tailor the degradation behaviour for biomedical applications. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2013.tech.IW.LM.electr_2
Keywords: Biodegradable; Coating; Corrosion; DMEM; FTIR; Magnesium; Polycaprolactone

Electro co-deposition of Ni-A12O3 composite coatings - Corni, Ilaria; Chater, Richard J.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Ryan, Mary P. (Journal of Materials Science, 2012)
Nickel-Al O composite coatings have been successfully deposited galvanostatically on to stainless steel substrates by electro co-deposition from a Watts bath containing between 50 and 150 g/l of sub-micron or nanosized alumina particles applying current density of -10, -20 and -32 mA cm-2. The alumina distribution in the composite films on the two sides of the substrate was remarkably different due to solution hydrodynamics and electric field effects. The effect of current density, particle concentration in the bath and particle size are studied systematically producing a comprehensive set of data for better understanding the effects of these variables on the amount of particles co-deposited. The amount of Al O co-deposited in the films increases with the particle concentration in the bath and strongly depends on the current density and on particle size. The effect of the current density and of the alumina inclusions on the crystallinity of the Ni matrix and on the Ni crystallites grain size has also been studied. The inclusions of nano or sub-micron-Al O particles are found to strongly influence the metallic nickel microstructure. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2012.tech.IW.LM.electr_3

Electroconductive Biohybrid Hydrogel for Enhanced Maturation and Beating Properties of Engineered Cardiac Tissues - Roshanbinfar, Kaveh; Vogt, Lena; Greber, Boris; Diecke, Sebastian; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Scheibel, Thomas; Engel, Felix (Advanced Functional Materials, 2018)
Keywords: electroconductive hydrogels; maturation; tissue engineering; heart; hiPSC

Electrophoretically deposited high molecular weight chitosan/bioactive glass composite coatings on WE43 magnesium alloy - Witecka, Agnieszka; Valet, Svenja; Basista, Michał; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Surface & Coatings Technology, 2021)
Mg-based materials are good candidates for biodegradable bone regeneration implants due to their favorable mechanical properties and an excellent compatibility with human bone. However, too high corrosion/degradation rate in body fluids still limits their applicability. Coatings based on chitosan (CS) and bioactive glass (BG) particles fabricated by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) on Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) pre-treated magnesium alloys have promising potential to suppress the substrate corrosion and additionally to incorporate bioactivity. However, the impact of processing parameters or type of coating components on the long-term substrate corrosion behavior and cell response have not been investigated previously. In this study, two types of composite coatings based on a high molecular weight CS (Mw 340–360 kDa, DDA ≥ 95%) and embedded particles: solid BG (2 μm) and a mixture of BG and mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGN, 100–300 nm with mesopores 2.3–5.6 nm) were fabricated by EPD on DMEM pre-treated WE43 magnesium alloy. It was found that partial replacement of BG particles with MBGN (ratio 3:1) in the composite coating increases the water contact angle, surface roughness and induces a positive cell response. Although the acidic CS-based solutions and applied EPD conditions may decrease the stability of the temporary barrier formed during the DMEM pre-treatment on WE43 substrate therewith slightly increasing its corrosion sensitivity, the composite coating with a mixture of different sizes of particles (BG, MBGN) is a promising candidate for bone regeneration applications.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2021-05-21
Keywords: Bioactive glass; Chitosan; Electrophoretic deposition; Magnesium alloy; Mesoporous nano bioactive glass; WE43

Electrophoretic co-deposition of cellulose nanocrystals-45S5 bioactive glass nanocomposite coatings on stainless steel - Chen, Qiang; Yang, Yuyun; Perez De Larraya, Uxua; Garmendia, Nere; Virtanen, Sannakaisa; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Applied Surface Science, 2016)
An organic-inorganic nanocomposite coating consisting of fibrous cellulose nanocrystals and 45S5 bioactive glass, intended as a bioactive surface for bone implants, was developed by a one-step electrophoretic deposition. The composition, surface roughness and wettability of the deposited coatings, influenced by the concentration of each component in the suspension, were controllable as a result of the simplicity of the coating technique. Bioactive glass particles were individually wrapped with porous cellulose layers, forming a porous coating with uniform thickness. Bioactivity test in simulated body fluid revealed a rapid hydroxyapatite formation on the deposited nanocomposite coating. Furthermore, electrochemical test was carried out to understand the corrosion behavior of the deposited coatings during incubation in simulated body fluid. According to the results of this study, the obtained cellulose-bioactive glass coatings with tunable properties represent a promising approach for biofunctionalization of metallic orthopedic implants.
Keywords: Bioactive glass; Bioactivity; Cellulose nanocrystals; Coating; Electrophoretic deposition

Electrophoretic co-deposition of chitosan and graphene oxide results in antibacterial coatings for medical applications - Metze, Anke-Lisa; Pishbin, Fatemehsadat; Ryan, Mary P.; Seuß, Sigrid; Diba, Mani; Shaffer, Milo S P; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Key Engineering Materials, 2015)
Chitosan - graphene oxide (GO) composite coatings intended for antibacterial applications were obtained by cathodic electrophoretic deposition (EPD) on stainless steel. The coatings were characterized using SEM, FTIR, contact angle and roughness measurements and by antibacterial studies against E.coli. The coating was observed to consist of a polymer matrix with embedded, agglomerated graphene oxide sheets. A decrease in bacteria cell viability of at least 50 % was measured on the chitosan - GO surface in comparison to uncoated stainless steel.
Keywords: Antibacterial; Chitosan; Electrophoretic deposition; Graphene oxide

Electrophoretic co-deposition of diamond/borosilicate glass composite coatings - Boccaccini, Aldo R.; et al. (Surface & Coatings Technology, 2007)
Composite coatings made of diamond powders and borosilicate glass have been deposited on stainless steel substrates by electrophoretic co-deposition. Ethanol and acetone suspensions containing diamond powders of particle size 1-2 μm and borosilicate glass powders of size 0.1-0.5 μm were used. Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) parameters were optimized by a trial-and-error-approach. Microstructures of deposited and sintered coatings were investigated by XRD and SEM analysis. The results show that applied voltages up to 10 V led to thin and incomplete coatings. Voltages higher than 50 V resulted in uneven coatings with uncontrolled thickness and poor uniformity. The best results were achieved using ethanol suspensions. Smooth, uniform and dense coatings with diamond and glass particles distributed uniformly were obtained under applied voltages in the range of 30-50 V and a deposition time of 4 min. The concentration ratio of diamond to borosilicate glass in the composite coatings was in good correlation with the original ratio in suspension, thus control of the coating microstructure and composition is possible. During sintering at 900 °C, the glass particles softened; sintered by viscous flow and spread over the diamond particles surface. Thus a glass layer forms protecting the diamond from oxidization or graphitization and bonding the diamond particles together. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2007.tech.IW.LM.electr
Keywords: Borosilicate glass coatings; Diamond; Electrophoretic deposition

Electrophoretic co-deposition of Fe2O3and Mn1,5Co1,5O4: Processing and oxidation performance of Fe-doped Mn-Co coatings for solid oxide cell interconnects - Zanchi, E.; Talic, B.; Sabato, A. G.; Molin, S.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Smeacetto, F. (Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2019)
Fe-doped Mn 1,5 Co 1,5 O 4 coatings on Crofer22APU were processed by an electrophoretic co-deposition method and the corrosion resistance was tested at 750 °C up to 2000 h. The “in-situ” Fe-doping of the manganese cobalt spinel was achieved by electrophoretic co-deposition of Mn 1,5 Co 1,5 O 4 and Fe 2 O 3 powders followed by a two-step reactive sintering treatment. The effects on the coating properties of two different Fe-doping levels (5 and 10 wt.% respectively) and two different temperatures of the reducing treatment (900 and 1000 °C) are discussed. Samples with Fe-doped coatings demonstrated a lower parabolic oxidation rate and thinner oxide scale in comparison with both the undoped Mn 1,5 Co 1,5 O 4 spinel coating and bare Crofer 22 APU. The best corrosion protection was achieved with the combined effect of Fe-doping and a higher temperature of the reducing step at 1000 °C.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2019-05-28
Keywords: Ceramic coating; Electrophoretic deposition; Solid oxide cell

Electrophoretic Codeposition of La0.6Sr0.4Co0.8Fe0.2O3−δ and Carbon Nanotubes for Developing Composite Cathodes for Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells - Santillan, Maria J.; Caneiro, Alberto; Lovey, Francisco C.; Quaranta, Nancy; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (International Journal of Applied Ceramic Technology, 2010)
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2010.tech.IW.LM.electr_3

Electrophoretic co-deposition of Mn1.5Co1.5O4, Fe2O3 and CuO: Unravelling the effect of simultaneous addition of Cu and Fe on the microstructural, thermo-mechanical and corrosion properties of in-situ modified spinel coatings for solid oxide cell interconnects - Zanchi, E.; Ignaczak, J.; Molin, S.; Cempura, G.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Smeacetto, F. (Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2022)
A systematic microstructural, thermo-mechanical and electrical characterization of simultaneous Fe–Cu doped Mn–Co spinel coatings processed by electrophoretic co-deposition on Crofer 22 APU is here reported and discussed. An innovative approach for the simultaneous electrophoretic deposition of three spinel precursors is designed, conceived and optimised, with the aim of outlining time- and energy-saving spinel modification routes. The effect of different levels of Cu and Fe co-doping is observed on the stability of the modified Mn–Co spinel phase, the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), the corrosion resistance and on the densification behaviour of the obtained coatings. Cu determines an increase of CTE, while Fe has the opposite behavior. The synergic effect of the simultaneous Fe and Cu co-doping results in an improved densification and the stabilization of the MnCo2O4 cubic phase. The most interesting results in terms of corrosion resistance are obtained for the Mn1.28Co1.28Fe0.15Cu0.29O4 spinel.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-02-25
Keywords: EPD; Solid oxide cells; Spinel; area specific resistance; Thermal expansion; Transmission electron microscopy

Electrophoretic Co-deposition of PEEK-Hydroxyapatite Composite Coatings for Biomedical Applications - Bastan, Fatih Erdem; Ur Rehman, Muhammad Atiq; Avcu, Yasemin Yildiran; Avcu, Egemen; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 2018)
PEEK-hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings with feasible microstructure, adhesion strength, and in vitro bioactivity. Nanostructured hydroxyapatite (HA) micro-granules were incorporated with PEEK to form PEEK-hydroxyapatite composite coatings via EPD. After EPD, a heat-treatment at 375 ° C, which was applied for densification of the coatings and for enhancing the adhesion between the coatings and the substrates. It was found that both adhesion strength and in vitro bioactivity of the coatings were dependent on the PEEK and HA contents. Thus, increasing the amount of HA improved the bioactivity while decreasing the adhesion strength of the coatings. Apatite-like layer formation. High-quality content after incubation for three days in simulated body fluid (SBF). Finally, EPD of PEEK-hydroxyapatite composite system.
Keywords: Electrophoretic Deposition; EPD; Co-deposition; Composite Coating; Hydroxyapatite; PEEK

Electrophoretic co-deposition of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) reinforced alginate-Bioglass® composite coating on stainless steel: Mechanical properties and in-vitro bioactivity assessment - Chen, Qiang; Cabanas Polo, Sandra; Goudouri, Ourania Menti; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials Science and Engineering C, 2014)
PVA reinforced alginate-bioactive glass (BG) composite coatings were produced on stainless steel by a single step electrophoretic deposition (EPD) process. The present paper discusses the co-deposition mechanism of the three components and presents a summary of the relevant properties of the composite coatings deposited from suspensions with different PVA concentrations. Homogeneous composite coatings with compact microstructure and increased thickness, i.e. as high as 10 μm, were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The surface roughness of coatings with different PVA contents was slightly increased, while a significant increase of water contact angles due to PVA addition was detected and discussed. Improved adhesion strength of coatings containing different amounts of PVA was quantitatively and qualitatively confirmed by pull-off adhesion and cycled bending tests, respectively. In-vitro bioactivity tests were performed in simulated body fluid (SBF) for 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 7, and 14 days, respectively. The decomposition rate of the coatings was reduced with PVA content, and rapid hydroxyapatite forming ability of the composite coatings in SBF was confirmed by FTIR and XRD analyses. According to the results of this study, composite alginate-Bioglass® bioactive coatings combined with PVA are proposed as promising candidates for dental and orthopedic applications. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.
Keywords: Adhesion strength; Alginate; Bioactive glass; Bioactivity; Electrophoretic deposition; Polyvinyl alcohol

Electrophoretic deposition and characterization of chitosan/45S5 bioactive glass composite coatings on porous titanium for biomedical applications - Borjas, S.; Gil, E. J.; Cordero, L.; Pavón, J. J.; Rodriguez-Ortiz, J. A.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Torres, Y. (Key Engineering Materials, 2015)
Porous titanium samples of cp Ti grade IV were obtained by space-holder technique (50% vol. of NHHCO, 800 MPa, 1250 °C during 2 h in high vacuum), producing a good balance between stiffness and mechanical strength. The samples were coated with chitosan/45S5 bioactive glass composite by electrophoretic deposition. Homogeneity, infiltration efficiency, and coatings integrity (cracking and adhesion) were evaluated in order to establish correlations with processing parameters. SEM, FTIR, and contact profilometry were performed for detailed characterization of the coatings; and micro-mechanical properties (P-h curves and scratch testing) were set-up as well. Optimum EPD parameters were 25 V, 7 min and suspension containing 0.5 g/L chitosan and 1.5 g/L BG a titanium structure with pore sizes greater than 200 μm are required.
Keywords: Biomaterials; Electrophoretic deposition; Osteointegration; Porous titanium; Stress shielding

Electrophoretic deposition and characterization of chitosan/bioactive glass composite coatings on Mg alloy substrates - Heise, Svenja; Höhlinger, Michael; Torres Hernández, Yadir; Pavón Palacio, Juan José; Rodriquez Ortiz, Jose Antonio; Wagener, Victoria; Virtanen, Sannakaisa; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Electrochimica Acta, 2017)
Electrophoretic deposition of chitosan-bioactive glass (45S5 composition) composite coatings on magnesium alloy (WE43) substrates was investigated. Two types of substrates were considered, one was the bare, non-pre-treated substrate, while the other one had been treated in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM). The protective effect of the coatings (of 2 mm in thickness) against corrosion was tested using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and the coatings’ bioactive behaviour was determined in simulated body fluid. A tribo-mechanical characterization of the coatings was performed. Overall, results confirmed the importance of pre-treating the substrate to corrosion protective chitosan- bioactive glass coatings on WE43 alloy
Keywords: Electrophoretic deposition; magnesium alloys; corrosion; chitosan; bioactive glass; coatings

Electrophoretic deposition and characterization of composite chitosan/Eudragit E 100 or poly(4-vinylpyridine)/mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles coatings on pre-treated titanium for implant applications - Pawłowski, Łukasz; Akhtar, Muhammad Asim; Zieliński, Andrzej; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Surface & Coatings Technology, 2024)
Titanium implants are surface-modified to achieve bioactivity and often antibacterial properties. Such surface coatings may increase corrosion degradation and be weakly attached to the substrate. In the present research, biodegradable composite coatings, investigated so far as smart environment-sensitive, slowly releasing silver to the implant neighborhood, were produced as a combination of chitosan (CS) with Eudragit E 100 (EE100) or poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) polymers incorporating mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs). Such coatings were designed to positively affect corrosion resistance, bioactivity in vitro, and the bonding to the surface. The coating was obtained in a single electrophoretic deposition (EPD) process on the surface of chemically etched grade 2 titanium. The deposition was carried out using an ethanol-based suspension for 5 min at 60 V. Suspension stability was assessed through the quantification of zeta potential. The fabricated coatings underwent microstructural analysis, chemical composition profiling, surface roughness measurement, wettability assessment, thickness determination, evaluation of corrosion resistance, and investigation of their adherence to metallic substrates. Additionally, an immersion test extending up to 14 days was employed to assess the coatings' capacity for calcium phosphate formation. The resulting coatings tightly covered the metallic substrate; the CS/EE100/MBGNs coating exhibited superior uniformity, which can be attributed to the increased stability of this suspension, indicated by a higher zeta potential value. The deposited MBGNs showed a diameter of <100 nm. The prepared coatings have contributed to improved corrosion resistance of the system and facilitated the deposition of calcium phosphates. All investigated surfaces showed hydrophilic properties. Substrate-coating adhesion was notably enhanced for the CS/EE100/MBGNs coating. The proposed coatings, after in vitro and in vivo cytotoxicity studies, can successfully be applied on long-term load-bearing titanium bone implants.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2025-02-04
Keywords: Adhesion; Bioactivity; Composite coatings; Electrophoretic deposition; Titanium; Wettability

Electrophoretic deposition and characterization of Eu2O3 nanocrystalCarbon nanotube heterostructures - Mahajan, S. V.; Cho, J.; Shaffer, M. S. P.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Dickerson, J. H. (Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2010)
Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) was employed to assemble a layered architecture of multi-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) mats and europium oxide nanocrystal (NC) films. CNT mats were produced via low field-high current EPD, while NC films were deposited via high field-low current EPD. The two EPD techniques were integrated in an alternating sequence to create CNT mat-NC film-CNT mat heterostructures with sharp interfaces. The EPD techniques produced uniformly porous CNT mats and densely packed NC films. Morphology and surface coverage of the films were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while elemental characterization was performed using energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy measurements were conducted on the NC suspension and the NC films to confirm film formation. Capacitance-voltage (CV) measurements were performed to probe energy-storage capabilities of the layered architecture. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2010.tech.IW.LM.electr_5
Keywords: Eu; Films; Nanocomposites; Nanotubes; Suspensions

Electrophoretic deposition and characterization of functional coatings based on an antibacterial gallium (III)-chitosan complex - Akhtar, Muhammad Asim; Hadzhieva, Zoya; Dlouhý, Ivo; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Coatings, 2020)
Despite their broad biomedical applications in orthopedics and dentistry, metallic implants are still associated with failures due to their lack of surface biofunctionality, leading to prosthesis-related microbial infections. In order to address this issue, the current study focuses on the fabrication and characterization of a novel type of antibacterial coating based on gallium (III)-chitosan (Ga (III)-CS) complex layers deposited on metallic substrates via electrophoretic deposition (EPD). Aiming for the production of homogeneous and monophasic coatings, a two step-procedure was applied: the first step involved the synthesis of the Ga (III)-CS complex, followed by EPD from suitable solutions in an acetic acid-aqueous solvent. The influence of Ga (III) concentration on the stability of the suspensions was evaluated in terms of zeta potential. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopic analyses indicated the chelation of CS with Ga (III) within the coatings, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed that no additional metallic gallium deposited during EPD. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that the wettability, mechanical properties, swelling ability, and enzymatic degradation of the coatings were affected by the quantity of Ga (III) ions. Colony forming unit (CFU) tests showed a strong synergistic effect between CS and Ga (III) in inhibiting Escherichia coli strain growth compared to control CS samples. An in vitro study with MG-63 cells showed that Ga (III)-containing coatings were not toxic after 24 h of incubation.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2020-06-26
Keywords: Antibacterial coatings; Bioactivity; Chitosan; Electrophoretic deposition; Gallium

Electrophoretic Deposition and Characterization of HA/Chitosan Nanocomposite Coatings on Ti6Al7Nb Alloy - Moskalewicz, Tomasz; Kot, Marcin; Seuß, Sigrid; Kedzierska, Aleksandra; Czyrska-Filemonowicz, Aleksandra; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Metals and Materials International, 2015)
Nano-hydroxyapatite/chitosan (nc-HA/chitosan) composite coatings were produced on two phase (alpha+beta) Ti6Al7Nb titanium alloy substrates by electrophoretic deposition (EPD). The microstructure of the coatings was examined by scanning- and transmission electron microscopy methods as well as by X-ray diffi-actometry. The coatings, 770 nm - 800 nm thick, were uniform, without any cracks or presence of large voids and they exhibited good adhesion to the titanium alloy substrate. The microstructure of the coatings consisted of nc-HA needle-like particles homogeneously embedded in a chitosan matrix. The deposited coatings exhibited good adhesion to the substrate. The best adhesion to the titanium alloy was determined for the coating deposited from suspensions containing 4 g/L of HA at 10 V during 240 s. The results confirm EPD as a convenient method to develop uniform and crack-free nanoscale organic-inorganic composite coatings on two phase titanium alloy substrates with potential application in orthopedic and dental implants.
Keywords: biomaterials; coating; surface modification; microstructure; transmission electron microscopy (TEM)

Electrophoretic Deposition and Characterization of Organic (Chitosan Based)/Inorganic Composite Coatings on Metallic Substrate for Biomedical Applications - Raddaha, Namir (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 2016)

Electrophoretic Deposition - Boccaccini, Aldo R.; et al. (John Wiley and Sons, 2012)
Keywords: EDL distortion; thinning process; in EPD particle coagulation; EPD in nanomaterial processing; and ceramic nanoarchitectures; EPD; nonaqueous EPD in ceramic coatings; bioactive coatings

Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of bioactive (nano) structured composite coatings on metallic substrates and their corrosion, degradation, biological and wear resistance - Ur Rehman, Muhammad Atiq (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 2018)

Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of zein/bioactive glass composite coatings doped with F and Cu on titanium for biomedical applications - Hadzhieva, Zoya; Cholewa-Kowalska, Katarzyna; Dlouhy, Ivo; Moskalewicz, Tomasz; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials Letters, 2023)
Coatings based on the natural polymer zein with the addition of SiO2-CaO-P2O5 bioactive glass (BG) particles doped with fluoride (BG-F) or a combination of fluoride and copper (BG-F-Cu) ions were deposited on titanium by electrophoretic deposition (EPD). The addition of BG improved the scratch resistance of the coatings. Additionally, the ion substitution in the BG structure did not affect the bioactivity. All composite coatings showed significantly improved viability of osteoblast-like MG-63 cells and enhanced antibacterial activity against Gram-negative E. coli after 24 h of incubation. Moreover, the presence of BG-F-Cu endowed antibacterial properties against Gram-positive S. aureus. The obtained results prove that the prepared coatings can be beneficial for the functionalization of orthopaedic and dental implants.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2024-12-16
Keywords: Bioactive glass; Electrophoretic deposition; Zein

Electrophoretic deposition: From traditional ceramics to nanotechnology - Corni, Ilaria; Ryan, Mary P.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2008)
Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is attracting increasing interest as a materials processing technique for a wide range of technical applications. This technique enables the production of unique microstructures and nanostructures as well as novel and complex material combinations in a variety of macroscopic shapes, dimensions and arrangements starting from micron-sized or nanosized particles. This review presents a comprehensive summary of relevant recent work on EPD describing the application of the technique in the processing of several traditional and advanced materials (functional and structural ceramic coatings, composite and porous materials, laminated ceramics, functionally graded materials, thin films and nanostructured materials), with the intention to highlight how EPD evolved from being a technique restricted only to traditional ceramics to become an important tool in advanced materials processing and nanotechnology. Moreover the fundamental EPD mechanisms and novel theories proposed to clarify the processes involved are explained. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2008.tech.IW.LM.electr_5
Keywords: Composites; Electrophoretic deposition; Films; Fuel cells; Suspension

Electrophoretic deposition: Fundamentals and applications - Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Dickerson, James H. (Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2013)

Electrophoretic deposition in the production of SiC/SiC composites for fusion reactor applications - Novak, Sasa; Rade, Katja; Konig, Katja; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2008)
This paper presents the results of a study aimed at developing a technique for the infiltration of a SiC-fibre fabric with a low-activation SiC-based matrix material by aid of electrophoretic deposition from aqueous suspensions. To achieve the best possible particle packing in the infiltrated matrix and hence to minimise the shrinkage during drying, the effect of the suspension's composition was analysed. Besides the pH change, different types of surfactants - PEI, CTAB, citric acid and Dolapix - were included in the investigation. As a result, during the deposition onto a metallic electrode, the best deposits were obtained with the addition of CTAB or by increasing the pH, while the infiltration of the SiC-fibre fabric was more effective with negatively charged particles in the suspension. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2008.tech.IW.LM.electr
Keywords: Aqueous suspensions; Electrophoretic deposition; Electrophoretic infiltration; Fusion; SiC/SiC composites; Silicon carbide; Surfactants

Electrophoretic deposition, microstructure and properties of multicomponent sodium alginate-based coatings incorporated with graphite oxide and hydroxyapatite on titanium biomaterial substrates - Moskalewicz, Tomasz; Warcaba, Maciej; Łukaszczyk, Alicja; Kot, Marcin; Kopia, Agnieszka; Hadzhieva, Zoya; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Applied Surface Science, 2022)
Multicomponent sodium alginate-based coatings reinforced with hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles and graphite oxide (GtO) nanosheets consisting of graphene oxide (GO) packages were electrophoretically deposited on CP-Ti and Ti-13Nb-13Zr alloy. The suspension properties, electrophoretic deposition (EPD) mechanisms and kinetics were studied to deposit dense coatings. The coatings consisting of a sodium alginate matrix revealed a homogeneous distribution of HA nanoparticle agglomerates and GtO flakes oriented parallel to the surface of the coating. The coating topography depended significantly on the surface roughness of the substrates. GtO flakes enhanced the adhesion of coatings to the substrates. All multicomponent coatings had a hydrophilic surface, but the hydrophilicity was higher for coatings deposited on the polished alloy substrate than for coatings obtained on the acid etched CP-Ti. The surface free energy of the coated CP-Ti substrates was about 30% higher than the one of uncoated titanium. For the coatings deposited on the alloy the surface free energy was about 65% higher than that of the alloy. The GtO/HA/sodium alginate coatings increased the corrosion resistance of titanium alloy. Considering their microstructure and properties, the newly-developed multicomponent coatings are interesting for further development of biologically enhanced titanium surfaces.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2021-11-12
Keywords: Alginate; Corrosion; Electrodeposition; Graphite oxide; Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles; Multicomponent coatings

Electrophoretic Deposition of alpha-Fe2O3/Chitosan Nanocomposite Coatings for Functional and Biomedical Applications - Cabanas Polo, Sandra; Distaso, Monica; Peukert, Wolfgang; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 2015)
Promising composite coatings based on hematite (alpha-Fe2O3) mesocrystals of size 110 nm and chitosan (CHT) molecules for different biotechnological applications have been successfully obtained by electrophoretic deposition (EPD). Homogeneous and reproducible coatings have been obtained by studying and controlling the chemical interactions between both phases (alpha-Fe2O3 and CHT). A voltage of 25 V and a deposition time of 5 min were chosen as best deposition conditions, which resulted in highly homogeneous coatings with well-distributed alpha-Fe2O3 particles. According to TGA measurements, the content of alpha-Fe2O3 and chitosan in the final composite coating were found to be 74 and 26 wt%, respectively. The presence of both phases in the composite coating was determined by XRD analysis and the coatings microstructure was observed by SEM.
Keywords: Iron Oxide Nanoparticles; Chitosan; Composite Coating; Electrophoretic Deposition

Electrophoretic deposition of anisotropic α-Fe2O3/PVP/chitosan nanocomposites for biomedical applications - Ramos Rivera, Laura; Distaso, Monica; Peukert, Wolfgang; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials Letters, 2017)
Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) has been used to fabricate composite coatings based on anisotropic hematite particles ( extgreeka-Fe2O3) comprising residual poly-N-vinyl-pyrrolidone (PVP) and chitosan (CHT) on stainless steel substrates. The experimental conditions towards homogeneous surface, non-delamination and good distribution of extgreeka-Fe2O3/PVP particles are described. The coatings were characterized by SEM, XRD and TGA. A molecular interaction between PVP adsorbed on the surface of the particles and CHT is identified.
EAM Import::2019-03-14
Keywords: Electrophoretic deposition; Hierarchical structures; Porous layers; PVP/Chitosan interaction

Electrophoretic deposition of antibiotic loaded PHBV microsphere-alginate composite coating with controlled delivery potential - Chen, Qiang; Li, Wei; Goudouri, Ourania Menti; Ding, Yaping; Cabanas Polo, Sandra; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 2015)
Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technique has been developed for the fabrication of antibiotic-loaded PHBV microsphere (MS)-alginate antibacterial coatings. The composite coatings deposited from suspensions with different MS concentrations were produced in order to demonstrate the versatility of the proposed method for achieving functional coatings with tailored drug loading and release profiles. Linearly increased deposit mass with increasing MS concentrations was obtained, and MS were found to be homogeneously stabilized in the alginate matrix. Chemical composition, surface roughness and wettability of the deposited coatings were measured by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, laser profilometer and water contact angle instruments, respectively. The co-deposition mechanism was described by two separate processes according to the results of relevant measurements: (i) the deposition of alginate-adsorbed MS and (ii) the non-adsorbed alginate. Qualitative antibacterial tests indicated that MS containing coatings exhibit excellent inhibition effects against E. coli (gram-negative bacteria) after 1. h of incubation. The proposed coating system combined with the simplicity of the EPD technique can be considered a promising surface modification approach for the controlled in situ delivery of drug or other biomolecules.
Keywords: Alginate; Antibacterial coatings; Drug delivery; Electrophoretic deposition; Microspheres

Electrophoretic deposition of bioactive glass/polymer composite coatings with and without HA nanoparticle inclusions for biomedical applications - Zhitomirsky, D.; Roether, J. A.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Zhitomirsky, I. (Journal of Materials Processing Technology, 2009)
Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) methods have been developed for the fabrication of composite bioactive glass-hydroxyapatite (HA)-chitosan and bioactive glass-HA-alginate composite coatings. Two different strategies have been utilized, which are based on the use of cationic chitosan and anionic alginate biopolymers. The mechanism of cathodic deposition of chitosan is based on the pH increase at the cathode surface, whereas the pH decrease at the anode surface enabled the deposition of alginate coatings. The use of chitosan and alginate enabled the electrosteric stabilization and deposition of bioactive glass and HA particles. Composite coatings were obtained on various conductive substrates and studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The composition of the coatings can be varied by variation of bioactive glass and HA concentrations in the suspensions. The proposed method offers the advantages of room temperature fabrication of bioactive composite coatings that are suitable for biomedical applications. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2009.tech.IW.LM.electr_61
Keywords: Alginate; Bioglass; Chitosan; Coating; Electrophoretic deposition; Hydroxyapatite

Electrophoretic Deposition of Bioadaptive Drug Delivery Coatings on Magnesium Alloy for Bone Repair - Qi, Hongfei; Heise, Svenja; Zhou, Juncen; Schuhladen, Katharina; Yang, Yuyun; Cui, Ning; Dong, Rongxin; Virtanen, Sannakaisa; Chen, Qiang; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Lu, Tingli (ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 2019)
Biodegradable polymer coatings on magnesium alloys are attractive, as they can provide corrosion resistance as well as additional functions for biomedical applications, e.g., drug delivery. A gelatin nanospheres/chitosan (GNs/CTS) composite coating on WE43 substrate was fabricated by electrophoretic deposition with simvastatin (SIM) loaded into the GNs. Apart from a sustained drug release over 28 days, an anticorrosion behavior of the coated WE43 substrates was confirmed by electrochemical tests. Both the degradation and corrosion rates of the coated substrate were significantly minimized in contrast to bare WE43. The cytocompatibility of the coated samples was analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Additionally, the osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3El cells on SIM-containing coatings was assessed by measuring the expression of osteogenic genes and related proteins, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and extracellular matrix mineralization, showing that the SIM-loaded composite coating could upregulate the expression of osteogenic genes and related proteins, promote ALP activity, and enhance extracellular matrix mineralization. In summary, the SIM-loaded GNs/CTS composite coatings were able to enhance the corrosion resistance of the WE43 substrate and promote osteogenic activity, thus demonstrating a promising coating system for modifying the surface of magnesium alloys targeted for orthopedic applications.
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2019-03-20

Electrophoretic deposition of biological macromolecules, drugs, and cells - Seuß, Sigrid; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Biomacromolecules, 2013)
The use of biological entities in biotechnology and the biomedical field is of great interest as the biocompatibility and the functionality of naturally occurring is usually higher compared to other biomaterials, for example, synthetic polymers. Processing of natural biomolecules, including proteins like collagen and also living cells and bacteria, to develop medical devices, bioactive coatings, functionalized implants, tissue scaffolds, or biosensors, is however challenging. Electrophoretic deposition, a technique that takes advantage of the presence of charged particles or molecules in suitable solvents, is a low-temperature process suitable for manipulating a wide range of biomolecules and biological entities preserving their bioactivity, which could be otherwise lost by processing at high temperatures. Another advantage of EPD is the possibility to use aqueous suspensions to process biological entities given that organic solvents also could lead to degradation of biomolecules. This paper gives an overview of the available literature on the application of EPD to process different biomolecules and biological entities, like proteins, bacteria cells, hyaluronic acid, and therapeutic drugs, aiming at using such biomaterials in numerous applications ranging from biosensors to orthopedic implants, tissue scaffolds, and drug delivery devices. © 2013 American Chemical Society.

Electrophoretic deposition of biomaterials - Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Seuß, Sigrid; Ma, R.; Li, Y.; Zhitomirsky, I. (Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 2010)
Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is attracting increasing attention as an effective technique for the processing of biomaterials, specifically bioactive coatings and biomedical nanostructures. The well-known advantages of EPD for the production of a wide range of microstructures and nanostructures as well as unique and complex material combinations are being exploited, starting from well-dispersed suspensions of biomaterials in particulate form (microsized and nanoscale particles, nanotubes, nanoplatelets). EPD of biological entities such as enzymes, bacteria and cells is also being investigated. The review presents a comprehensive summary and discussion of relevant recent work on EPD describing the specific application of the technique in the processing of several biomaterials, focusing on (i) conventional bioactive (inorganic) coatings, e.g. hydroxyapatite or bioactive glass coatings on orthopaedic implants, and (ii) biomedical nanostructures, including biopolymer-ceramic nanocomposites, carbon nanotube coatings, tissue engineering scaffolds, deposition of proteins and other biological entities for sensors and advanced functional coatings. It is the intention to inform the reader on how EPD has become an important tool in advanced biomaterials processing, as a convenient alternative to conventional methods, and to present the potential of the technique to manipulate and control the deposition of a range of nanomaterials of interest in the biomedical and biotechnology fields. © 2010 The Royal Society.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2010.tech.IW.LM.electr_44
Keywords: Bioactive glass; Carbon nanotubes; Electrophoretic deposition; Hydroxyapatite; Scaffolds; Tissue engineering

Electrophoretic deposition of carbon nanotubeceramic nanocomposites - Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Cho, J.; Subhani, T.; Kaya, C.; Kaya, F. (Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2010)
The purpose of this paper is to present an up-to-date comprehensive overview of current research progress in the development of carbon nanotube (CNT)-ceramic nanocomposites by electrophoretic deposition (EPD). Micron-sized and nanoscale ceramic particles have been combined with CNTs, both multiwalled and single-walled, using EPD for a variety of functional, structural and biomedical applications. Systems reviewed include SiO2/CNT, TiO2/CNT, MnO2/CNT, Fe3O4/CNT, hydroxyapatite (HA)/CNT and bioactive glass/CNT. EPD has been shown to be a very convenient method to manipulate and arrange CNTs from well dispersed suspensions onto conductive substrates. CNT-ceramic composite layers of thickness in the range <1-50 μm have been produced. Sequential EPD of layered nanocomposites as well as electrophoretic co-deposition from diphasic suspensions have been investigated. A critical step for the success of EPD is the prior functionalization of CNTs, usually by their treatment in acid solutions, in order to create functional groups on CNT surfaces so that they can be dispersed uniformly in solvents, for example water or organic media. The preparation and characterisation of stable CNT and CNT/ceramic particle suspensions as well as relevant EPD mechanisms are discussed. Key processing stages, including functionalization of CNTs, tailoring zeta potential of CNTs and ceramic particles in suspension as well as specific EPD parameters, such as deposition voltage and time, are discussed in terms of their influence on the quality of the developed CNT/ceramic nanocomposites. The analysis of the literature confirms that EPD is the technique of choice for the development of complex CNT-ceramic nanocomposite layers and coatings of high structural homogeneity and reproducible properties. Potential and realised applications of the resulting CNT-ceramic composite coatings are highlighted, including fuel cell and supercapacitor electrodes, field emission devices, bioelectrodes, photocatalytic films, sensors as well as a wide range of functional, structural and bioactive coatings. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2010.tech.IW.LM.electr_9
Keywords: Electrophoretic deposition; Films; Nanocomposites; Nanotubes; Suspensions

Electrophoretic Deposition of Carbon Nanotubes and Bioactive Glass Particles for Bioactive Composite Coatings - Schausten, M. Charlotte; Meng, Decheng; Telle, Rainer; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Ceramics International, 2010)
The production of bioactive coatings consisting of 45S5 Bioglass® and mutli-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) was investigated. In addition to pure Bioglass® coatings, the co-deposition and sequential deposition of Bioglass® particles (size <5 μm) and CNTs on stainless steel substrates were carried out in order to fabricate bioactive, nanostructured composite layers. The optimal experimental conditions were determined using well-dispersed suspensions by means of a trial-and-error approach by varying the relevant EPD parameters: applied voltage and deposition time. SEM images demonstrated the successful fabrication of Bioglass®/CNT composites by revealing their morphology and topography. The co-deposition of Bioglass® particles and CNTs resulted in homogenous and dense coatings exhibiting the presence of well-dispersed CNTs placed in-between micron-sized Bioglass® particles. This network of high-strength CNTs embedded in the glass layer could act as reinforcing element leading to higher mechanical stability of the coatings. The coatings obtained by sequential deposition offered a two-dimensional nanostructured fibrous mesh of CNTs covering the Bioglass® layer thus providing a controlled (ordered) nano-topographical surface. This surface nanostructure has the potential to promote the attachment and growth of osteoblast cells and to benefit the formation of bone-like nanosized hydroxyapaptite crystals in contact with body fluids. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2010.tech.IW.LM.electr
Keywords: Bioactive glass; Biomaterials; Carbon nanotubes; Electrophoretic deposition

Electrophoretic Deposition of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs)and CNT/Nanoparticle Composites - Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Kaya, Cengiz; Shaffer, Milo (Electrophoretic Deposition of Nanomaterials, 2012)
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2012.tech.IW.LM.electr

Electrophoretic deposition of carbon nanotubes: recent progress and remaining challenges - Ur Rehman, Muhammad Atiq; Chen, Qianq; Braem, Annabel; Shaffer, Milo S.P.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (International Materials Reviews, 2020)
Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is a powerful technique to assemble carbon nanotube (CNT) coatings and composite films with controlled architectures. This comprehensive review of the EPD of CNTs and CNT-containing composites focuses on achievements within the last 15 years and ongoing challenges. Stable CNT suspensions are a pre-requisite for successful EPD and have been prepared by a variety of strategies, discussed here. The resulting film microstructure is determined by the initial feedstock, the suspension, and the EPD approach applied, as well as a variety of EPD processing parameters. Nanocomposites can be prepared via co-deposition, sequential deposition, or post-deposition treatments, to introduce metallic, ceramic or polymeric phases. There are numerous potential applications for both homogeneous and patterned CNT films, including as structural reinforcements for composites, as field emission, energy storage and conversion devices, as well as in biomedical applications. The advantages and disadvantages of EPD processing in these contexts are discussed.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2020-10-23
Keywords: Carbon nanotubes; coatings; electrophoretic deposition; nanocomposites; suspensions

Electrophoretic deposition of cellulose nanocrystals (CNs) and CNs/alginate nanocomposite coatings and free standing membranes - Chen, Qiang; Perez De Larraya, Uxua; Garmendia, Nere; Lasheras-Zubiate, Maria; Cordero Arias, Luis Eduardo; Virtanen, Sannakaisa; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 2014)

Electrophoretic deposition of ceramic materials - Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Ferrari, Begona (Advances in Applied Ceramics, 2014)

Electrophoretic Deposition of Chitosan/45S5 Bioactive Glass Composite Coatings Doped with Zn and Sr - Miola, Marta; Verne, Enrica; Ciraldo, Francesca; Cordero Arias, Luis Eduardo; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2015)

Electrophoretic deposition of chitosan/45S5 Bioglass composite coatings for orthopaedic applications - Pishbin, F.; Simchi, Abdolreza; Ryan, M. P.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Surface & Coatings Technology, 2011)
This article presents experimental results on the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of bioresorbable chitosan/45S5 Bioglass® composite coatings for orthopaedic implants based on the Taguchi design of experiments (DOE) approach. The influence of EPD parameters including Bioglass® concentration, electric voltage and deposition time on deposition yield was studied by an orthogonal Taguchi array of L18 type. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and regression analysis based on the partial least-square method were used to identify the significant factors affecting the deposition yield and its stability during constant-voltage EPD. The coatings were characterised by high resolution scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). It is shown that the co-deposition of polymer/Bioglass® system is very sensitive to the concentration of Bioglass® particles. The addition of Bioglass® to the chitosan suspension alters the deposition rate due to variation of pH, suspension conductivity, and zeta potential. For low Bioglass® concentrations, co-deposition of the chitosan and the bioactive glass particles occurs while at the higher concentrations massive deposition of the bioactive glass particles controls the deposition yield. The optimum condition for a high deposition rate with low standard deviation and homogeneous microstructure is achieved when an almost equal concentrations of chitosan and Bioglass® is utilized. The validity of the approach is shown by confirmation experiments at the predicted optimal condition, and the mechanism of electrophoretic co-deposition of the polymer/glass system is discussed. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2011.tech.IW.LM.eelctr
Keywords: Bioglass; Chitosan; Composite coating; Electrophoretic deposition; Taguchi design

Electrophoretic deposition of chitosan-based composite coatings for biomedical applications: A review - Avcu, Egemen; Bastan, Fatih Erdem; Abdullah, Hasan Zuhudi Bin; Ur Rehman, Muhammad Atiq; Avcu, Yasemin Yildiran; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Progress in Materials Science, 2019)
Chitosan is one of the most widely used natural biopolymers for a great variety of biomedical applications owing to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and antibacterial activity, being generally regarded as a safe material. It can be employed as a dispersant, binder, and surface charge agent for particles in suspension. Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of chitosan, especially in combination with other materials, is receiving increasing attention for biomedical applications. This article presents a comprehensive review of the field of EPD of chitosan-based composite coatings by highlighting their microstructural, mechanical, surface, and biological properties. Since suspension characteristics have significant influences on the deposition mechanisms, kinetics, and on the overall properties of the electrophoretically deposited coatings, suspension parameters such as concentration, viscosity, and zeta potential are discussed, including chitosanbased suspensions with hydroxyapatite, bioactive glass particles, carbonaceous materials and other inorganic and organic materials. The deposition mechanisms proposed for each composite system are highlighted. Moreover, the effects of key EPD process parameters on the micro structural homogeneity, mechanical properties as well as surface and biological characteristics of the coatings are emphasised, and specific approaches for future research are proposed based on the state-of-the-art and considering EPD produced chitosan-based coatings in applications such as tissue engineering and drug delivery systems.
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2019-05-24

Electrophoretic deposition of chitosan/bioactive glass/silica coatings on stainless steel and WE43 Mg alloy substrates - Heise, Svenja; Wirth, Tobias; Höhlinger, Michael; Torres Hernández, Yadir; Rodriquez Ortiz, Jose Antonio; Wagener, Victoria; Virtanen, Sannakaisa; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Surface & Coatings Technology, 2018)
Keywords: Bioactive glass/silica; Chitosan; Magnesium alloy; Stainless steel; Coatings; Electrophoretic deposition

Electrophoretic deposition of chitosan/Bioglass® and chitosan/Bioglass®/TiO2 composite coatings for bioimplants - Clavijo, Silvia; Membrives, Francisco; Quiroga, Gisela; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Santillan, Maria J. (Ceramics International, 2016)
Keywords: Bioglass®; Chitosan; Composite coatings; Electrophoretic deposition; Mechanical properties; Titania

Electrophoretic deposition of chitosan - Boccaccini, Aldo R.; et al. (Materials Letters, 2009)
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2009.tech.IW.LM.electr_3

Electrophoretic Deposition of Chitosan Coatings Modified with Gelatin Nanospheres to Tune the Release of Antibiotics - Song, Jiankang; Chen, Qiang; Zhang, Yang; Diba, Mani; Kolwijck, Eva; Shao, Jinlong; Jansen, John A.; Yang, Fang; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Leeuwenburgh, Sander C. G. (ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 2016)
Keywords: antibiotics; chitosan; controlled release; electrophoretic deposition; gelatin nanospheres; implant-associated infections

Electrophoretic deposition of chitosan/gelatin/bioactive glass composite coatings on 316L stainless steel: A design of experiment study - Ur Rehman, Muhammad Atiq; Munawar, Muhammad; Schubert, Dirk W.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Surface & Coatings Technology, 2019)
Keywords: Bioactive glass; Chitosan; Gelatin; Design of experiment; Electrophoretic deposition

Electrophoretic deposition of chitosan/h-BN and chitosan/h-BN/TiO2 composite coatings on stainless steel (316L) substrates - Raddaha, Namir S.; Cordero Arias, Luis Eduardo; Cabanas Polo, Sandra; Virtanen, Sannakaisa; Roether, Judith; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials, 2014)

Electrophoretic deposition of chondroitin sulfate-chitosan/bioactive glass composite coatings with multilayer design - Cordero Arias, Luis Eduardo; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Surface & Coatings Technology, 2017)
Keywords: Bioactive glass; Chitosan; Chondroitin sulfate; Coating; Electrophoretic deposition (EPD)

Electrophoretic deposition of coatings for local delivery of therapeutic agents - Cheng, Xian; Liu, Yanping; Liu, Ousheng; Lu, Yanqin; Liao, Zhengwei; Hadzhieva, Zoya; Chen, Lili; Leeuwenburgh, Sander G.C.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Yang, Fang (Progress in Materials Science, 2023)
Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is an effective technique to construct coatings onto the surface of medical devices. These coatings can act as reservoirs for local delivery of therapeutic agents, including metal ions and metal-free drugs. This manuscript presents a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals and application of EPD coatings for local delivery of therapeutic agents, with a specific focus on the mechanism and control over loading and release of therapeutic agents. After a brief introduction of the EPD coating process, the matrices that are most commonly deposited using EPD for drug delivery purposes are summarized including the mechanism of their deposition without additives and co-deposition with additives. Subsequently, three strategies towards loading therapeutic agents are discussed, including i) co-deposition of therapeutic agents with coating matrices, ii) pre-loading therapeutic agents into microcarriers, and iii) post-loading therapeutic agents into prepared coatings. Furthermore, factors influencing loading (e.g., EPD processing parameters and additives) are identified. Subsequently, the release mechanisms as well as the influence of both intrinsic (e.g., additives, layered structures, building blocks, and microcarrier properties) and extrinsic processing parameters (e.g., pH, electric, magnetic and photothermal stimuli) used to tune the release kinetics are presented. Additionally, the applications of therapeutic agent loaded EPD coatings are summarized. Finally, the remaining challenges and future perspectives related to the use of EPD coatings for drug delivery purposes are reviewed.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2023-04-07
Keywords: Coatings; Drug loading; Drug release; Electrophoretic deposition; Therapeutic metal ions

Electrophoretic deposition of composite coatings based on alginate matrix/45S5 bioactive glass particles doped with B, Zn or Sr - Miola, Marta; Cordero Arias, Luis Eduardo; Ferlenda, Giulia; Cochis, Andrea; Virtanen, Sannakaisa; Rimondini, Lia; Verné, Enrica; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Surface & Coatings Technology, 2021)
In this research work composite coatings made of alginate and 45S5 bioactive glass particles doped with B, Zn or Sr were synthesized by means of electrophoretic deposition and characterized from morphological, compositional, thermogravimetric, mechanical and electrochemical points of view. The developed coatings were also subjected to in vitro test in SBF solution to evaluate their ability to induce hydroxyapatite precipitation and cytocompatibility evaluation using human primary fibroblasts. The obtained results demonstrated a good homogeneity of the coatings, high adhesion and a protective behavior towards the substrate. The thermogravimetric analysis proved that the glass amount was constant before and after the deposition and all the investigated coatings promoted the deposition of hydroxyapatite but with different kinetics. Since the Zn containing coating showed the best bioactive behavior it was subjected to cytocompatibility test, which demonstrated, after an initial reduction of cell viability, a good cell proliferation and the production of collagen from the ECM. These findings suggest that the obtained coatings are promising materials to coat metallic prosthetic devices.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2021-05-14
Keywords: Alginate; Bioactive glasses; Composite coatings; Electrophoretic deposition

Electrophoretic Deposition of Composite Coatings with Bioactive Character and Drug Delivery Capability - Chen, Qiang (2015)
In spite of notable success of metallic orthopedic prosthesis in clinical, their long-term survivability remains a major challenge due to the lack of osteoconductivity and risks associated with post-surgery infections and surface corrosion. Modification of implant surfaces with bioactive materials and antimicrobial agents is being intensively investigated to prevent these negative effects. In this project, electrophoretic deposition (EPD) as a convenient coating technique has been developed to generate different combinations of biopolymer-bioceramic composite coatings on metallic substrates with the aim of enhancing bioactive characters and minimizing infections. Bioactive ceramics, e.g. 45S5 bioactive glass (BG), hydroxyapatite (HA), and phosphate glass fibers were applied in this study. There are promising bone substitute materials which were investigated to support the bioactive character of the coating for an enhanced bone-to-implant interaction. The polymer components considered in this research project, e.g. alginate, chitosan, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), polyacrylic acid (PAA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), will not only strengthen the bonding of bioceramics coating to the surface of the implant, but also offer the possibility to control the in situ release of dissolution products and can accelerate the attachment of biomolecules and cells by the presence of functional groups. A series of composite coatings with different combination of inorganic fillers and biopolymer matrix were successfully fabricated by EPD from aqueous based suspensions at room temperature. The composite coating systems produced and characterized in this project were alginate-BG, alginate-PVA-BG, CNCs-BG, PAA-phosphate glass fiber, Alginate-PHBV microsphere and HA based multilayers. The co-deposition mechanisms were experimentally investigated and the coating properties were comprehensively assessed by means of relevant material characterizations and cell biology tests. In addition, due to the temperate coating conditions offered by EPD, specific drug molecules (antibiotic, enzyme and growth factor) were able to be incorporated into the coating structure by two methods: (i) direct co-deposition exploiting the interactions between drug molecules with the charged biopolymer molecules, (ii) pre-loading of the drug into a biodegradable polymer microspheres, and co-deposition with the biopolymer matrix material. The coating properties, including degradation, adhesion and drug release profiles, which are key factors for an effective and sustained antibacterial effect, were optimized and validated. A multilayer coating, considered to impart the osteoconductivity and antibacterial properties simultaneously, was successfully fabricated via a combination of EPD and layer by layer deposition. The aim of this project, which focused on exploiting the EPD technique to fabricate biomedical coatings with specific functions, oriented fiber structures and free-standing membranes for emerging biomedical applications, was achieved and a series of new coating systems, well characterized and exhibiting combination of favorable properties, are thus available for further applications and dedicated in vivo evaluations.
Keywords: Elektrophoretisches Beschichten; Bioactivity; Drug delivery

Electrophoretic Deposition of Copper(II)-Chitosan Complexes for Antibacterial Coatings - Akhtar, Muhammad Asim; Ilyas, Kanwal; Dlouhý, Ivo; Siska, Filip; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2020)
Bacterial infection associated with medical implants is a major threat to healthcare. This work reports the fabrication of Copper(II)-Chitosan (Cu(II)-CS) complex coatings deposited by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) as potential antibacterial candidate to combat microorganisms to reduce implant related infections. The successful deposition of Cu(II)-CS complex coatings on stainless steel was confirmed by physicochemical characterizations. Morphological and elemental analyses by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy verified the uniform distribution of copper in the Chitosan (CS) matrix. Moreover, homogeneous coatings without precipitation of metallic copper were confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy and SEM micrographs. Controlled swelling behavior depicted the chelation of copper with polysaccharide chains that is key to the stability of Cu(II)-CS coatings. All investigated systems exhibited stable degradation rate in phosphate buffered saline (PBS)-lysozyme solution within seven days of incubation. The coatings presented higher mechanical properties with the increase in Cu(II) concentration. The crack-free coatings showed mildly hydrophobic behavior. Antibacterial assays were performed using both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Outstanding antibacterial properties of the coatings were confirmed. After 24 h of incubation, cell studies of coatings confirms that up to a certain threshold concentration of Cu(II) were not cytotoxic to human osteoblast-like cells. Overall, our results show that uniform and homogeneous Cu(II)-CS coatings with good antibacterial and enhanced mechanical stability could be successfully deposited by EPD. Such antibiotic-free antibacterial coatings are potential candidates for biomedical implants.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2020-04-28
Keywords: antibacterial; chitosan; coatings; complexes; copper; electrophoretic deposition

Electrophoretic deposition of ferulic acid loaded bioactive glass/chitosan as antibacterial and bioactive composite coatings - Akhtar, Muhammad Asim; Mariotti, Camilla Emma; Conti, Bice; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Surface & Coatings Technology, 2021)
Chitosan is a natural polycationic polymer and due to its biocompatibility as well as bioactivity it is widely used for biomedical applications. Ferulic acid is a promising phenolic phytochemical with a wide range of biological activities such as antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. In this work, chitosan–bioactive glass–ferulic acid (CS-BG-FA) composite coatings were successfully fabricated using alternating current electrophoretic deposition (AC-EPD) technique. The morphology of the coatings was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) which showed a uniform composite layer of 140 μm in thickness. Chemical composition of the coatings was evaluated by using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). UV–Visible spectroscopy analysis confirmed the release of ferulic acid from the coatings. All samples exhibited a contact angle value in the range 41°–50°, which is in a suitable range for cell attachment and spreading. Moreover, the developed coatings formed a hydroxyapatite (HA) surface layer after 3 days of incubation in simulated body fluid (SBF), which was confirmed by SEM, EDX, FTIR, and XRD analyses. In vitro cell culture studies confirmed that the presence of ferulic acid in the coatings increased the viability of MG-63 human osteoblast-like cells. Furthermore, antibacterial tests showed that the presence of ferulic acid resulted in an effective bactericidal activity against gram–positive and gram−negative bacteria.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2020-12-18
Keywords: Antibacterial; Chitosan; Composite coatings; Electrophoretic deposition; Ferulic acid; Osteoblast; Phenolic phytochemical

Electrophoretic deposition of gelatine nanoparticle/chitosan coatings - Heise, Svenja; Forster, Carola; Heer, Svenja; Qi, Hongfei; Zhou, Juncen; Virtanen, Sannakaisa; Lu, Tingli; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Electrochimica Acta, 2019)
In this study, a biomedical coating system consisting of gelatin and chitosan with potential drug-delivery capability has been developed by electrophoretic deposition (EPD). As substrate material, stainless steel was used. To ensure proper coating bonding to the substrate, chitosan was used as a polymer matrix in which gelatin nanospheres were embedded. The amount of ethanol in the EPD suspension was optimized (reduced) in order to allow for the incorporation of ethanol-sensitive growth factors into the coating. Gelatin microspheres were prepared with two different cross-linking degrees (low and high) to tailor their degradation kinetics. The suspension stability was analysed by zeta potential measurements and the coating mechanism was investigated. EPD was confirmed to enable the co-deposition of chitosan and gelatin nanospheres in a single coating step. The achieved layers were analysed regarding their microstructure (light and scanning electron microscopy), wettability, composition and degradation behavior. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2019-05-03

Electrophoretic deposition of gentamicin-loaded bioactive glass/chitosan composite coatings for orthopaedic implants - Pishbin, Fatemehsadat; Mourino, Viviana; Flor, Sabrina; Kreppel, Stefan; Salih, Vehid; Ryan, Mary P.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 2014)
Despite their widespread application, metallic orthopaedic prosthesis failure still occurs because of lack of adequate bone-bonding and the incidence of post-surgery infections. The goal of this research was to develop multifunctional composite chitosan/Bioglass coatings loaded with gentamicin antibiotic as a suitable strategy to improve the surface properties of metallic implants. Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) was applied as a single-step technology to simultaneously deposit the biopolymer, bioactive glass particles, and the antibiotic on stainless steel substrate. The microstructure and composition of the coatings were characterized using SEM/EDX, XRD, FTIR, and TGA/DSC, respectively. The in vitro bioactivity of the coatings was demonstrated by formation of hydroxyapatite after immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) in a short period of 2 days. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) measurements indicated the release of 40% of the loaded gentamicin in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) within the first 5 days. The developed composite coating supported attachment and proliferation of MG-63 cells up to 10 days. Moreover, disc diffusion test showed improved bactericidal effect of gentamicin-loaded composite coatings against S. aureus compared to control non-gentamicin-loaded coatings. © 2014 American Chemical Society.
Keywords: bioactive glass; chitosan; coatings; drug delivery; electrophoretic deposition; gentamicin

Electrophoretic deposition of graphene-based materials and their energy-related applications - Diba, Mani; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (CRC Press, 2016)
Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is an attractive technique for the controlled manipulation and deposition of nanoscale materials. This solution-based technique is cost effective and requires simple equipment, providing several advantages for the processing of nanostructured coatings, including size scalability, dense packing, and site selectivity of the deposition. A precondition for the EPD processing of materials is their ability to form stable suspensions with adequate surface charge of the suspended (nano) particles. For the last few years, EPD has been increasingly considered for the processing of graphene-based materials. While pristine graphene can be modified to form stable suspensions, graphene oxide (GO) can be easily dispersed in stable aqueous suspensions due to the presence of polar functional groups in its structure leading to its high hydrophilicity. Moreover, after EPD, GO can be reduced via different routes to achieve partial restoration of pristine graphene properties. Not only has EPD shown promising results for deposition of graphene family materials, but it can also be utilized to produce graphene-based composite films or coatings at ambient conditions and without using any potentially hazardous chemicals. This chapter provides an overview of the EPD processing of graphene family materials, discussing the fundamentals and challenges involved in this process, describing also the energy-related applications of EPD-prepared graphene/GO films and coatings.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-08-05

Electrophoretic deposition of graphene-related materials: A review of the fundamentals - Diba, Mani; Fam, Derrick W. H.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Shaffer, Milo S. P. (Progress in Materials Science, 2016)
Keywords: Electrophoretic deposition; Graphene; Graphene oxide; Graphene related materials

Electrophoretic deposition of hydroxyapatite and hydroxyapatite–alginate on rapid prototyped 3D Ti6Al4V scaffolds - Kollath, Vinayaraj Ozhukil; Chen, Qiang; Mullens, Steven; Luyten, Jan; Traina, Karl; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Cloots, Rudi (Journal of Materials Science, 2016)
The advantage of using bioceramic particles coated on porous three-dimensional structures is still unexplored in the purpose of improving the osteoinduction of hybrid metallic scaffold implants in vivo. In this study, we evaluate electrophoretic deposition (EPD) to coat porous Ti6Al4V scaffolds with hydroxyapatite (HA). Scaffolds were shaped in different open structures with a horizontal shift in fiber stacking. They were produced using three-dimensional fiber deposition method and were coated by EPD with HA powder (d = 1.7, d = 5.7 and d = 18 µm) suspended in ethanol or butanol at different concentration, DC voltage, and time. A composite HA–alginate was also used to coat the scaffolds. Alginate was used as a binder, and the coating properties (homogeneity, thickness, cracks, continuity, etc.) were compared to coatings obtained from pure HA suspensions. Voltage and time of deposition effects were studied between 10 and 140 V and 10 and 120 s, respectively. Coating thickness and density with respect to the depth of the porous structure were studied by observing cross sections using scanning electron microscopy and image processing analysis. HA–alginate combination resulted in a homogeneous and deeper dense layer of HA. This work also points to the characteristics of HA–alginate composite as a superior alternative to pure HA coating which needs an appropriate thermal treatment for adequate substrate adhesion.

Electrophoretic deposition of La0.6Sr0.4Co0.8Fe0.2O3-delta cathodes on Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95 substrates for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell (IT-SOFC) - Santillan, M. J.; Caneiro, A.; Quaranta, N.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2009)
Porous thick films of La0.6Sr0.4Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ (LSCF) on Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95 (CGO) substrates were prepared by the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) method. Organic suspensions of different compositions containing LSCF ceramic particles were investigated with the aim to determine the optimal composition of the suspension and EPD conditions. Stainless steel substrates were used in order to determine the optimal parameters for the EPD process. The best results were achieved with solutions containing acetylacetone, iodine and starch. The EPD conditions leading to uniform LSCF films were: applied voltage 20 V and deposition time 120 s, with the electrodes separated 1.5 cm. EPD was also demonstrated to be a simple and useful method for making porous LSCF cathodes on CGO substrates. It was shown that the microstructure of the films can be controlled by changing the applied voltage, deposition time and concentration of additives in suspension. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2009.tech.IW.LM.electr_0
Keywords: Electrophoretic deposition; Porous cathodes; Solid oxide fuel cells

Electrophoretic deposition of lawsone loaded bioactive glass (BG)/chitosan composite on polyetheretherketone (PEEK)/BG layers as antibacterial and bioactive coating. - Ur Rehman, Muhammad Atiq; Bastan, Fatih Erdem; Nawaz, Qaisar; Goldmann, Wolfgang; Maqbool, Muhammad; Virtanen, Sannakaisa; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 2018)
In this study, chitosan/bioactive glass (BG)/lawsone coatings were deposited by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) on polyetheretherketone (PEEK)/BG layers (previously deposited by EPD on 316-L stainless steel) to produce bioactive and antibacterial coatings. First, the EPD of chitosan/BG/lawsone was optimized on stainless steel in terms of suspension stability, homogeneity and thickness of coatings. Subsequently, the optimized EPD parameters were used to produce bioresorbable chitosan/bioactive glass (BG)/lawsone coatings on PEEK/BG layers. The produced layered coatings were characterized in terms of composition, microstructure, corrosion resistance, in vitro bioactivity, drug release kinetics and antibacterial activity. Ultraviolet/Visible (UV/VIS) spectroscopic analyses confirmed the release of lawsone from the coatings. Moreover, the deposition of chitosan/BG coatings was confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The coated specimens presented higher corrosion resistance (10 times) in comparison to that of bare 316-L stainless steel and showed convenient wettability for initial protein attachment. The presence of lawsone in the top layer provided antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus carnosus. Moreover, the developed coatings formed apatite-like crystals upon immersion in simulated body fluid, indicating the possibility of achieving close interaction between the coating surface and bone. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 3111-3122, 2018.

Electrophoretic Deposition of Lawsone Loaded Nanoscale Silicate Glass /Chitosan Composite on PEEK/BG Layers - Ur Rehman, Muhammad Atiq; Bastan, Fatih Erdem; Nawaz, Qaisar; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (ECS Transactions, 2018)
Composite layer based on chitosan containing silicate glass nanoparticles (SGN) and deposited by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) process on PEEK / bioactive glass (BG) layers (deposited by electrophoretic deposition on 316L stainless steel). Initially, the EPD process of chitosan / SGN / lawsone coatings was optimized on stainless steel in terms of suspension stability and coating characteristics. Subsequent, the optimized EPD parameters were used to produce chitosan / SGN / lawsone coatings on the PEEK / BG layers. The composite have been characterized in terms of composition, microstructure, and competitiveness  <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline-style: none; font-size: 12.8px; font-family: Arial, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Grande", Tahoma, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: inherit; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(64, 56, 56);">in vitro  bioactivity.The deposition of chitosan / SGN on PEEK / BG was confirmed qualitatively by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The multilayer coatings were relatively homogeneous having a coating thickness of 90-100 μm. Furthermore, multilayer coatings have been found to be useful in the SBF, which anticipates the bone bonding ability of the coatings.

Electrophoretic deposition of Mn1.5Co1.5O4 on metallic interconnect and interaction with glass-ceramic sealant for solid oxide fuel cells application - Smeacetto, Federico; De Miranda, Auristela; Cabanas Polo, Sandra; Molin, Sebastian; Boccaccini, Dino; Salvo, Milena; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Power Sources, 2015)
Cr-containing stainless steels are widely used as metallic interconnects for SOFCs. Volatile Cr-containing species, which originate from the oxide formed on steel, can poison the cathode material and subsequently cause degradation in the SOFC stack. MnCoO spinel is one of the most promising coating materials due to its high electrical conductivity, good CTE match with the stainless steel substrate and an excellent chromium retention capability. In this work MnCoO spinel coatings are deposited on Crofer22APU substrates by cathodic electrophoretic deposition (EPD) followed by sintering at 800-1150 °C in different atmospheres. Dense, continuous and crack free MnCoO coatings (with thickness ranging from 10 to 40 μm) are obtained on Crofer22APU substrates. Moreover, electrical properties of the coated Crofer22APU alloy are tested up to 2500 h and an excellent compatibility is found between MnCoO coated Crofer22APU and a new glass-ceramic sealant, after 500 h of thermal tests in air, thus suggesting that the spinel protection layer can effectively act as a barrier to outward diffusion of Cr.
Keywords: Area specific resistance; Coating; EPD; Glass-based sealant; SOFC

Electrophoretic deposition of nanoscale TiO2: Technology and applications - Cabanas Polo, Sandra; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2016)
The importance of titania (TiO) as the main component of photocatalytic and photovoltaic devices or its employment in sensors, biomedical coatings and as anticorrosion or antioxidation agent, is highlighted by the increasing number of systems in which titania is being widely used. Many of the attractive applications of TiO require the manufacture of thin (and thick) films and layered structures In this regard, electrophoretic deposition (EPD) has gained increasing attention over the last years to process TiO nanoparticles (n-TiO) for production of a variety of TiO layers, films and coatings. This review compiles the different aspects involved in the fabrication of TiO coatings by EPD of n-TiO, first focusing on the general aspects of the deposition process and the parameters involved, and considering further the specific requirements for given applications. The recent advances achieved are discussed and avenues for future research and innovations on the EPD of n-TiO are highlighted.
Keywords: Coatings; Electrophoretic deposition; Nanoparticles; Titania

Electrophoretic deposition of nanostructured TiO2/alginate and TiO2-bioactive glass/alginate composite coatings on stainless steel - Cordero Arias, Luis Eduardo; Cabanas Polo, Sandra; Gilabert, J.; Goudouri, Ourania Menti; Sanchez, E.; Virtanen, Sannakaisa; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Advances in Applied Ceramics, 2014)
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2013.tech.IW.LM.electr_1

Electrophoretic deposition of nanostructured-TiO2/chitosan composite coatings on stainless steel - Cordero Arias, Luis Eduardo; Cabanas Polo, Sandra; Gao, Haoxiang; Gilabert, J.; Sanchez, E.; Roether, Judith; Schubert, Dirk W.; Virtanen, Sannakaisa; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (RSC Advances, 2013)
Novel chitosan composite coatings containing titania nanoparticles (n-TiO2) for biomedical applications were developed by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) from ethanol–water suspensions. The optimal ethanol–water ratio was studied in order to avoid bubble formation during the EPD process and to ensure homogeneous coatings. Different n-TiO2 contents (0.5–10 g L−1) were studied for a fixed chitosan concentration (0.5 g L−1) and the properties of the electrophoretic coatings obtained were characterized. Coating composition was analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TG), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to study both the surface and the cross section morphology of the coatings, and the thicknesses (2–6 μm) of the obtained coatings were correlated with the initial ceramic content. Contact angle measurements, as a preliminary study to predict hypothetic protein attachment on the coatings, were performed for different samples and the influence of a second chitosan layer on top of the coatings was also tested. Finally, the electrochemical behavior of the coatings, evaluated by polarization curves in DMEM at 37 °C, was studied in order to assess the corrosion resistance provided by the n-TiO2/chitosan coating
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2013.tech.IW.LM.electr

Electrophoretic deposition of nanostructured titania-bioactive glass/alginate coatings on stainless steel - Cordero Arias, Luis Eduardo; Cabanas Polo, Sandra; Virtanen, Sannakaisa; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Key Engineering Materials, 2015)

Electrophoretic deposition of organic/inorganic composite coatings containing ZnO nanoparticles exhibiting antibacterial properties - Karbowniczek, Joanna; Cordero Arias, Luis Eduardo; Virtanen, Sannakaisa; Misra, Superb K.; Valsami-Jones, Eugenia; Tuchscherr, Lorena; Rutkowski, Bogdan; Gorecki, Kamil; Bala, Piotr; Czyrska-Filemonowicz, Aleksandra; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials Science and Engineering C, 2017)
Keywords: Antibacterial surfaces; Bioactive glass; Chitosan; Coatings; Electrophoretic deposition; ZnO nanoparticles

Electrophoretic deposition of organic/inorganic composite coatings on metallic substrates for bone replacement applications: mechanisms and development of new bioactive materials based on polysaccharides - Cordero Arias, Luis Eduardo (2015)
Regarding the need to improve the usually encountered osteointegration of metallic implants with the surrounding body tissue in bone replacement applications, bioactive organic/inorganic composite coatings on metallic substrates were developed in this work using electrophoretic deposition (EPD) as coating technology. In the present work three polysaccharides, namely alginate, chondroitin sulfate and chitosan were used as the organic part, acting as the matrix of the coating and enabling the coating attachment to the metallic substrates (stainless steel AISI 316L, titanium alloy TI6Al4V and magnesium alloy AD91D). Different types of ceramic fillers were investigated as the inorganic phase of the coatings. Different bioactive glasses were used to impart osteoconductive and osteoinductive properties to the coating, while nanoparticles of titania and zinc oxide were used to bring antibacterial properties, improve the mechanical stability and control the degradation behavior of the coatings.In this work the possibility to develop stable suitable suspensions to produce coatings by EPD is shown, based in the three selected biopolymers and containing one or more types of ceramic particles in different size ranges from 20 nm to 30 µm. The investigation of different solvents for EPD, namely water and ethanol, was carried out (single or in mixtures of both) to develop stable suspensions to reduce the negative effect of the water hydrolysis in the coating morphology. The suspension stability was studied via ζ–potential measurements finding that the suspension mechanism is controlled by the polymer, which, by esterification effect, suspends the ceramic particles in the liquid media.A variety of more than 20 coatings were studied and developed during this thesis. The major goal was to develop suitable EPD technology to produce coatings with: adequate (i) homogeneity, (ii) attachment to the substrate, (iii) ceramic/polymer ratio, (iv) wettability and morphology, (v) electrochemical behavior, (vi) bioactivity and (vi) degradation behavior. Other properties were also analyzed such as: antibacterial activity and drug delivery function (by incorporation of simvastatin).Alginate based coatings containing nanoparticles of TiO2 or ZnO were developed by anodic EPD. Bioactive glass 45S5® (BG) was successfully incorporated to those coatings with the aim to provide bioactivity to the coating by the formation of hydroxyapatite. However not all the coatings were able to show bioactivity, mainly by an interaction of the anodic alginate with the ions coming from the simulated body fluid (SBF) and the BG particles. It was confirmed that all coatings imparted corrosion protection to the substrate when evaluated via potentiostatic polarization curves by immersion in Dulbecco´s MEM, also to the highly reactive magnesium alloy AZ91D, in the initial immersion stages.For the first time, in this project chondroitin sulfate (CS) was deposited by EPD. Even when the deposition was successful the coating degraded considerably fast when immersed in water based fluids. To tackle the fast degradation and impart bioactivity to CS coatings, a multilayer approach was chosen, where chitosan was used in the production of "sandwich-type" multilayers with the presence of BG in some of the layers. By this method the coating degradation was considerable reduced and the development of a bioactive composite coating was possible.The most successful coatings, in terms of degradation behavior and bioactivity, were the chitosan based coatings. The bioactive glass/chitosan (BG/Ch) system was studied in a comparative study using three different bioactive glasses. In this study all the coatings exhibited bioactivity, independently of the bioactive glass composition. The best coating in terms of homogeneity, degradability and bioactivity was produced using Bioglass 45S5®. For the system Bioglass/Chitosan considerable improvements were done compared with previous reported works, obtaining more stable suspensions and better coating homogeneity. To tailor the coating degradability and improve adhesion to the substrate, titania was added to the BG/Ch coating. In addition, simvastatin, a drug currently proposed to promote bone formation, was added to the system confirming the drug delivery potential of the coatings. Cell test studies with MG-63 human osteosarcoma cells were done on selected coatings to evaluate cell vitality and the effect of the simvastatin on cell behavior.In this work EPD has shown to be a highly versatile, low-cost and convenient method to produce organic/inorganic coatings on metallic substrates based on the chosen materials. Different approaches were studied: from single to multilayers, from coatings on flat surfaces to complex 3D structures, as well as the drug delivery potential. Coatings with tailored composition and thickness were successfully produced exhibiting the versatility of EPD as coating production technique.
Keywords: Bioglass; Electrophoretic Deposition; Chitosan; Alginate; Chondroitin sulfate; coating; Bone; Titania

Electrophoretic deposition of PEEK/45S5 bioactive glass coating on porous titanium substrate: Influence of processing conditions and porosity parameters - Torres, Y.; Romero, C.; Chen, Qiang; Pérez, G.; Rodríguez-Ortiz, J. A.; Pavón, J. J.; Álvarez, L.; Arévalo, C.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Key Engineering Materials, 2016)
Keywords: Bioactive Glasses; Coating; Electrophoretic Deposition; Porous Titanium; Stress Shielding

Electrophoretic deposition of PEEK/bioactive glass composite coatings for orthopedic implants: A design of experiments (DoE) study - Ur Rehman, Muhammad Atiq; Bastan, Fatih Erdem; Haider, Bilal; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials & Design, 2017)
<span style="color: rgb(80, 80, 80); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Arial Unicode MS", sans-serif; font-size: medium;">This paper presents a study on the Design of Experiments (DoE) approach to optimize the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) process parameters for PEEK base coatings. PEEK and bioactive glass (45S5 BG) particles were suspended in ethanol and suspensions were stabilized with the help of citric acid. Electric field related parameters were optimized by using Taguchi DoE; an orthogonal array of L15 type with mixed levels of the control factors. Statistical tools were employed to identify the significant factors affecting deposition rate and to quantify the reproducibility of the constant voltage EPD process. It was demonstrated that both deposition voltage and time significantly influence deposition rate. Moreover, statistical confidence was elucidated by Defect Per Million Opportunities (DPMO) model, as proposed in six sigma tools. A pronounced deposition rate was obtained at 100<span style="color: rgb(80, 80, 80); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Arial Unicode MS", sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: rgb(80, 80, 80); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Arial Unicode MS", sans-serif; font-size: medium;">V/cm in comparison to 110<span style="color: rgb(80, 80, 80); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Arial Unicode MS", sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: rgb(80, 80, 80); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Arial Unicode MS", sans-serif; font-size: medium;">V/cm, although the adhesion strength and microstructural homogeneity were lower for 100<span style="color: rgb(80, 80, 80); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Arial Unicode MS", sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: rgb(80, 80, 80); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Arial Unicode MS", sans-serif; font-size: medium;">V/cm. The optimal suspension composition and EPD conditions predicted by DoE were further verified by experiments and qualitative agreement was found between the predicted and experimental data. The experimental results and statistical analyses are discussed based on current knowledge of the EPD of ceramic materials and their co-deposition with polymeric particles.
Keywords: Electrophoretic deposition; Design of Experiment; PEEK; Bioactive glass

Electrophoretic deposition of PEEK/bioactive glass composite coatings on stainless steel for orthopedic applications: an optimization for in vitro bioactivity and adhesion strength - Ur Rehman, Muhammad Atiq; Bastan, Fatih Erdem; Nawaz, Aneeqa; Nawaz, Qaisar; Wadood, Abdul (International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 2020)
Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) is an increasingly investigated biocompatible material for orthopedic and spinal implants. The lack in bioactivity of PEEK has to be addressed, either by surface modification or formation of a composite with bioactive materials, such as hydroxyapatite (HA) or bioglass. The addition of bioactive materials improves the bone ingrowth of implants for biomedical application. Accordingly, this study involves electrophoretic deposition (EPD) to obtain PEEK/bioactive glass (BG) coatings on 316 L stainless steel (SS) substrates. In order to prepare the PEEK/BG suspension 2 wt.% PEEK and 6.67 wt.% BG powder were dispersed in ethanol, while citric acid was used as the charging agent. The optimum EPD parameters were applied electric field of 220 V/cm for 2 min. The deposited green coatings presented a homogeneous microstructure and uniform thickness of 100 μm. Subsequently, sintering temperature was optimized in order to obtainappropriate combination of adhesion strength and the in vitro bioactivity. The optimized sintering parameters (400 °C for 30 min) embedded the BG particles in a PEEK matrix, which improved the adhesion strength of coating to the substrate and also formed apatite crystals upon immersion in simulated body fluid. The coatings sintered at 400 °C showed significant improvement in the corrosion resistance of bare stainless steel. Moreover, the cytocompatibility tests showed that the MG-63 cells proliferate and grow on the surface of PEEK/BG coatings. The results demonstrated that EPD is a convenient method to obtain homogeneous, robust, and bioactive PEEK/BG coatings on 316 L SS substrates for biomedical applications.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2020-06-23
Keywords: Bioactive glass; Electrophoretic deposition; In vitro bioactivity; PEEK; Wear resistance

Electrophoretic deposition of PEEK-nano alumina composite coatings on stainless steel - Corni, Ilaria; Neumann, Nico; Novak, Sasa; Koenig, Katja; Veronesi, Paolo; Chen, Qizhi; Ryan, Mary P.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Surface & Coatings Technology, 2009)
Polyetheretherketone (PEEK)-Al2O3 composite coatings have been successfully deposited on 316L stainless steel substrates by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) from ethanolic suspensions containing nanosize alumina and micrometric PEEK particles. Uniform composite coatings containing between 20 and 70 wt.% of PEEK have been obtained. An electrostatic interaction between the two kinds of particles has been confirmed by zeta potential and TEM analysis. The EPD yield increased with deposition time and difference of potential applied following a logarithmic trend. Reproducible PEEK-alumina coatings were deposited. A heat treatment at 343 °C for 30 min with a heating rate 10 °C min- 1 was needed to increase the adhesion substrate-coating. EPD can be considered a convenient low cost method to produce PEEK-Al2O3 composite films on metallic substrates. Scratch test analysis and hardness measurements showed that the deposited coatings were too rich in alumina and that a lower amount of alumina would be enough to satisfactorily increase the mechanical properties. The corrosion resistance of the coatings in chlorine environment was tested. It was shown that PEEK-alumina composite coatings performed better than pure PEEK films and exhibited a significant increase in the pitting potential compared to uncoated stainless steel substrate. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2009.tech.IW.LM.electr_7
Keywords: B Scratch test; B Transmission electron microscopy (TEM); B Vickers hardness test; C Sintering; D Aluminium oxide; X electrophoretic deposition

Electrophoretic Deposition of PEEK-TiO2 Composite Coatings on Stainless Steel - Seuß, Sigrid; Subhani, Tayyab; Yi Kang, Min; Okudaira, Kenji; Ventura, Isaac E Aguilar; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Key Engineering Materials, 2012)
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2012.tech.IW.LM.electr_2

Electrophoretic deposition of selenium - Aksakal, B.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials Letters, 2012)
Selenium has been suggested for a number of applications in the biomedical field. In this study, electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of Se powder (100-mesh) was investigated to develop coatings with potential applications in orthopedic implants. Se powder was suspended in sulfuric acid and stable suspensions were obtained with addition of ethanol and distilled water. The film growth rate was varied by different deposition times in the range of 5 to 20 min at voltages of 1.5-3 V. The deposits were characterized qualitatively by bending strength tests, SEM observations and EDX analysis. Results of this study demonstrate that Se coatings can be readily obtained by EPD for the surface modification of metallic materials which is of potential interest in orthopedics and bone tissue engineering applications where Se can be useful as an anticancer agent. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2012.tech.IW.LM.electr_1
Keywords: Biomaterials; Coatings; Electrophoretic deposition; Selenium

Electrophoretic deposition of soft coatings for orthopaedic applications - Seuß, Sigrid; Chavez-Valdez, Alejandra; Yoshioka, Tomohiko; Stein, Jannik; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Biomaterials Science: Processing, Properties and Applications II: Ceramic Transactions, 2012)
Electrophoretic deposition is gaining increasing interest in the field of coatings for biomedical implants. Especially soft coatings, which functionalize the surface of metallic substrates, are in the focus of current research activities. A previous comprehensive review has shown the large variety of biopolymers and bioceramics that can be conveniently deposited and codeposited by electrophoretic deposition. This short review summarizes the latest research activities in this field and discusses, as an example, the application of EPD to obtain composite coatings in the system TiO nanoparticles/ polylactic acid. This system combines the good biocompatibility of TiO with the film forming properties of the biodegradable polymer. It was shown that the material combination enhances the flexibility and the adhesion of the coatings to the substrate, leading to soft coatings that should enable better connection between the rigid implant and the surrounding bone tissue.

Electrophoretic deposition of tea tree oil containing chitosan/gelatin/whitlockite composite coatings for biofilm protection and bone tissue regeneration - Batool, Sadaf; Akhtar, Muhammad Asim; Hussain, Zakir; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Ceramics International, 2024)
This work presents a design of experiment (DoE) approach to optimize the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) parameters for chitosan (CS), gelatin (Gel), and whitlockite (WH) composite coatings on titanium substrate. The suspension for EPD was prepared by dissolving CS and Gel in acetic acid and WH nanoparticles (NPs) were dispersed in ethanol. Afterward, both (CS, Gel solution, and WH suspension) were mixed and the suspension stability was evaluated using zeta potential. Deposition parameters like voltage, concentration of WH, and time were optimized using Taguchi L16 orthogonal array with four control factors. The statistical data obtained confirmed that a higher time with average voltage and WH concentration is ideal to achieve deposits with maximum yield and minimum signal-to-noise ratio. Tea tree oil (TTO) in different concentrations was added to these optimized conditions. Different physiochemical characterization like x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), in-vitro degradation, surface adhesion, and wettability tests were done to evaluate the coating stability, adhesion, surface and chemical properties. The obtained data confirmed that coatings were mechanically strong, chemically stable, and possessed good adhesion strength to the substrate. To further confirm the bone tissue regeneration potential of the coatings, in-vitro bioactivity, cell viability, and cell proliferation tests were done. The obtained data confirmed that CS/Gel/WH composite is highly bioactive and promotes osseointegration. TTO at lower concentrations facilitates cell proliferation but it is toxic at higher concentrations. TTO interacted with the coating matrix via non-covalent interactions that resulted in its slow and sustained release over 28 days. TTO showed antibacterial effect when tested with E. coli bacteria. Hence, in this work, experimental, statistical, physiochemical, and biological analyses are discussed in detail based on the current knowledge of WH coatings and the effect of TTO on cytocompatibility as well as biofilm prevention.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2024-04-12
Keywords: Biofilm protection; Bone tissue regeneration; Calcium magnesium phosphates; Composite coatings; Electrophoretic deposition; Metallic implants

Electrophoretic deposition of tetracycline hydrochloride loaded halloysite nanotubes chitosan/bioactive glass composite coatings for orthopedic implants - Radda'A, Namir S.; Goldmann, Wolfgang H.; Detsch, Rainer; Roether, Judith; Cordero-Arias, Luis; Virtanen, Sannakaisa; Moskalewicz, Tomasz; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Surface & Coatings Technology, 2017)
Keywords: Antibacterial; Bioactive glass; Chitosan; Electrophoretic deposition; Halloysite nanotubes; Stainless steel; Tetracycline hydrochloride

Electrophoretic deposition of zein coatings - Kaya, Seray; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Coatings Technology and Research, 2017)
In this study, crack free, well-adhered and transparent zein coatings were obtained on 316L stainless steel substrates by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) employing varying deposition voltages and times. Obtained films were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy, and it was shown that the obtained coatings exhibit homogeneous and smooth surfaces. The deposition yield was investigated at various EPD conditions; the highest yield was found at 10 V and 10 min deposition time. The deposition mechanism was discussed by considering chemical reactions occurring during EPD. The EPD method developed here is attractive for the surface modification of metal implants by zein layers aiming at functionalizing surfaces for biomedical applications.
Keywords: Zein; Electrophoretic deposition; Coating; Deposition mechanism; Adhesion

Electrophoretic deposition of ZnO/alginate and ZnO-bioactive glass/alginate composite coatings for antimicrobial applications - Cordero Arias, Luis Eduardo; Cabanas Polo, Sandra; Goudouri, Ourania Menti; Misra, S. K.; Gilabert, J.; Valsami-Jones, E.; Sanchez, E.; Virtanen, Sannakaisa; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials Science and Engineering C, 2015)

Electrophoretic processing of chitosan based composite scaffolds with Nb-doped bioactive glass for bone tissue regeneration - Bonetti, Lorenzo; Altomare, Lina; Bono, Nina; Panno, Eliana; Campiglio, Chiara Emma; Draghi, Lorenza; Candiani, Gabriele; Farè, Silvia; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; De Nardo, Luigi (Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 2020)
Bioactive glasses (BGs), due to their ability to influence osteogenic cell functions, have become attractive materials to improve loaded and unloaded bone regeneration. BG systems can be easily doped with several metallic ions (e.g., Ag, Sr, Cu, Nb) in order to confer antibacterial properties. In particular, Nb, when compared with other metal ions, has been reported to be less cytotoxic and possess the ability to enhance mineralization process in human osteoblast populations. In this study, we co-deposited, through one-pot electrophoretic deposition (EPD), chitosan (CS), gelatin (GE) and a modified BG containing Nb to obtain substrates with antibacterial activity for unloaded bone regeneration. Self-standing composite scaffolds, with a defined porosity (15–90 μm) and homogeneous dispersion of BGs were obtained. TGA analysis revealed a BG loading of about 10% in the obtained scaffolds. The apatite formation ability of the scaffolds was evaluated in vitro in simulated body fluid (SBF). SEM observations, XRD and FT-IR spectra showed a slow (21–28 days) yet effective nucleation of CaP species on BGs. In particular, FT-IR peak around 603 cm−1 and XRD peak at 2θ = 32°, denoted the formation of a mineral phase after SBF immersion. In vitro biological investigation revealed that the release of Nb from composite scaffolds had no cytotoxic effects. Interestingly, BG-doped Nb scaffolds displayed antibacterial properties, reducing S. lutea and E. coli growth of ≈60% and ≈50%, respectively. Altogether, the obtained results disclose the produced composite scaffolds as promising materials with inherent antibacterial activity for bone tissue engineering applications. [Figure not available: see fulltext.].
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2020-05-08

Electrospinning of aligned polymeric nanofibers for biomedical applications; Synthesis - Dörgens, Anna; Roether, Judith; Dippold, Dirk; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Schubert, Dirk W. (13th Bayreuth Polymer Symposium, Bayreuth, 2013)

Electrospinning of cotton-like fibers based on cerium-doped sol–gel bioactive glass - Lu, Hsuan-Heng; Zheng, Kai; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Liverani, Liliana (Materials Letters, 2023)
In this study, Ce-doped calcium silicate-based bioactive glass sols were electrospun under well-defined parameters and heat-treated to obtain cotton-like fibrous structures. The 3D structures comprised long and entangled fibers with interconnected pores, and the successful incorporation of Ce was confirmed by EDX analysis. The fibers were highly hydrophilic and demonstrated in vitro bioactivity after immersion in simulated body fluid. The fibers were non-cytotoxic toward keratinocytes and did not inhibit the wound closure process, which was characterized in vitro.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2023-01-13
Keywords: Bioactive glass; Electrospinning; Fibers; Sol-gel; Wound healing

Electrospinning of recombinant human-like collagen-reinforced PCL nanofibrous membranes using benign solvents for periodontal regeneration - Ren, Minyi; Li, Meng; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Xu, Yan; Li, Lu; Zheng, Kai (International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2025)
Periodontal tissue defects are a leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) has emerged as an effective clinical approach for promoting periodontal regeneration. In this study, we employed a green electrospinning technology to combine recombinant human-like collagen (RHC) with polycaprolactone (PCL) to fabricate RHC/PCL membranes for periodontal regeneration. Our results showed that incorporating RHC into PCL up to 40 wt% did not significantly affect the nanofibrous structure of the PCL membranes. When the RHC concentration exceeded 10 wt%, both the tensile strength and modulus of the PCL membranes increased. Additionally, the presence of RHC improved the hydrophilicity of membranes. Biologically, the addition of RHC, regardless of its concentration, significantly enhanced the adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs). These effects were confirmed through various assays, including the CCK-8 assay, live/dead staining, as well as ALP and ARS staining. Further, real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis revealed upregulation of osteogenesis-related genes and proteins. Transcriptome sequencing analysis suggested that the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway might play a critical role in the enhanced osteogenesis induced by RHC. Our results emphasize the potential of RHC/PCL nanofibrous membranes to advance the field of periodontal tissue repair.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2024-12-06
Keywords: Electrospinning; Periodontal regeneration; Recombinant collagen

Electrospun fibers of poly(butylene succinate–co–dilinoleic succinate) and its blend with poly(glycerol sebacate) for soft tissue engineering applications - Liverani, Liliana; Piegat, Agnieszka; Niemczyk, Agata; El Fray, Miroslawa; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (European Polymer Journal, 2016)
Keywords: Electrospinning; Poly(butylene succinate-dilinoleic succinate); Poly(glycerol sebacate); Soft tissue engineering

Electrospun fibers of poly (lactic acid) containing bioactive glass and magnesium oxide nanoparticles for bone tissue regeneration - Canales, Daniel A.; Reyes, Felipe; Saavedra, Marcela; Peponi, Laura; Leonés, Adrián; Palza, Humberto; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Grünewald, Alina; Zapata, Paula A. (International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2022)
Electrospun fibers of poly (lactic acid) (PLA) containing 10 and 20 wt% of bioactive glass (n-BG) and magnesium oxide (n-MgO) nanoparticles of ca. 27 and 23 nm respectively, were prepared toward to application in bone tissue engineering. The addition of both nanoparticles into the PLA will produce a synergic effect increasing its bioactivity and antimicrobial behavior. Neat PLA scaffold and the composites with MgO showed an average fiber diameter of 1.7 ± 0.6 μm, PLA/n-BG and PLA/n-BG/n-MgO fibers presented a significant diameter increase reaching values of ca. 3.1 ± 0.8 μm. Young's modulus of the electrospun scaffolds was affected by the direct presence of the particle and scaffold morphologies. All the composites having n-BG presented bioactivity through the precipitation of hydroxyapatite structures on the surface. Although n-MgO did not add bioactivity to the PLA fibers, they were able to render antimicrobial characteristics reducing the S. aureus viability around 30%, although an effect on E. coli strain was not observed. PLA/n-BG nanocomposites did not display any significant antimicrobial behavior. The different composites increased the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) expression as compared with pure PLA barely affecting the cell viability, meaning a good osteoblastic phenotype expression capacity, with PLA/n-BG presenting the highest osteoblastic expression.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-06-10
Keywords: Bioactive glass; Bone tissue regeneration; Electrospun fibers; Magnesium oxide; Poly (lactic acid)

Electrospun Filaments Embedding Bioactive Glass Particles with Ion Release and Enhanced Mineralization - Serio, Francesca; Miola, Marta; Verne, Enrica; Pisignano, Dario; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Liverani, Liliana (Nanomaterials, 2019)
Efforts in tissue engineering aim at creating scaffolds that mimic the physiological environment with its structural, topographical and mechanical properties for restoring the function of damaged tissue. In this study we introduce composite fibres made by a biodegradable poly(lactic acid) (PLLA) matrix embedding bioactive silica-based glass particles (SBA2). Electrospinning is performed to achieve porous PLLA filaments with uniform dispersion of bioactive glass powder. The obtained composite fibres show in aligned arrays significantly increased elastic modulus compared with that of neat polymer fibres during uniaxial tensile stress. Additionally, the SBA2 bioactivity is preserved upon encapsulation as highlighted by the promoted deposition of hydroxycarbonate apatite (HCA) upon immersion in simulated body fluid solutions. HCA formation is sequential to earlier processes of polymer erosion and ion release leading to acidification of the surrounding solution environment. These findings suggest PLLA-SBA2 fibres as a composite, multifunctional system which might be appealing for both bone and soft tissue engineering applications.
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2019-03-29

Electrospun patterned porous scaffolds for the support of ovarian follicles growth: a feasibility study - Liverani, Liliana; Amir, Fattahi; Raffel, Nathalie; Preis, Alexander; Hoffmann, Inge; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Beckmann, Matthias; Dittrich, Ralf (Scientific Reports, 2019)
Recently, the interest of the scientific community is focused on the application of tissue engineering approach for the fertility restoration. In this paper innovative patterned electrospun fibrous scaffolds were fabricated and used as 3D system for porcine follicles culture. The obtained scaffolds demonstrated to be a suitable support which did not alter or interfere with the typical spherical follicles morphology. The fibrillar structure of the scaffolds mimics the morphology of the healthy native tissue. The use of porcine follicles implied many advantages respect to the use of mouse model. Relevant results showed that more than the scaffold pattern and struts dimension, the selection of proper biomaterials improve the follicles adhesion and development.
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2019-02-21

Electrospun PCL fiber mats incorporating multi-targeted B and Co Co-doped bioactive glass nanoparticles for angiogenesis - Chen, Si; Galusková, Dagmar; Kaňková, Hana; Zheng, Kai; Michálek, Martin; Liverani, Liliana; Galusek, Dušan; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials, 2020)
Vascularization is necessary in tissue engineering to keep adequate blood supply in order to maintain the survival and growth of new tissue. The synergy of biologically active ions with multi-target activity may lead to superior angiogenesis promotion in comparison to single-target approaches but it has been rarely investigated. In this study, polycaprolactone (PCL) fiber mats embedded with B and Co co-doped bioactive glass nanoparticles (BCo. BGNs) were fabricated as a tissue regeneration scaffold designed for promoting angiogenesis. BCo. NBGs were successfully prepared with well-defined spherical shape using a sol-gel method. The PCL fiber mats embedding co-doped bioactive glass nanoparticles were fabricated by electrospinning using benign solvents. The Young's moduli of the nanoparticle containing PCL fiber mats were similar to those of the neat fiber mats and suitable for scaffolds utilized in soft tissue repair approaches. The mats also showed non-cytotoxicity to ST-2 cells. PCL fiber mats containing BCo. BGNs with a relatively high content of B and Co promoted the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor to a greater extent than PCL fiber mats with a relatively low B and Co contents, which demonstrates the potential of dual ion release (B and Co) from bioactive glasses to enhance angiogenesis in soft tissue engineering.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2020-10-02
Keywords: Angiogenesis; Bioactive glasses; Electrospinning; Sol-gel method; Tissue regeneration