Mussel-inspired polydopamine decorated alginate dialdehyde-gelatin 3D printed scaffolds for bone tissue engineering application - Ghorbani, Farnaz; Minjoo, Kim; Monavari, Mahshid; Ghalandari, Behafarid; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2022)
This study utilized extrusion-based 3D printing technology to fabricate calcium-cross-linked alginate dialdehyde-gelatin scaffolds for bone regeneration. The surface of polymeric constructs was modified with mussel-derived polydopamine (PDA) in order to induce biomineralization, increase hydrophilicity, and enhance cell interactions. Microscopic observations revealed that the PDA layer homogeneously coated the surface and did not appear to induce any distinct change in the microstructure of the scaffolds. The PDA-functionalized scaffolds were more mechanically stable (compression strength of 0.69 & PLUSMN; 0.02 MPa) and hydrophilic (contact angle of 26) than non-modified scaffolds. PDA-decorated ADA-GEL scaffolds demonstrated greater durability. As result of the 18-days immersion in simulated body fluid solution, the PDA-coated scaffolds showed satisfactory biomineralization. Based on theoretical energy analysis, it was shown that the scaffolds coated with PDA interact spontaneously with osteocalcin and osteomodulin (binding energy values of -35.95 kJ mol(-1) and -46.39 kJ mol(-1), respectively), resulting in the formation of a protein layer on the surface, suggesting applications in bone repair. PDA-coated ADA-GEL scaffolds are capable of supporting osteosarcoma MG-63 cell adhesion, viability (140.18% after 7 days), and proliferation. In addition to increased alkaline phosphatase secretion, osteoimage intensity also increased, indicating that the scaffolds could potentially induce bone regeneration. As a consequence, the present results confirm that 3D printed PDA-coated scaffolds constitute an intriguing novel approach for bone tissue engineering.
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2022-09-02

Mussel-inspired polydopamine decorated silane modified-electroconductive gelatin-PEDOT:PSS scaffolds for bone regeneration - Adler, Catalina; Monavari, Mahshid; Abraham, Gustavo A.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Ghorbani, Farnaz (RSC Advances, 2023)
This study seeks to simulate both the chemistry and piezoelectricity of bone by synthesizing electroconductive silane-modified gelatin-poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) scaffolds using the freeze drying technique. In order to enhance hydrophilicity, cell interaction, and biomineralization, the scaffolds were functionalized with polydopamine (PDA) inspired by mussels. Physicochemical, electrical, and mechanical analyses were conducted on the scaffolds, as well as in vitro evaluations using the osteosarcoma cell line MG-63. It was found that scaffolds had interconnected porous structures, so the PDA layer formation reduced the size of pores while maintaining scaffold uniformity. PDA functionalization reduced the electrical resistance of the constructs while improving their hydrophilicity, compressive strength, and modulus. As a result of the PDA functionalization and the use of silane coupling agents, higher stability and durability were achieved as well as an improvement in biomineralization capability after being soaked in SBF solution for a month. Additionally, the PDA coating enabled the constructs to enhance viability, adhesion, and proliferation of MG-63 cells, as well as to express alkaline phosphatase and deposit HA, indicating that scaffolds can be used for bone regeneration. Therefore, the PDA-coated scaffolds developed in this study and the non-toxic performance of PEDOT:PSS present a promising approach for further in vitro and in vivo studies.
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2023-06-02

Myocardial tissue engineering: a review - Jawad, H.; Ali, N. N.; Lyon, A. R.; Chen, Q. Z.; Harding, S. E.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 2007)
Myocardial tissue engineering, a concept that intends to overcome the obstacles to prolonging patients' life after myocardial infarction, is continuously improving. It comprises a biomaterial based 'vehicle', either a porous scaffold or dense patch, made of either natural or synthetic polymeric materials, to aid transportation of cells into the diseased region in the heart. Many different cell types have been suggested for cell therapy and myocardial tissue engineering. These include both autologous and embryonic stem cells, both having their advantages and disadvantages. Biomaterials suggested for this specific tissue-engineering application need to be biocompatible with the cardiac cells and have particular mechanical properties matching those of native myocardium, so that the delivered donor cells integrate and remain intact in vivo. Although much research is being carried out, many questions still remain unanswered requiring further research efforts. In this review, we discuss the various approaches reported in the field of myocardial tissue engineering, focusing on the achievements of combining biomaterials and cells by various techniques to repair the infarcted region, also providing an insight on clinical trials and possible cell sources in cell therapy. Alternative suggestions to myocardial tissue engineering, in situ engineering and left ventricular devices are also discussed. © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2007.tech.IW.LM.myocar
Keywords: Biomaterials; Cell therapy; Myocardial infarction; Scaffolds; Tissue engineering

Myocardial tissue engineering - Chen, Q. Z.; Harding, S. E.; Rai, Ranjana; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Elsevier Inc., 2014)
In the pursuit of engineering a functional myocardium, studies integrating highly innovative research in stem cells and biomaterials development have opened new frontiers. Stringent properties like biocompatibility, ability to foster cells, biodegradability and mechanical compliance have been the norm for material selection. Fabrication techniques implemented individually or in conjunction have been used to fabricate scaffolds that best mimic the anisotropic nature of the cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM). Such biomimetic scaffolds provide topographical cues for contact guidance to align cells required to achieve synchronous electrophysiological coupling of the engineered myocardium to the native heart. Various functionalization strategies in tandem with scaffold fabrication designs and bioreactor studies have been undertaken to achieve vascularization in the engineered cardiac construct.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-08-05
Keywords: Biocompatibility; Biomaterials; Myocardial tissue engineering (MTE); Stem cells; Vascularization

Nanocomposite coatings obtained by electrophoretic co-deposition of poly(etheretherketone)/graphene oxide suspensions - González Castillo, Eduin Ivan; Costantini, Tommaso; Shaffer, Milo S. P.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Materials Science, 2020)
Nanocomposite coatings were successfully prepared by electrophoretic deposition of poly(etheretherketone) (PEEK)/graphene oxide (GO) suspensions. The GO flakes developed a large-scale co-continuous morphology with the basal plane mainly aligned with the coating surface. However, the PEEK particles were also found to be wrapped by GO nanosheets when deposited on the stainless steel substrate. Both phenomena, the co-continuous morphology and the wrapping effect, were dependent on the initial GO content in the suspension and influenced the final morphological characteristics of the thermally treated coatings. The PEEK matrix developed a dendritic morphology during its cooling from the molten state because of transcrystallinity that was induced by the incorporation of GO. The preparation of suspensions involved tip ultrasonication (TS) to deagglomerate, disperse, and mill the PEEK particles. A detailed study of the microstructure revealed that TS tended not only to reduce PEEK particle size, but also to promote an elongated shape, favourable for the nanocomposite coatings.
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2020-05-05

Nanocomposite Elastomeric Biomaterials for Myocardial Tissue Engineering Using Embryonic Stem Cell-derived Cardiomyocytes - Jawad, Hedeer; El Fray, Miroslawa; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Harding, Sian E.; Wright, Jamie S.; Chen, Qizhi; Piegat, Agnieszka; Ali, Nadire N. (Advanced Engineering Materials, 2010)
Regeneration or repair of the damaged myocardium requires different strategies including engineered constructs for more efficient cell delivery. This study was undertaken to examine the potential of a new nanostructured elastomer to deliver embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (ESC-CM) to an infarcted area of the myocardium. Engineered materials were biocompatible, mechanically stable, and elastomeric nanocomposites serving as substrates for delivery of ESC-CM and as a left ventricular support device in myocardial regeneration strategies. Materials investigated were soft and strong poly(aliphatic/aromatic-ester) multiblock thermoplastic elastomers with poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) hard segments and dimerized fatty acid, i.e., dilinoleic acid (DLA) soft segments, respectively, with and without addition of 0.2 wt% TiO2 nanoparticles to form nanocomposites. The PET/DLA-TiO2 nanocomposite exhibited over 8 MPa tensile strength and 900% elongation at break. Addition of TiO2 nanoparticles significantly altered surface roughness and enhanced adhesion and spreading of ESC-CM derived from mouse and human embryonic stem cells. The newly developed materials did not affect the functional activity of spontaneously beating hESC-CM, as demonstrated by unaltered rate of their beating, and the cells continued to demonstrate contractile activity on the materials for more than two months in culture (the longest time tested). Quantitative proliferation and survival assays using fibroblasts confirmed the ability of the new materials to support cells as well as or better than the present commercial-type thermoplastic elastomer analog. The results indicate that PET/DLA and PET/DLA-TiO2 are promising candidates for the manufacture of engineered patches to deliver ESC-CMs. © 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2010.tech.IW.LM.nanoco
Keywords: cardiac patch; embryonic stem cells; myocardial tissue engineering; nanocomposite; thermoplastic elastomer

Nanocomposite electrospun fibers of poly(ε-caprolactone)/bioactive glass with shape memory properties - Liverani, Liliana; Liguori, Anna; Zezza, Paola; Gualandi, Chiara; Toselli, Maurizio; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Focarete, Maria Letizia (Bioactive Materials, 2022)
Electrospun fibers of shape memory triethoxysilane-terminated poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL-TES) loaded with bioactive glasses (BG) are here presented. Unloaded PCL-TES, as well as PCL/BG nanocomposite fibers, are also considered for comparison. It is proposed that hydrolysis and condensation reactions take place between triethoxysilane groups of the polymer and the silanol groups at the BG particle surface, thus generating additional crosslinking points with respect to those present in the PCL-TES system. The as-spun PCL-TES/BG fibers display excellent shape memory properties, in terms of shape fixity and shape recovery ratios, without the need of a thermal crosslinking treatment. BG particles confer in vitro bioactivity to PCL-based nanocomposite fibers and favor the precipitation of hydroxycarbonate apatite on the fiber surface. Preliminary cytocompatibility tests demonstrate that the addition of BG particles to PCL-based polymer does not inhibit ST-2 cell viability. This novel approach of using bioactive glasses not only for their biological properties, but also for the enhancement of shape memory properties of PCL-based polymers, widens the versatility and suitability of the obtained composite fibers for a huge portfolio of biomedical applications.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2021-12-17
Keywords: Benign solvents; Bioactive glasses; Bioactivity; Electrospinning; PCL-TES; Shape memory polymers

Nanocomposite scaffolds with tunable mechanical and degradation capabilities: Co-delivery of bioactive agents for bone tissue engineering - Cattalini, Juan P.; Roether, Judith; Hoppe, Alexander; Pishbin, Fatemeh; Haro Durand, Luis; Gorustovich, Alejandro; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Lucangioli, Silvia; Mourino, Viviana (Biomedical Materials, 2016)
Keywords: alendronate delivery; bone tissue engineering; controlled and sustainable release; ions; nanocomposite scaffolds

Nanofiber composites in bone tissue engineering - Liverani, Liliana; Roether, Judith; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Elsevier Inc., 2017)
Keywords: Bioactive glass; Bioactivity; Bone tissue engineering; Electrospinning; Hydroxyapatite; In vivo model; Nanocomposites; Nanofibers

Nanofibrous Composite with Tailorable Electrical and Mechanical Properties for Cardiac Tissue Engineering - Roshanbinfar, Kaveh; Vogt, Lena; Ruther, Florian; Roether, Judith; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Engel, Felix (Advanced Functional Materials, 2019)
Cardiac tissue engineering is a promising strategy to prevent functional deterioration or even to enhance cardiac function upon myocardial infarction. Here, electrospun fiber mats containing different combinations of electrically conductive polyaniline, collagen, and/or hyaluronic acid are assessed regarding material properties and compatibility with cardiomyocyte attachment and function. Microstructure analysis reveals that collagen fiber mats contain a wide range of fiber diameters after crosslinking (from ≈300 nm to ≈5 µm); all other fiber mats contain fibers in the range of ≈120 to ≈300 nm. Fiber mats exhibit comparable electrical conductivity to and greater mechanical properties than the native human myocardium, which is considered beneficial. Cell–matrix interaction analysis utilizing postnatal rat cardiomyocytes reveals that the fiber mats are non-cytotoxic and permit cell attachment and contraction. Fiber mats containing collagen (9.89%), hyaluronic acid (1.1%), and polyaniline (PANi, 1.34%) exhibit the most favorable properties with longer contraction time, higher contractile amplitude, and lower beating rates. Improved contraction is accompanied by increased connexin 43 expression. Importantly, this fiber mat is a suitable material for human-induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes regarding cytotoxicity, cell attachment, and function. Collectively, these data demonstrate that fiber mats made of collagen, hyaluronic acid, and polyaniline are promising materials for cardiac tissue engineering.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2019-12-31
Keywords: collagen; electroconductive; electrospinning; heart; hyaluronic acid; polyaniline; tissue engineering

Nanofibrous membranes as smart wound dressings that release antibiotics when an injury is infected - Rivero, G.; Meuter, M.; Pepe, A.; Guevara, M. G.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Abraham, G. A. (Colloids and Surfaces A-Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 2020)
Simple and coaxial electrospinning were used for the preparation of nanofibers containing antibiotic. The use of a pH-sensitive polymer provided the membranes with a selective releasing capability, as a function of the environmental pH. Considering that pH increases as a consequence of local wound infection, the acidity changes of the wound could act as a trigger for the onset of antibiotic treatment in an autonomous way. In this work, electrospun membranes capable of releasing nitrofurazone when there is a change in the acidity of the environment were designed and prepared. The electrospun nanomaterials were fabricated with polymers with selective solubility at pH values greater than 7 so that the active agent is released only in this condition. The use of these membranes as wound dressings would selectively trigger an antibiotic treatment according to the physiological pH of the wound, i.e. only when there are natural signs of infection. The behavior of the membranes was exhaustively studied in different pH media, as well as the membranes integrity and morphology. The nitrofurazone release profiles were measured in-vitro and the antibiotic capability was tested against bacteria.These pH-sensitive nanofibrous drug delivery carriers are proposed as smart wound dressings with remarkable potential for enlarging the therapeutic benefits during medical treatments, according to the physiological conditions of the damaged skin tissues, especially for burns or chronic wounds.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2019-12-20
Keywords: Electrospinning; Nanofibrous membranes; pH-sensitive; Smart wound dressings

Nanoscale bioactive glass activates osteoclastic differentiation of RAW 264.7 cells - Detsch, Rainer; Rübner, Matthias; Strissel, Pamela; Mohn, Dirk; Strasser, Erwin; Stark, Wendelin J.; Strick, Reiner; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Nanomedicine, 2016)
There is limited knowledge regarding differentiation of osteoclasts in the presence of nanoscale bioactive glass (nBG). This investigation examined increasing concentrations of 45S5 nBG and their influence on osteoclast differentiation.Different concentrations of 45S5 nBG were cultured up to 14 days with the murine RAW264.7 cell line and human primary monocytes cultured with M-CSF and RANKL.Culturing cells for 14 days with 500 ?g/ml nBG showed a viability of 100%; however DNA synthesis was reduced, supporting differentiation into osteoclast-like cells. Using RAW cells, activation of nine genes, including cell fusion genes, occurred in an nBG concentration dependent manner. Low concentrations of nBG increased expression of genes involved in commitment to cell fusion, whereas high concentrations increased gene expression supporting osteoclast-like differentiation.nBG enhances both RAW264.7 and human osteoclast differentiation. nBG controlled gene expression in a concentration dependent manner could reflect normal regulation during bone growth.
EVALuna2:15997

Nanoscale Bioactive Glasses in Medical Applications - Erol-Taygun, Melek; Zheng, Kai; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (International Journal of Applied Glass Science, 2013)
This review focuses on recent advances in the development and use of nanoscale silicate bioactive glasses for medical applications. In the context of materials for bone substitution, dental applications, and bone tissue engineering, nanoscale bioactive glasses have been gaining attention due to their expected superior osteoconductivity when compared with conventional (micrometer-sized) bioactive glass materials. A detailed overview of recent developments in the field of nanoscale bioactive glasses will be given, including a summary of common fabrication methods and diverse application areas which include tissue engineering scaffolds and coatings, drug delivery devices, and dentistry. The nanofeatures characteristic of this type of bioactive glasses and the possibilities to expand their use in biomedical applications (nanomedicine) are highlighted. © 2013 The American Ceramic Society and Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2013.tech.IW.LM.nanosc

Nanoscaled bioactive glass particles and nanofibers - Taygun, M. Erol; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Elsevier Inc., 2017)
Nanoscale bioactive glasses of silicate composition are gaining increasing attention due to their superior bioactivity, enhanced osteoconductivity and antibacterial properties when compared to conventional (micron-sized) bioactive glasses. In this Chapter, we present an overview of the technology, characterization, and applications of nanoparticle and nanofibrous bioactive silicate glasses. Novel fabrication technologies are presented, covering sol-gel routes, microemulsion techniques, gas phase synthesis method (flame spray synthesis), laser spinning and electrospinning, and the synergistic effects that determine the final properties of these materials. The advantages of nanoscaled bioactive glasses compared to conventional bioactive glasses are also discussed based on available literature evidence. The focus of the Chapter is in the diverse application areas of nanoscale bioactive glasses ranging from tissue engineering scaffolds to drug delivery and dentistry, considering also polymer/bioactive glass nanocomposites as promising materials for implants, bone fillers, and bioactive coatings for orthopedic applications. The nanofeatures characteristic of this type of bioactive glasses are discussed and the possibilities to expand the use of these nanomaterials in other nanotechnology approaches aiming at advanced biomedical applications (nanomedicine) are also highlighted.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-08-05
Keywords: Bioactive glass coatings; Bioactive glass nanofibers; Bioactive glass nanoparticles; Nanocomposites; Nanomedicine; Tissue engineering

Nanostructured biocomposites for tissue engineering scaffolds - Gritsch, Lukas; Meng, Decheng; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Biomedical Composites, 2nd Edition, 2017)
An up-to-date discussion of the current state-of-the art in the field of processing 3D scaffolds with engineered nano-scale surface topography. Specific attention is paid to biocomposite structures that embed nano and submicrometric features on micro and macro three dimensionally patterned scaffolds.
Keywords: Scaffolds; Tissue Engineering; Nanocomposites; Surface Topography; Porosity

Nanostructured biomaterials embedding bioactive molecules - Galarraga-Vinueza, M. E.; Magini, R. S.; Henriques, Bruno; Teughels, W.; Fredel, M. C.; Hotza, Dachamir; Souza, Júlio C.M.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Elsevier Inc., 2018)
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-08-05

Nanostructured biomaterials for cranio-maxillofacial and oral applications - Souza, Júlio C.M.; Hotza, Dachamir; Henriques, Bruno; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Elsevier Inc., 2018)
Nanostructured Biomaterials for Cranio-maxillofacial and Oral Applications examines the combined impact of materials science, biomedical and chemical engineering, and biology to provide enhanced biomaterials for applications in maxillo-facial rehabilitation and implantology. With a strong focus on a variety of material classes, it examines material processing and characterization techniques to decrease mechanical and biological failure in the human body. After an introduction to the field, the most commonly used materials for cranio-facial applications, including ceramics, polymers and glass ceramics are presented. The book then looks at nanostructured surfaces, functionally graded biomaterials and the manufacturing of nanostructured materials via 3-D printing. This book is a valuable resource for scientists, researchers and clinicians wishing to broaden their knowledge in this important and developing field.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-08-05

Nanotechnologies in tissue engineering - Bigdeli, Amir K.; Lyer, Stefan; Detsch, Rainer; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Beier, Justus; Kneser, Ulrich; Horch, Raymund E.; Arkudas, Andreas (Nanotechnology Reviews, 2013)
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2013.tech.IW.LM.nanote

Nanotube array-based barium titanate-cobalt ferrite composite film for affordable magnetoelectric multiferroics - Kawamura, Go; Oura, Kentaro; Tan, Wai Kian; Goto, Taichi; Nakamura, Yuichi; Yokoe, Daisaku; Deepak, Francis Leonard; Hajraoui, Khalil El; Wei, Xing; Inoue, Mitsuteru; Muto, Hiroyuki; Yamaguchi, Kazuhiro; et al. (Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 2019)
Magnetoelectric multiferroic nanocomposites are increasingly attracting attention from researchers and engineers due to their transformative technological potential. Many papers have so far reported a fundamental understanding and designs of new multiferroic nanocomposites, and their potential applications. However, many challenges for establishing and expanding their applications remain, for example, the development of an affordable fabrication process for nanocomposites which show room temperature multiferroics with robust coupling between ferroelectricity and magnetism is one of the highest demands. In this work, an affordable liquid phase based method to fabricate a magnetoelectric multiferroic nanocomposite film is reported. Ferroelectric BaTiO3 (BTO) nanotube arrays are fabricated via anodization and hydrothermal treatment, and then spin-coated with ferrimagnetic CoFe2O4 (CFO) to obtain a BTO-CFO nanocomposite film. The film exhibits not only room-temperature multiferroicity but also perpendicular magnetic anisotropy.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2019-08-27

Nature-Derived and Synthetic Additives to poly(ɛ-Caprolactone) Nanofibrous Systems for Biomedicine; an Updated Overview - Homaeigohar, Shahin; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Frontiers in Chemistry, 2022)
As a low cost, biocompatible, and bioresorbable synthetic polymer, poly (ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) is widely used for different biomedical applications including drug delivery, wound dressing, and tissue engineering. An extensive range of in vitro and in vivo tests has proven the favourable applicability of PCL in biomedicine, bringing about the FDA approval for a plethora of PCL made medical or drug delivery systems. This popular polymer, widely researched since the 1970s, can be readily processed through various techniques such as 3D printing and electrospinning to create biomimetic and customized medical products. However, low mechanical strength, insufficient number of cellular recognition sites, poor bioactivity, and hydrophobicity are main shortcomings of PCL limiting its broader use for biomedical applications. To maintain and benefit from the high potential of PCL, yet addressing its physicochemical and biological challenges, blending with nature-derived (bio)polymers and incorporation of nanofillers have been extensively investigated. Here, we discuss novel additives that have been meant for enhancement of PCL nanofiber properties and thus for further extension of the PCL nanofiber application domain. The most recent researches (since 2017) have been covered and an updated overview about hybrid PCL nanofibers is presented with focus on those including nature-derived additives, e.g., polysaccharides and proteins, and synthetic additives, e.g., inorganic and carbon nanomaterials.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-02-11
Keywords: additive; blend; core-shell; nanocomposite; polycaprolactone; tissue engineering; wound dressing

Neocellularization and neovascularization of nanosized bioactive glass-coated decellularized trabecular bone scaffolds - Gerhardt, L. -C.; Widdows, K. L.; Erol, M. M.; Nandakumar, A.; Roqan, I. S.; Ansari, T.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 2013)
In this study, the in vivo recellularization and neovascularization of nanosized bioactive glass (n-BG)-coated decellu-larized trabecular bone scaffolds were studied in a rat model and quantified using stereological analyses. Based on the highest amount of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secreted by human fibroblasts grown on n-BG coatings (0-1.245 mg/cm 2), decellularized trabecular bone samples (porosity: 43-81%) were coated with n-BG particles. Grown on n-BG particles at a coating density of 0.263 mg/cm2, human fibroblasts produced 4.3 times more VEGF than on uncoated controls. After 8 weeks of implantation in Sprague-Dawley rats, both uncoated and n-BG-coated samples were well infiltrated with newly formed tissue (47-48%) and blood vessels (3-4%). No significant differences were found in cellularization and vascularization between uncoated bone scaffolds and n-BG-coated scaffolds. This finding indicates that the decellularized bone itself may exhibit growth-promoting properties induced by the highly interconnected pore microarchitecture and/or proteins left behind on decellularized scaffolds. Even if we did not find proangiogenic effects in n-BG-coated bone scaffolds, a bioactive coating is considered to be beneficial to impart osteoinductive and osteoconductive properties to decellularized bone. n-BG-coated bone grafts have thus high clinical potential for the regeneration of complex tissue defects given their ability for recellularization and neovascularization. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2013.tech.IW.LM.neocel
Keywords: Angiogenesis; Bioactive glass; Coating; Decellularized bone; Scaffold; Stereology; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Vascularization

Neuronal differentiation from induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurospheres by the application of oxidized alginate-gelatin-laminin hydrogels - Distler, Thomas; Lauria, Ines; Detsch, Rainer; Sauter, Clemens M.; Bendt, Farina; Kapr, Julia; Ruetten, Stephan; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Fritsche, Ellen (Biomedicines, 2021)
Biodegradable hydrogels that promote stem cell differentiation into neurons in three di-mensions (3D) are highly desired in biomedical research to study drug neurotoxicity or to yield cell-containing biomaterials for neuronal tissue repair. Here, we demonstrate that oxidized alginate-gelatin-laminin (ADA-GEL-LAM) hydrogels facilitate neuronal differentiation and growth of em-bedded human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) derived neurospheres. ADA-GEL and ADA- GEL-LAM hydrogels exhibiting a stiffness close to 5 kPa at initial cell culture conditions of 37 °C were prepared. Laminin supplemented ADA-GEL promoted an increase in neuronal differentiation in comparison to pristine ADA-GEL, with enhanced neuron migration from the neurospheres to the bulk 3D hydrogel matrix. The presence of laminin in ADA-GEL led to a more than two-fold increase in the number of neurospheres with migrated neurons. Our findings suggest that laminin addition to oxidized alginate—gelatin hydrogel matrices plays a crucial role to tailor oxidized alginate-gela-tin hydrogels suitable for 3D neuronal cell culture applications.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2021-04-02
Keywords: Bioprinting; Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC); Hydrogels; Laminin; Neurospheres; Oxidized alginate; Tissue engineering

New insights into the crystallization process of sol-gel–derived 45S5 bioactive glass - Nawaz, Qaisar; de Pablos-Martín, Araceli; Martins de Souza e Silva, Juliana; Hurle, Katrin; Jaimes, Altair T.Contreras; Brauer, Delia S.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 2020)
In this work the influence of thermal treatment conditions was evaluated in a sol-gel-derived 45S5 bioactive glass using DSC, XRD, TEM, EDX, and X-ray nanocomputed tomography (nano-CT). Temperature and time of the thermal treatment strongly influence the composition of the crystalline phases. At the onset of the glass transition temperature (600°C), combeite crystallizes as the main phase along with a calcium silicate-phosphate phase, which decomposes into rhenanite from 2 hours of thermal treatment at this temperature. At the crystallization temperature (700°C), combeite remains as the main crystalline phase. Additionally, Na2Ca2Si2O7 crystalline phase is formed. Our results provide a basic platform for tailoring the crystalline phases by controlling the nucleation and growth of crystalline phases via thermal treatments. Different morphologies (round particles, stacked layers, toothpick-like, and long features) were discerned by TEM as a function of temperature and time of treatment. It is the first time that bioactive glass is investigated by X-ray nanocomputed tomography (nano-CT) at laboratory scale. This novel technique enables the 3D visualization of features in the nanometer range, giving a suggestion of the distribution in the sample of the parts composing the sample.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2020-05-02
Keywords: bioactive glasses; crystallization behavior; Sol-gel

New N-(2-carboxybenzyl)chitosan composite scaffolds containing nanoTiO2 or bioactive glass with enhanced cell proliferation for bone-tissue engineering applications - Nerantzaki, Maria C; Koliakou, Iro G.; Kaloyianni, Martha G; Terzopoulou, Zoi N; Siska, Evangelia K.; Karakassides, Michalis A.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Bikiaris, Dimitrios (International Journal of Polymeric Materials and Polymeric Biomaterials, 2017)
Keywords: biocompatibility; bioglass 45S5; cells; composites; N-(2-Carboxybenzyl)chitosan; scaffolds; titania nanoparticles

Nitride, Zirconia, Alumina, and Carbide Coatings on Ti6Al4V Femoral Heads: Effect of Deposition Techniques on Mechanical and Tribological Properties - Ege, Duygu; Duru, Ilayda; Kamali, Ali Reza; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Advanced Engineering Materials, 2017)

Non-crystalline composite tissue engineering scaffolds using boron-containing bioactive glass and poly(D,L-lactic acid) coatings - Boccaccini, Aldo R.; et al. (Biomedical Materials, 2009)
The aim of this study was the fabrication of three-dimensional, highly porous, bioactive scaffolds using a recently developed bioactive glass powder, denominated '0106', with nominal composition (in wt%): 50 SiO2, 22.6 CaO, 5.9 Na2O, 4 P2O5, 12 K2O, 5.3 MgO and 0.2 B2O3. The optimum sintering conditions for the fabrication of scaffolds by the foam-replica method were identified (sintering temperature: 670 °C and dwell time: 5 h). Composite samples were also fabricated by applying a biopolymer coating of poly(D,L-lactic acid) (PDLLA) using a dip coating process. The average compressive strength values were 0.4 MPa for uncoated and 0.6 MPa for coated scaffolds. In vitro bioactivity studies in simulated body fluid (SBF) showed that a carbonate hydroxyapatite (HCAp) layer was deposited on uncoated and coated scaffolds after only 4 days of immersion in SBF, demonstrating the high in vitro bioactivity of the scaffolds. It was also confirmed that the scaffold structure remained amorphous (no crystallization) after the specific heat treatment used, with scaffolds exhibiting mechanical properties and bioactivity suitable for use in bone tissue engineering applications. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2009.tech.IW.LM.noncry

Non-immunogenic dextran-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles: a biocompatible, size-tunable contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging - Unterweger, Harald; Janko, Christina; Schwarz, Marc; Dezsi, Laszlo; Urbanics, Rudolf; Matuszak, Jasmin; Orfi, Erik; Fülöp, Tamás; Bäuerle, Tobias; Szebeni, Janos; Journe, Clement; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; et al. (International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2017)

Novel approach for the assessment of ovarian follicles infiltration in polymeric electrospun patterned scaffolds - Raffel, Nathalie; Dittrich, Ralf; Bäuerle, Tobias; Seyler, Lisa; Amir, Fattahi; Hoffmann, Inge; Leal-Egaña, Aldo; Beckmann, Matthias; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Liverani, Liliana (PLoS ONE, 2019)
Reproductive tissue engineering (REPROTEN) has been recently defined as the application of the tissue engineering approach targeting reproductive organs and several research works are focusing on this novel strategy. Being still an innovative field, most of the scaffold characterization techniques suitable for other tissue targets give inappropriate results, and there is the need to evaluate and investigate novel approaches. In particular the focus of this paper is the evaluation of the infiltration of ovarian follicles inside patterned electrospun scaffolds. Beyond the standard techniques, for the first time the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for this purpose is proposed and specific protocols for scaffold preparation are reported. Positive results in terms of evaluation of scaffolds incorporating follicles confirm this technique as highly effective for further applications in this field.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2019-05-17

Novel approach towards aligned PCL-Collagen nanofibrous constructs from a benign solvent system - Dippold, Dirk; Cai, Aijia; Hardt, Moritz; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Horch, Raymund E.; Beier, Justus; Schubert, Dirk W. (Materials Science and Engineering C, 2017)
Keywords: Aligned nanofibers; Benign solvent; Collagen; Electrospinning; Polycaprolactone

Novel bioassay to evaluate biocompatibility of bioactive glass scaffolds for tissue engineering - Boccaccini, Aldo R.; et al. (Advances in Applied Ceramics, 2008)
The aim of the present study was to investigate a novel ex ovo bioassay for the first time using the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) for testing tissue engineering bioceramic scaffolds. Bioglass based scaffolds with porosity in the range of 90-95% were fabricated using the foam replica technique and sintering at 1100°C for 1 h. Scaffolds (5 × 5 × 2 mm3) were placed on the CAM at 10 days of total incubation. The embryos were killed 5 days after implantation. The scaffolds and CAM were explanted, fixed in formalin solution and processed for embedding in methyl methacrylate. Histological analysis using ground sections showed that the scaffolds were surrounded by CAM. There was no occurrence of macrophages or related inflammatory cells. The results described in this paper indicate that the developed bioassay is an appropriate approach as an alternative to conventional animal models to evaluate the biocompatibility of scaffold biomaterials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. © 2008 Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2008.tech.IW.LM.novelb
Keywords: Biocompatibility; Bioglass; Chick embryo; Scaffolds; Tissue engineering

Novel Biodegradable and Biocompatible Poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate)/Bacterial Cellulose Composites - Basnett, Pooja; Knowles, Jonathan C.; Pishbin, Fatemah; Smith, Caroline; Keshavarz, Tajalli; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Roy, Ipsita (Advanced Engineering Materials, 2012)
Novel poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate), P(3HO), and bacterial cellulose composites have been developed. P(3HO) is hydrophobic in nature whereas bacterial cellulose is extremely hydrophilic in nature. Therefore, homogenized bacterial cellulose has been chemically modified in order to achieve compatibility with the P(3HO) matrix. Modified bacterial cellulose microcrystals and P(3HO) have been physically blended and solvent casted into two-dimensional composite films. Mechanical characterization shows that the Young's modulus of the P(3HO)/bacterial cellulose composites is significantly higher in comparison to the neat P(3HO) film. The melting temperature (T m) of the composites is lower while the glass transition temperature (T g) is higher than the neat P(3HO) film. Also, the composite film has a rougher surface topography as compared to the neat P(3HO) film. A month's in vitro degradation study has been carried out in Dulbeccos modified eagle medium and in phosphate buffer saline. The incorporation of modified bacterial cellulose microcrystal in the P(3HO) film has increased the degradability of the composite film. Finally, in vitro biocompatibility studies using human microvascular endothelial cells established the biocompatibility of the P(3HO)/bacterial cellulose microcrystal films. The cell proliferation was 50-110% higher on the P(3HO)/bacterial cellulose composites as compared to the neat P(3HO) film. Hence, in this study, for the first time, P(3HO)/bacterial cellulose composites have been developed. The addition of bacterial cellulose has resulted in properties that are highly desirable for medical applications including the development of biodegradable stents. Novel P(3HO)/bacterial cellulose composites have been developed to be used as a potential material for a range of medical applications including the development of biodegradable stents. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2012.tech.IW.LM.novelb

Novel biomimetic fiber incorporated scaffolds for tissue engineering - Yongcong, Fang; Zhang, Ting; Liverani, Liliana; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Sun, Wei (Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 2019)
From a structural perspective, an ideal scaffold ought to possess interconnected macro pores with sizes from 10 to 100 μm to facilitate cell infiltration and tissue formation, as well as similar topography to the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) which would have an impact on cell behavior such as cell adhesion and gene expression. For that purpose, here we developed a fabrication process to incorporate electrospun short fibers within freeze-dried scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. Briefly, PCL short fibers were first produced from electrospun fibers with ultrasonication method. They were then evenly dispersed in gelatin solution and freeze-dried to obtain fiber incorporated scaffolds. The resulting scaffolds exhibited hierarchical structure including major pores with sizes ranging from 50 to 150 μm and the short fibers dispersed in the thin walls of major pores, mimicking the fibrous feature of natural ECM. The short fibers were proven to modify the mechanical properties of scaffold and to facilitate cell adhesion and proliferation on the scaffold. As a promising scaffold for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, the fiber incorporated scaffold may have further biomedical applications, in which the short fibers can act as drug release vehicles for growth factors or other biomolecules to promote vascularization.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2019-08-27
Keywords: benign solvents; electrospinning; freeze drying; scaffold; tissue engineering

Novel cardiac patch development using natural biopolymers - Dubey, P.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Roy, I. (ACS Symposium Series, 2014)
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a major cause of death worldwide. Biomaterials including synthetic and natural polymers have been fabricated by combining the chemical, biological, mechanical and electrical aspects of material for potential tissue engineering applications. Synthetic and natural polymers help in tailoring the mechanical properties of the scaffold and are advantageous in providing cell adhesion and proliferation by offering cell recognition sites. Cardiac tissue engineering aims for the development of a bioengineered cardiac patch that can provide physical support to the damaged cardiac tissue by replacing certain functions of the damaged extracellular matrix and prevent adverse cardiac remodeling and dysfunction after myocardial infarction. Hence, cardiac patches aim to facilitate the normal functioning of the heart muscle by providing repair and support to the infarcted region of the heart. This Chapter will review application of different biodegradable natural polymeric materials and their composites in the development of cardiac patches for cardiac tissue engineering.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-08-05

Novel Double-Layered Conduit Containing Highly Bioactive Glass Fibers for Potential Nerve Guide Application - Souza, Marina Trevelin; Peitl, Oscar; Zanotto, Edgar Dutra; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (International Journal of Applied Glass Science, 2016)
Keywords: bioactive glass; biocomposite; glass fibers; nerve guide; poly ε-caprolactone

Novel electrospun poly(glycerol sebacate)-zein fiber mats as candidate materials for cardiac tissue engineering - Dippold, Dirk; Tallawi, Marwa; Tansaz, Samira; Roether, Judith; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (European Polymer Journal, 2016)
The application of a cardiac patch made of biodegradable polymer is a novel approach in regenerative therapies for infarcted cardiac tissue and aims to deliver healthy and functional cells on a mechanically supporting matrix to the damaged area of the myocardium. In this study a novel type of tissue engineered cardiac construct based on poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) blended with the corn protein zein was developed. Bead free electrospun PGS-zein fibers were fabricated using acetic acid as a benign solvent. In vitro degradation studies in PBS revealed a physicochemically stable system over a 28 day period showing only a slight drop in pH after 28 days. The results indicate that the novel PGS-zein fibrous structures are attractive biomaterials which can be valuable for cardiac patch applications thus warranting their further investigation in vitro and in vivo.
Keywords: Cardiac tissue engineering; Electrospinning; Poly(glycerol sebacate); Zein

Novel geopolymers incorporating red mud and waste glass cullet - Toniolo, Nicoletta; Rincon, A.; Avadhut, Yamini; Hartmann, Martin; Bernardo, E.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials Letters, 2018)
Red mud presents significant environmental problems, so that its incorporation in geopolymers could represent an alternative solution to produce valuable products from this residue. Novel geopolymers using red mud as source of alumina and waste glass as silica supplier were developed, using sodium hydroxide as the only ` non- waste' material. The formation of a homogeneous polymeric gel, confirmed by solid- state NMR and EDX analysis, promoted the stabilization of possible pollutants. Moreover, the materials exhibit a remarkable compressive strength (up to 45 MPa, for 60 wt% red mud). (C) 2018 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Geopolymers; Red mud; Waste glass; MAS-NMR; Leaching test

Novel geopolymers incorporating red mud and waste glass cullet - Toniolo, Nicoletta; Rincón, A.; Hartmann, M.; Avadhut, Yamini; Bernardo, Enrico; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials Letters, 2018)
Keywords: Geopolymers; Leaching test; MAS-NMR; Red mud; Waste glass

Novel injectable gellan gum hydrogel composites incorporating Zn- and Sr-enriched bioactive glass microparticles: High-resolution X-ray microcomputed tomography, antibacterial and in vitro testing - Douglas, Timothy E. L.; Dziadek, Michal; Gorodzha, Svetlana; Liskova, Jana; Brackman, Gilles; Vanhoorne, Valerie; Vervaet, Chris; Balcaen, Lieve; Garcia, Maria Del Rosario Florez; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Weinhardt, Venera; Baumbach, Tilo; et al. (Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 2018)

Novel ion-doped mesoporous glasses for bone tissue engineering: Study of their structural characteristics influenced by the presence of phosphorous oxide - Philippart, Anahi; Gomez-Cerezo, Natividad; Arcos, Daniel; Salinas, Antonio J.; Boccardi, Elena; Vallet-Regi, Maria; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 2017)
Keywords: Bioactive glasses; Ion-doped glasses; Mesoporosity; NMR; Therapeutic ions

Novel nanocomposite biomaterials with controlled copper/calcium release capability for bone tissue engineering multifunctional scaffolds - Cattalini, J. P.; Hoppe, Alexander; Pishbin, F.; Roether, Judith; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Lucangioli, S.; Mourino, V. (Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 2015)
This work aimed to develop novel composite biomaterials for bone tissue engineering (BTE) made of bioactive glass nanoparticles (Nbg) and alginate cross-linked with Cu2+ or Ca2+ (AlgNbgCu, AlgNbgCa, respectively). Twodimensional scaffolds were prepared and the nanocomposite biomaterials were characterized in terms of morphology, mechanical strength, bioactivity, biodegradability, swelling capacity, release profile of the cross-linking cations and angiogenic properties. It was found that both Cu2+ and Ca2+ are released in a controlled and sustained manner with no burst release observed. Finally, in vitro results indicated that the bioactive ions released from both nanocomposite biomaterials were able to stimulate the differentiation of rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells towards the osteogenic lineage. In addition, the typical endothelial cell property of forming tubes in Matrigel was observed for human umbilical vein endothelial cells when in contact with the novel biomaterials, particularly AlgNbgCu, which indicates their angiogenic properties. Hence, novel nanocomposite biomaterials made of Nbg and alginate cross-linked with Cu2+ or Ca2+ were developed with potential applications for preparation of multifunctional scaffolds for BTE.
Keywords: Alginate; Angiogenesis; Bioactive glass; Bone tissue engineering; Metal ion release; Nanocomposites

Novel PGS/PCL electrospun fiber mats with patterned topographical features for cardiac patch applications - Tallawi, Marwa; Dippold, Dirk; Rai, Ranjana; D'Atri, D.; Roether, Judith; Schubert, Dirk W.; Rosellini, E.; Engel, Felix; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials Science and Engineering C, 2016)
Nano- and micro-scale topographical features play a critical role in the induction and maintenance of various cellular properties and functions, including morphology, adhesion, gene regulation, and cell-to-cell communication. In addition, recent studies have indicated that the structure and function of heart tissue are also sensitive to mechanical cues at the nano- and micro-scale. Although fabrication methods exist for generating topographical features on polymeric scaffolds for cell culture, current techniques, especially those with nano-scale resolution, are typically complex, prohibitively expensive and not accessible to most biology laboratories. Here, we present a simple and tunable fabrication method for the production of patterned electrospun fibers that simulate the complex anisotropic and multi-scale architecture of cardiac tissue, to promote cardiac cell alignment. This method is based on the combination of electrospinning and soft lithography techniques, in which electrospun fibers, based on a blend of poly(glycerol sebacate) and poly(caprolactone), were collected on a patterned Teflon-coated silicon wafer with imprinted topographical features. Different surface topographies were investigated, such as squares and grooves, with constant or different interspatial distances. In vitro cell culture studies successfully demonstrated the alignment of both C2C12 myoblasts and neonatal rat cardiomyocytes on fabricated electrospun patterned surfaces. C2C12 cells were cultured over a period of 72h to study the effect of topographical cues on cell morphology. Cells attached within the first 8h after seeding and after 24h most of the cells started to align responding to the topographical cues. Similarly, cardiomyocytes responded to the topographical features by aligning themselves and by expressing Connexin 43 along cellular junctions. Summarizing, we have developed a new method with the potential to significantly promote cardiac tissue engineering by fabricating electrospun fibers with defined topographical features to guide and instruct donor and/or host cells.
EVALuna:34665

Novel poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) composite films containing bioactive glass nanoparticles for wound healing applications - Francis, Lydia; Meng, Decheng; Locke, Ian C.; Knowles, Jonathan C.; Mordan, Nicola; Salih, Vehid; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Roy, Ipsita (Polymer International, 2016)
Keywords: Bioactive glass; Cell response; n-BG; N-BG/P(3HB) composite films; P(3HB) microspheres; Surface roughness; Wound healing

Novel Poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate)/Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) blends for medical applications - Basnett, P.; Ching, K. Y.; Stolz, M.; Knowles, J. C.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Smith, C.; Locke, I. C.; Keshavarz, T.; Roy, I. (Reactive & Functional Polymers, 2013)
Novel Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)/Poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate) blends were developed with varying amounts of Poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate), P(3HO) and Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), P(3HB) for their potential use in various medical applications. These blend films exhibited higher tensile strength and Young's modulus values compared to neat P(3HO). The overall protein adsorption and % cell viability was also found to be significantly higher in the blend films than the neat P(3HO) film. Hydrolytic degradation was faster in the blend films and the degradation rate could potentially be tailored to achieve the optimum rate required for a particular medical application. Hence, these novel blends were found to be highly biocompatible with surface, mechanical and thermal properties suitable for a range of potential medical applications, a great step forward in the area of medical materials. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2013.tech.IW.LM.novelp
Keywords: Biodegradability; Cytotoxicity; Poly(3- hydroxyoctanoate); Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate); Polyhydroxyalkanoates

Novel poly(butylene succinate) nanocomposites containing strontium hydroxyapatite nanorods with enhanced osteoconductivity for tissue engineering applications - Nerantzaki, M.; Filippousi, M.; Van Tendeloo, G.; Terzopoulou, Z.; Bikiaris, D.; Goudouri, Ourania Menti; Detsch, Rainer; Grüenewald, A.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (eXPRESS Polymer Letters, 2015)
Three series of poly(butylene succinate) (PBSu) nanocomposites containing 0.5, 1 and 2.5 wt% strontium hydroxyapatite [Sr5(PO4)3OH] nanorods (SrHAp nrds) were prepared by in situ polymerisation. The structural effects of Sr5(PO4)3OH nanorods, for the different concentrations, inside the polymeric matrix (PBSu), were studied through high angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM). HAADF-STEM measurements revealed that the SrHAp nanorods at low concentrations are dispersed inside the polymeric PBSu matrix while in 1 wt% some aggregates are formed. These aggregations affect the mechanical properties giving an enhancement for the concentration of 0.5 wt% SrHAp nrds in tensile strength, while a reduction is recorded for higher loadings of the nanofiller. Studies on enzymatic hydrolysis revealed that all nanocomposites present higher hydrolysis rates than neat PBSu, indicating that nanorods accelerate the hydrolysis degradation process. In vitro bioactivity tests prove that SrHAp nrds promote the formation of hydroxyapatite on the PBSu surface. All nanocomposites were tested also in relevant cell culture using osteoblast-like cells (MG-63) to demonstrate their biocompatibility showing SrHAp nanorods support cell attachment.
Keywords: Nanocomposites; Poly(butylene succinate); Scaffolds; Strontium nanorods

Novel poly(hydroxyalkanoates)-based composites containing Bioglass® and calcium sulfate for bone tissue engineering - García-García, Jose; Garrido, Leoncio; Quijada-Garrido, Isabel; Kaschta, Joachim; Schubert, Dirk W.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Biomedical Materials, 2012)
Three different poly(hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs), copolymers of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB), have been used to make composites using two different fillers, bioactive glass (type 45S5 Bioglass®) and calcium sulfate dihydrate. The PHAs used were poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) [PHBHV] and two copolymers of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) [PHBHHx]. The aim of the study was the fabrication and characterization of the new composites and the assessment of the influence of the particular filler combination on the physical properties and bioactivity of the films. The thermal behaviour was studied using differential scanning calorimetry while mechanical properties were evaluated using dynamic mechanic thermal analysis and tensile strength test. The mechanical and thermal properties were affected by particles addition. The distribution of the particles in the polymer matrix, observed by scanning electron microscopy, was directly related to the mechanical properties. The surface characteristics were investigated by contact angle measurements and Raman spectroscopy. The extent of formation of hydroxyapatite (HA) upon immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) depended on the polymer used, the amount of fillers employed and the time of immersion in SBF. Bioactivity was enhanced in the composites with a rise of hydrophilicity. The HA formation was controllable with time in the case of PHBHHx composites.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2012.tech.IW.LM.novelp

Novel poly(hydroxyalkanoates)-based composites containing Bioglass (R) and calcium sulfate for bone tissue engineering - García-García, Jose; Garrido, Leoncio; Quijada-Garrido, Isabel; Kaschta, Joachim; Schubert, Dirk W.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Biomedical Materials, 2012)
Three different poly(hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs), copolymers of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB), have been used to make composites using two different fillers, bioactive glass (type 45S5 Bioglass (R)) and calcium sulfate dihydrate. The PHAs used were poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) [PHBHV] and two copolymers of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) [PHBHHx]. The aim of the study was the fabrication and characterization of the new composites and the assessment of the influence of the particular filler combination on the physical properties and bioactivity of the films. The thermal behaviour was studied using differential scanning calorimetry while mechanical properties were evaluated using dynamic mechanic thermal analysis and tensile strength test. The mechanical and thermal properties were affected by particles addition. The distribution of the particles in the polymer matrix, observed by scanning electron microscopy, was directly related to the mechanical properties. The surface characteristics were investigated by contact angle measurements and Raman spectroscopy. The extent of formation of hydroxyapatite (HA) upon immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) depended on the polymer used, the amount of fillers employed and the time of immersion in SBF. Bioactivity was enhanced in the composites with a rise of hydrophilicity. The HA formation was controllable with time in the case of PHBHHx composites.

Novel porous Al2O3-SiO2-TiO2 bone grafting materials: Formation and characterization - Naga, Salma M.; El-Kady, Abeer M.; El-Maghraby, Hesham F.; Awaad, Mohamed; Detsch, Rainer; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Biomaterials Applications, 2014)
The present article deals with the development of 3D porous scaffolds for bone grafting. They were prepared based on rapid fluid infiltration of Al2O3-SiO2 sol into a polyethylene non-woven fabric template structure. Titanium dioxide in concentration equal to 5 wt% was added to the Al2O3-SiO2 mixture to produce Al2O3-SiO2-TiO2 composite scaffolds. The prepared scaffolds are characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and three-point bending test techniques. The bioactivity of the produced bodies is discussed, including the in vitro and in vivo assessments. The produced scaffolds exhibit mean total porosity of 66.0% and three-point bending strength of 7.1 MPa. In vitro studies showed that MG-63 osteoblast-like cells attach and spread on the scaffolds surfaces. Furthermore, cells grew through the scaffolds and start to produce extra-cellular matrix. Additionally, in vivo studies revealed the ability of the porous scaffolds to regenerate bone tissue in femur defects of albino rats 5 months post surgery. Histological analysis showed that the defect is almost entirely filled with new bone. The formed bone is characterized as a mature bone. The produced bone grafts are intended to be used as bone substitute or bone filler as their degradation products caused no inflammatory effects. © 2013 The Author(s).
Keywords: bioceramics; Bone grafting; in vitro; in vivo; porous materials

Novel sintered glass-ceramics from vitrified oil well drill cuttings - Abbe, O. E.; Grimes, S. M.; Fowler, G. D.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Materials Science, 2009)
An amorphous glass was obtained by melting drill cuttings from oil and gas exploration and production operations in the North Sea that have been blended with sodium and calcium oxides to minimise the melting temperature. Mixtures containing dried drill cuttings:sodium oxide:calcium oxide in the weight ratio 8:1:1 held at 1300 °C for 5 h produce an amorphous solid that can be further treated at temperatures between 750 and 800 °C to give a largely crystalline glass-ceramic. The glass-ceramics have been characterised by physical, chemical and mechanical analyses and shown to have properties of machinability, strength, wear-abrasiveness, thermal resistance, resistance to crack propagation, and stability towards leaching that make the materials suitable for tiling applications, allowing diversion of the drill cutting wastes from final disposal in landfill. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2009.tech.IW.LM.novels

Novel strontium-doped bioactive glass nanoparticles enhance proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow stromal cells - Strobel, Leonie; Hild, N.; Mohn, D.; Stark, W. J.; Hoppe, Alexander; Gbureck, U.; Horch, Raymund E.; Kneser, U.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 2013)
The present study investigates a new family of bioactive glass nanoparticles with and without Sr-doping focusing on the influence of the nanoparticles on human bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSCs) in vitro. The bioactive glass nanoparticles were fabricated by flame spray synthesis and a particle diameter of 30-35 nm was achieved. Glass nanoparticles were undoped (BG 13-93-0Sr) or doped with 5 wt% strontium (Sr) (BG 13-93-5Sr) and used at concentrations of 10 and 100 μg/cm (particles per culture plate area), respectively. Cells were cultured for 14 days after which the samples were analysed regarding metabolic activity and expression of various bone-specific genes. Cell growth and morphology indicated the high cytocompatibility of the nanoparticulate bioactive glass. The presence of the nanoparticles enhanced cell growth compared to the plain polystyrene control group. At a concentration of 100 μg/cm, Sr-doped particles led to significantly enhanced gene expression of osteocalcin, collagen type 1 and vascular endothelial growth factor. Thus, Sr-doped nanoparticles showing a dose-dependent increase of osteogenic differentiation in hBMSCs are a promising biomaterial for bone regeneration purposes. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2013.tech.IW.LM.novels
Keywords: Bioactive glass; Bone tissue engineering; Human bone marrow stromal cells; Nanoparticles; Osteogenic differentiation; Strontium

Numerical simulation of electrospinning process in commercial and in-house software PAK - Sustersic, Tijana; Liverani, Liliana; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Savic, Slobodan; Janicijevic, Aco; Filipovic, Nenad (Materials Express, 2019)
Keywords: electrospinning; two-phase flow; electrospun fibers; numerical simulation

Numerical simulations as means for tailoring electrically conductive hydrogels towards cartilage tissue engineering by electrical stimulation - Zimmermann, Julius; Distler, Thomas; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; van Rienen, Ursula (Molecules, 2020)
Cartilage regeneration is a clinical challenge. In recent years, hydrogels have emerged as implantable scaffolds in cartilage tissue engineering. Similarly, electrical stimulation has been employed to improve matrix synthesis of cartilage cells, and thus to foster engineering and regeneration of cartilage tissue. The combination of hydrogels and electrical stimulation may pave the way for new clinical treatment of cartilage lesions. To find the optimal electric properties of hydrogels, theoretical considerations and corresponding numerical simulations are needed to identify well-suited initial parameters for experimental studies. We present the theoretical analysis of a hydrogel in a frequently used electrical stimulation device for cartilage regeneration and tissue engineering. By means of equivalent circuits, finite element analysis, and uncertainty quantification, we elucidate the influence of the geometric and dielectric properties of cell-seeded hydrogels on the capacitive-coupling electrical field stimulation. Moreover, we discuss the possibility of cellular organisation inside the hydrogel due to forces generated by the external electric field. The introduced methodology is easily reusable by other researchers and allows to directly develop novel electrical stimulation study designs. Thus, this study paves the way for the design of future experimental studies using electrically conductive hydrogels and electrical stimulation for tissue engineering.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2020-11-06
Keywords: Biomaterial scaffolds; Capacitive coupling; Computational modelling; Electrical stimulation; Electrically conductive hydrogels; Finite element analysis; Scaffold; Tissue engineering; Uncertainty quantification

On the reproducibility of extrusion-based bioprinting: round robin study on standardization in the field - Grijalva Garces, David; Strauß, Svenja; Gretzinger, Sarah; Schmieg, Barbara; Jüngst, Tomasz; Groll, Jürgen; Meinel, Lorenz; Schmidt, Isabelle; Hartmann, Hanna; Schenke-Layland, Katja; Brandt, Nico; Selzer, Michael; et al. (Biofabrication, 2023)
The outcome of three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting heavily depends, amongst others, on the interaction between the developed bioink, the printing process, and the printing equipment. However, if this interplay is ensured, bioprinting promises unmatched possibilities in the health care area. To pave the way for comparing newly developed biomaterials, clinical studies, and medical applications (i.e. printed organs, patient-specific tissues), there is a great need for standardization of manufacturing methods in order to enable technology transfers. Despite the importance of such standardization, there is currently a tremendous lack of empirical data that examines the reproducibility and robustness of production in more than one location at a time. In this work, we present data derived from a round robin test for extrusion-based 3D printing performance comprising 12 different academic laboratories throughout Germany and analyze the respective prints using automated image analysis (IA) in three independent academic groups. The fabrication of objects from polymer solutions was standardized as much as currently possible to allow studying the comparability of results from different laboratories. This study has led to the conclusion that current standardization conditions still leave room for the intervention of operators due to missing automation of the equipment. This affects significantly the reproducibility and comparability of bioprinting experiments in multiple laboratories. Nevertheless, automated IA proved to be a suitable methodology for quality assurance as three independently developed workflows achieved similar results. Moreover, the extracted data describing geometric features showed how the function of printers affects the quality of the printed object. A significant step toward standardization of the process was made as an infrastructure for distribution of material and methods, as well as for data transfer and storage was successfully established.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2023-10-20
Keywords: 3D printing; bioink; extrusion-based bioprinting; reproducibility; round robin; technology transfer

Optically-transparent oxide fibre-reinforced glass matrix composites - Desimone, Deborah; Dlouhy, Ivo; Lee, William E.; Koch, Dietmar; Horvath, Jürgen; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 2010)
The development of 'optomechanical composites', based on glass matrices reinforced with continuous oxide fibre bundles (Nextel™) or filaments (sapphire) is described. The fibres were arranged unidirectionally between soda-lime silicate or borosilicate glass slides, and heat-treated to achieve densification by viscous flow of the glass matrix between the fibres. Small decreases in light transmittance (up to approximately 20%) upon introduction of fibres indicated that the composites are promising materials for use in optomechanical applications, where high transparency or translucency is required, in addition to improved fracture resistance. Fibre pull-out and crack deflection were identified at fibre/matrix interfaces, and a crack bridging effect was observed, with fibres holding the glass pieces together, thus preventing catastrophic failure. A relatively low fibre/matrix interfacial sliding resistance was measured by the fibre push-in test, although flexural strength measurements indicated the need to improve interfacial bonding. For this purpose, a tetragonal zirconia interfacial layer was introduced by sol-gel dip-coating of the fibres, to modify the fibre/matrix bonding, providing weaker interfaces that facilitate the occurrence of toughening mechanisms. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2010.tech.IW.LM.optica
Keywords: Fracture toughness; Glass matrix composites; Light transmittance; Optomechanical

Optimization of cell seeding on electrospun PCL-silk fibroin scaffolds - Singh, Raminder; Eitler, David; Morelle, René; Friedrich, Ralf P.; Dietel, Barbara; Alexiou, Christoph; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Liverani, Liliana; Cicha, Iwona (European Polymer Journal, 2020)
The availability of cell growth-supporting materials for regenerative medicine is limited. Here, we aimed to improve the attachment and growth of endothelial cells (HUVECs) and fibroblasts on electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) mats with different fiber diameters and on newly-established PCL and silk fibroin (PCL/SF) blended fibers obtained by using benign solvents (mixture of acetic acid and formic acid) for electrospinning. PCL mats were produced in two different average fiber diameters, namely micro and nano range. The electrospinning method was optimized to produce PCL/SF blended fibers. Morphology (F-actin), viability (calcein) and metabolic activity (WST-8 assay) of HUVECs and fibroblasts cultured in 2D on the mats of different fiber size and composition were compared. Subsequently, cylindrical PCL/SF scaffolds were produced and colonized with cells using 3D radial magnetic cell seeding. Both PCL and PCL/SF nanofibers provided better support for initial cell adhesion (day 1) compared with PCL microfibers. At day 7, the highest metabolic activity in HUVECs and fibroblasts was observed on PCL/SF mats. Microscopic studies confirmed that on day 7, the best support for cell growth was observed on PCL/SF. Tubular PCL/SF scaffolds were successfully colonized using magnetic nanoparticles and 3D radial magnetic cell seeding. Taken together, the fibers obtained by blending SF with PCL combine the mechanical benefits of PCL with improved biological functionality of SF. Electrospun PCL/SF nanofibers represent a promising material to produce both flat and 3D structures with potential for enhanced cell attachment and tissue regeneration.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2020-06-26
Keywords: Benign solvents; Electrospinning; Magnetic cell seeding; Nanofibers; Poly(ε-caprolactone); Silk fibroin

Optimization of the mechanical properties of calcium phosphate/multi-walled carbon nanotubes/bovine serum albumin composites using response surface methodology - Low, Kah Ling; Tan, Soon Huat; Zein, Sharif Hussein Sharif; Mcphail, David S.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials & Design, 2011)
Response surface methodology (RSM) coupled with the central composite design (CCD) was used to optimize the mechanical properties of calcium phosphate cement/multi-walled carbon nanotubes/bovine serum albumin (CPC/MWCNTs/BSA) composites. In this study, CPC composites were reinforced by multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) in order to induce high mechanical properties in the CPC/MWCNTs/BSA system. The effect of various process parameters on the compressive strength of CPC/MWCNTs/BSA composites was studied using design of experiments (DOE). The process parameters studied were: wt.% of MWCNTs (0.2-0.5 wt.%), wt.% of BSA (5-15. wt.%) and type of MWCNTs (e.g. as-pristine MWCNT (MWCNT-AP), hydroxyl group functionalized MWCNT (MWCNT-OH) and carboxyl group functionalized MWCNT (MWCNT-COOH)). Based on the CCD, a quadratic model was obtained to correlate the process parameters to the compressive strength of CPC/MWCNTs/BSA composites. From the analysis of variance (ANOVA), the most significant factor affected on the experimental design response was identified. The predicted compressive strength after process optimization was found to agree well with the experimental value. The results revealed that at 0.5. wt.% of MWCNT-OH and 15. wt.% of BSA, the highest compressive strength of 14. MPa was obtained. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2011.tech.IW.LM.optimi
Keywords: A. Composites; E. Mechanical; G. Scanning electron microscopy

Organic solvent-free synthesis of dendritic mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles with remineralization capability - Han, Xiao; Erkan, Aleyna; Xu, Zhiyan; Chen, Yaming; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Zheng, Kai (Materials Letters, 2022)
Dendritic mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (DMBGNs) are emerging biomaterials for various biomedical applications. However, their synthesis usually involves extensive volatile organic solvents, causing significant environmental and economic issues. We report an organic solvent-free strategy to produce DMBGNs, in which cationic and anionic surfactants were used as dual templates free of organic solvents to assemble silicate nanoparticles before incorporation of Ca by impregnation. The Ca incorporation did not affect the dendritic mesoporous structure of the nanoparticles. DMBGNs exhibited remineralization capacity as evidenced by hydroxyapatite (HA) formation after soaking in simulated body fluid (SBF). The results indicate the feasibility of the proposed organic solvent-free, two-step strategy for producing DMBGNs highlighting also the great potential of DMBGNs as remineralization agents.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-05-20
Keywords: Bioactive glasses; Biomaterials; Green synthesis; Nanoparticles; Remineralization

Osteoblast and osteoclast responses to A/B type carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite ceramics for bone regeneration - Germaini, Marie-Michele; Detsch, Rainer; Grünewald, Alina; Magnaudeix, Amandine; Lalloue, Fabrice; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Champion, Eric (Biomedical Materials, 2017)
Keywords: Bioceramics; bone graft susbtitutes; carbonated hydroxyapatite; cell culture; osteoblasts; osteoclasts

Osteochondral tissue engineering: scaffolds, stem cells and applications - Nooeaid, Patcharakamon; Salih, Vehid; Beier, Justus; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, 2012)
Osteochondral tissue engineering has shown an increasing development to provide suitable strategies for the regeneration of damaged cartilage and underlying subchondral bone tissue. For reasons of the limitation in the capacity of articular cartilage to self-repair, it is essential to develop approaches based on suitable scaffolds made of appropriate engineered biomaterials. The combination of biodegradable polymers and bioactive ceramics in a variety of composite structures is promising in this area, whereby the fabrication methods, associated cells and signalling factors determine the success of the strategies. The objective of this review is to present and discuss approaches being proposed in osteochondral tissue engineering, which are focused on the application of various materials forming bilayered composite scaffolds, including polymers and ceramics, discussing the variety of scaffold designs and fabrication methods being developed. Additionally, cell sources and biological protein incorporation methods are discussed, addressing their interaction with scaffolds and highlighting the potential for creating a new generation of bilayered composite scaffolds that can mimic the native interfacial tissue properties, and are able to adapt to the biological environment. © 2012 The Authors Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine © 2012 Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine/Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2012.tech.IW.LM.osteoc
Keywords: Bilayered scaffolds; Clinical relevance; Composites; Osteochondral tissue engineering; Scaffold designs; Scaffold fabrication

Osteogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stromal cells on 45S5 bioglass® based scaffolds in vitro and in vivo - El-Gendy, Reem; Yang, Xuebin B.; Newby, Phillipa J.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Kirkham, Jennifer (Tissue Engineering - Part A, 2013)
The increasing clinical demand for bone substitutes has driven significant progress in cell-based therapies for bone tissue engineering. The underpinning goals for success are to identify the most appropriate cell source and to provide three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds that support cell growth and enhance osteogenic potential. In this study, human dental pulp stromal cells (HDPSCs) were cultured under basal or osteogenic conditions either in monolayers or on 3D Bioglass scaffolds in vitro for 2 or 4 weeks. Cell-scaffold constructs were also implanted intraperitoneally in nude mice for 8 weeks. Osteogenic potential was assessed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and histological/immunohistochemical assays. In monolayer culture, osteoinductive conditions enhanced HDPSC expression of osteogenic gene markers (COL1A1, RUNX2, OC, and/or OCN) compared with basal conditions while culture of HDPSCs on 3D scaffolds promoted osteogenic gene expression compared with monolayer culture under both basal and osteogenic conditions. These results were confirmed using histological and immunohistochemical analyses. In vivo implantation of the HDPSC 3D Bioglass constructs showed evidence of sporadic woven bone-like spicules and calcified tissue. In conclusion, this study has demonstrated the potential of using a combination of HDPSCs with 3D 45S5 Bioglass scaffolds to promote bone-like tissue formation in vitro and in vivo, offering a promising approach for clinical bone repair and regeneration. © Copyright 2013, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 2013.

Osteogenic differentiation of umbilical cord and adipose derived stem cells onto highly porous 45S5 Bioglass®-based scaffolds - Detsch, Rainer; Alles, Sonja; Hum, Jasmin; Westenberger, Peter; Sieker, Frank; Heusinger, Dominik; Kasper, Cornelia; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 2015)
In the context of bone tissue engineering (BTE), combinations of bioactive scaffolds with living cells are investigated to optimally yield functional bone tissue for implantation purposes. Bioactive glasses are a class of highly bioactive, inorganic materials with broad application potential in BTE strategies. The aim of this study was to evaluate bioactive glass (45S5 Bioglass®) samples of composition: 45 SiO, 24.5 CaO, 24.5 NaO, and 6 PO (in wt%) as scaffold materials for mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). Pore architecture of the scaffolds as well as cell behavior in the three-dimensional environment was evaluated by several methods. Investigations concerned the osteogenic cell attachment, growth and differentiation of adipose tissue derived MSC (adMSC) compared with MSC from human full term umbilical cord tissues (ucMSC) on porous Bioglass® -based scaffolds over a cultivation period of 5 weeks. Differences in lineage-specific osteogenic differentiation of adMSC and ucMSC on Bioglass® samples were demonstrated. The investigation led to positive results in terms of cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation of MSC onto Bioglass® -based scaffolds confirming the relevance of these matrices for BTE applications.
Keywords: 45S5 Bioglass®; Bone tissue engineering; Mesenchymal stem cells; Scaffolds

Osteogenic properties of manganese-doped mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles - Westhauser, Fabian; Wilkesmann, Sebastian; Nawaz, Qaisar; Schmitz, Sarah I.; Moghaddam, Arash; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 2020)
Mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs) based on the SiO2–P2O5–CaO system have demonstrated promising properties for the local delivery of therapeutically active ions with the aim to improve their osteogenic properties. Manganese (Mn) has been identified as a candidate ion for local application in bone tissue engineering applications. It remains unknown how SiO2–P2O5–CaO-based MBGNs influence human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) in terms of viability, proliferation, and differentiation and how these features can be modified by the addition of Mn to the MBGNs' composition. Therefore, in this study, MBGNs (composition in mol%: 50 SiO2, 40 CaO, 10 P2O5) and its Mn-doped derivate 5Mn-MBGNs (composition in mol%: 50 SiO2, 35 CaO, 10 P2O5, 5 MnO) were applied to a culture of BMSCs in two different concentrations. With increasing concentration, 5Mn-MBGNs supported osteogenic differentiation and enhanced the upregulation of genes encoding for extracellular matrix proteins but also negatively influenced cell viability and proliferation. When applied in lower concentrations, MBGNs showed not only viability- and growth-enhancing effects but also significant pro-osteogenic features—however, these positive properties deteriorated with increasing concentration. Two major conclusions can be drawn from this study: (a) supplementation with Mn enhances the osteogenic properties of MBGNs in a dose-dependent manner and (b) MBGNs constitute an attractive vector for therapeutically active ions since it exhibits an intrinsic pro-osteogenic potential that can be improved and/or modified by incorporation of therapeutically active ions. Future studies should focus on the evaluation of further candidate ions that are known to influence osteogenic differentiation positively.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2020-05-02
Keywords: bone tissue engineering; human mesenchymal stromal cells; manganese; mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles; osteogenic differentiation

Oxidation and thermal degradation resistance of silicon carbide coated low density carbon-carbon composite - Ahmed, A. S.; Rawlings, R. D.; Ellacott, S. D.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Advances in Applied Ceramics, 2013)
The material investigated in this study is a prototype material, where a low density and highly porous carbon-carbon composite, termed carbon bonded carbon fibre (CBCF), has been given a protective coating of silicon carbide using chemical vapour deposition. The aim of the current study was to gauge the effectiveness of the silicon carbide coating in protecting the CBCF materials from degradation within an oxidising atmosphere. Avenues of investigation included assessing the behaviour of the materials when heated to elevated temperatures within an oxidising environment (using thermogravimetric analysis and bulk oxidation tests) and also evaluating the residual strength of the composites after subjection to thermal shock/cycling. It has been found that the performance of the CBCF material in oxidising conditions has improved with the incorporation of the silicon carbide coating and also that the coated material is resilient against thermal shock/cycling. © 2013 Institute of Materials.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2013.tech.IW.LM.oxidat
Keywords: Carbon-carbon composites; Chemical vapour deposition; Oxidation protection; Silicon carbide; Thermal shock

Oxidized Alginate-Based Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering Applications: A Review - Reakasame, Supachai; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Biomacromolecules, 2018)

Oxidized alginate-gelatin (ADA-GEL)/silk fibroin/Cu-Ag doped mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticle-based hydrogels for potential wound care treatments - Akhtar, Memoona; Nazneen, Arooba; Awais, Muhammad; Hussain, Rabia; Khan, Ahmad; Irfan, Muhammad; Avcu, Egemen; Ur Rehman, Muhammad Atiq; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Biomedical Materials, 2024)
The present work focuses on developing 5% w/v oxidized alginate (alginate di aldehyde, ADA)-7.5% w/v gelatin (GEL) hydrogels incorporating 0.25% w/v silk fibroin (SF) and loaded with 0.3% w/v Cu-Ag doped mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (Cu-Ag MBGNs). The microstructural, mechanical, and biological properties of the composite hydrogels were characterized in detail. The porous microstructure of the developed ADA-GEL based hydrogels was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, while the presence of Cu-Ag MBGNs in the synthesized hydrogels was determined using energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. The incorporation of 0.3% w/v Cu-Ag MBGNs reduced the mechanical properties of the synthesized hydrogels, as investigated using micro-tensile testing. The synthesized ADA-GEL loaded with 0.25% w/v SF and 0.3% w/v Cu-Ag MBGNs showed a potent antibacterial effect against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Cellular studies using the NIH3T3-E1 fibroblast cell line confirmed that ADA-GEL films incorporated with 0.3% w/v Cu-Ag MBGNs exhibited promising cellular viability as compared to pure ADA-GEL (determined by WST-8 assay). The addition of SF improved the biocompatibility, degradation rate, moisturizing effects, and stretchability of the developed hydrogels, as determined in vitro. Such multimaterial hydrogels can stimulate angiogenesis and exhibit desirable antibacterial properties. Therefore further (in vivo) tests are justified to assess the hydrogels’ potential for wound dressing and skin tissue healing applications.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2024-03-29
Keywords: alginate; antibacterial activity; biocompatibility; gelation; silk; wound healing

Oxidized Alginate-Gelatin Hydrogel: A Favorable Matrix for Growth and Osteogenic Differentiation of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells in 3D - Sarker, Bapi; Zehnder, Tobias; Rath, Subha N.; Horch, Raymund E.; Kneser, Ulrich; Detsch, Rainer; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering, 2017)
Keywords: 3D; alginate; hydrogel; microbead; osteogenic differentiation; stem cell

Oxidized alginate hydrogels with the GHK peptide enhance cord blood mesenchymal stem cell osteogenesis: A paradigm for metabolomics-based evaluation of biomaterial design - Klontzas, Michail E.; Reakasame, Supachai; Silva, Raquel; Morais, Jose C. F.; Vernardis, Spyros; Macfarlane, Robert J.; Heliotis, Manolis; Tsiridis, Eleftherios; Panoskaltsis, Nicki; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Mantalaris, Athanasios (Acta Biomaterialia, 2019)
Oxidized alginate hydrogels are appealing alternatives to natural alginate due to their favourable biodegradability profiles and capacity to self-crosslink with amine containing molecules facilitating functionalization with extracellular matrix cues, which enable modulation of stem cell fate, achieve highly viable 3-D cultures, and promote cell growth. Stem cell metabolism is at the core of cellular fate (proliferation, differentiation, death) and metabolomics provides global metabolic signatures representative of cellular status, being able to accurately identify the quality of stem cell differentiation. Herein, umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells (UCB MSCs) were encapsulated in novel oxidized alginate hydrogels functionalized with the glycine-histidine-lysine (GHK) peptide and differentiated towards the osteoblastic lineage. The ADA-GHK hydrogels significantly improved osteogenic differentiation compared to gelatin-containing control hydrogels, as demonstrated by gene expression, alkaline phosphatase activity and bone extracellular matrix deposition. Metabolomics revealed the high degree of metabolic heterogeneity in the gelatin-containing control hydrogels, captured the enhanced osteogenic differentiation in the ADA-GHK hydrogels, confirmed the similar metabolism between differentiated cells and primary osteoblasts, and elucidated the metabolic mechanism responsible for the function of GHK. Our results suggest a novel paradigm for metabolomics-guided biomaterial design and robust stem cell bioprocessing.
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2019-04-18

Oxidized Hyaluronic Acid-Gelatin-Based Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering and Soft Tissue Mimicking - Kuth, Sonja; Karakaya, Emine; Reiter, Nina; Schmidt, Lorenz-Peter; Paulsen, Friedrich; Tessmar, Jorg; Budday, Silvia; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Tissue Engineering - Part C: Methods, 2022)
Hydrogels are ideal materials for mimicking and engineering soft tissue. Hyaluronic acid is a linear polysaccharide native to the human extracellular matrix. In this study, we first develop and characterize two hydrogel compositions built from oxidized HA and gelatin with and without alginate-di-aldehyde (ADA) crosslinked by ionic and enzymatic agents with potential applications in soft tissue engineering and tissue mimicking structures. The stability under incubation conditions was improved by adjusting crosslinking times. Through large-strain mechanical measurements, the hydrogels' properties were compared to human brain tissue and the samples containing ADA revealed similar mechanical properties to the native tissue specimens in cyclic compression-tension. In vitro characterization demonstrated a high viability of encapsulated mouse embryonic fibroblasts and a spreading of the cells in case of ADA-free samples.
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2022-05-20

Oxygen-Deficient Bioceramics: Combination of Diagnosis, Therapy, and Regeneration - Bigham, Ashkan; Raucci, Maria Grazia; Zheng, Kai; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Ambrosio, Luigi (Advanced Materials, 2023)
The journey of ceramics in medicine has been synchronized with an evolution from the first generation—alumina, zirconia, etc.—to the third —3D scaffolds. There is an up-and-coming member called oxygen-deficient or colored bioceramics, which have recently found their way through biomedical applications. The oxygen vacancy steers the light absorption toward visible and near infrared regions, making the colored bioceramics multifunctional—therapeutic, diagnostic, and regenerative. Oxygen-deficient bioceramics are capable of turning light into heat and reactive oxygen species for photothermal and photodynamic therapies, respectively, and concomitantly yield infrared and photoacoustic images. Different types of oxygen-deficient bioceramics have been recently developed through various synthesis routes. Some of them like TiO2−x, MoO3−x, and WOx have been more investigated for biomedical applications, whereas the rest have yet to be scrutinized. The most prominent advantage of these bioceramics over the other biomaterials is their multifunctionality endowed with a change in the microstructure. There are some challenges ahead of this category discussed at the end of the present review. By shedding light on this recently born bioceramics subcategory, it is believed that the field will undergo a big step further as these platforms are naturally multifunctional.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2023-08-11
Keywords: biomedical applications; cancer diagnosis and therapy; oxygen-deficient bioceramics; regenerative medicine; tissue engineering

Oxygen diffusion in marine-derived tissue engineering scaffolds - Boccardi, Elena; Belova, I. V.; Murch, G. E.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Fiedler, T. (Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 2015)
This paper addresses the computation of the effective diffusivity in new bioactive glass (BG) based tissue engineering scaffolds. High diffusivities facilitate the supply of oxygen and nutrients to grown tissue as well as the rapid disposal of toxic waste products. The present study addresses required novel types of bone tissue engineering BG scaffolds that are derived from natural marine sponges. Using the foam replication method, the scaffold geometry is defined by the porous structure of Spongia Agaricina and Spongia Lamella. These sponges present the advantage of attaining scaffolds with higher mechanical properties (2–4 MPa) due to a decrease in porosity (68–76 %). The effective diffusivities of these structures are compared with that of conventional scaffolds based on polyurethane (PU) foam templates, characterised by high porosity (>90 %) and lower mechanical properties (>0.05 MPa). Both the spatial and directional variations of diffusivity are investigated. Furthermore, the effect of scaffold decomposition due to immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) on the diffusivity is addressed. Scaffolds based on natural marine sponges are characterised by lower oxygen diffusivity due to their lower porosity compared with the PU replica foams, which should enable the best oxygen supply to newly formed bone according the numerical results. The oxygen diffusivity of these new BG scaffolds increases over time as a consequence of the degradation in SBF.

PDLLA scaffolds with Cu- and Zn-doped bioactive glasses having multifunctional properties for bone regeneration - Bejarano, Julian; Detsch, Rainer; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Palza, Humberto (Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 2017)
Keywords: bioactive glasses; biodegradable polymer scaffolds; bone regeneration; copper and zinc ions; multifunctional properties

PEEK Based Biocompatible Coatings Incorporating h-BN and Bioactive Glass by Electrophoretic Deposition - Virk, Ranjot; Ur Rehman, Muhammad Atiq; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (ECS Transactions, 2018)
In this study, we deposit composite coatings based on polyether ether ketone (PEEK), bioactive glass (BG) and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) particles via electrophoretic deposition (EPD) on stainless steel (SS316-L). The compounds have been characterized in terms of morphology, composition, adhesion strength, and compatibility in vitro bioactivity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed the uniform dispersion of PEEK, BG and h-BN particles in the deposit. The coatings were sintered in a furnace at 375 ° C for 30 minutes. SEM analysis showed that PEEK is a uniform matrix embedded with BG and h-BN particles. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the presence of PEEK, BG and h-BN.The sintered coating shows appropriate adhesion to the substrate (qualitatively assessed). Moreover, the hydrophilicity for initial protein attachment. Finally, the coatings formed in a simulated body fluid, as confirmed by SEM and FTIR analysis.

Perfusable Tissue Bioprinted into a 3D-Printed Tailored Bioreactor System - Gensler, Marius; Malkmus, Christoph; Ockermann, Philipp; Möllmann, Marc; Hahn, Lukas; Salehi, Sahar; Luxenhofer, Robert; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Hansmann, Jan (Bioengineering, 2024)
Bioprinting provides a powerful tool for regenerative medicine, as it allows tissue construction with a patient’s specific geometry. However, tissue culture and maturation, commonly supported by dynamic bioreactors, are needed. We designed a workflow that creates an implant-specific bioreactor system, which is easily producible and customizable and supports cell cultivation and tissue maturation. First, a bioreactor was designed and different tissue geometries were simulated regarding shear stress and nutrient distribution to match cell culture requirements. These tissues were then directly bioprinted into the 3D-printed bioreactor. To prove the ability of cell maintenance, C2C12 cells in two bioinks were printed into the system and successfully cultured for two weeks. Next, human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were successfully differentiated toward an adipocyte lineage. As the last step of the presented strategy, we developed a prototype of an automated mobile docking station for the bioreactor. Overall, we present an open-source bioreactor system that is adaptable to a wound-specific geometry and allows cell culture and differentiation. This interdisciplinary roadmap is intended to close the gap between the lab and clinic and to integrate novel 3D-printing technologies for regenerative medicine.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2024-02-02
Keywords: 3D-printing; adipose tissue; biofabrication; bioprinting; cell culture simulation; perfusable bioreactor

Permeability evaluation of 45S5 Bioglass (R)-based scaffolds for bone tissue engineering - Ochoa, Ignacio; Sanz-Herrera, Jose A.; Garcia-Aznar, Jose M.; Doblare, Manuel; Yunos, Darmawati Mohamad; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Biomechanics, 2009)
Permeability is a key parameter for microstructural design of scaffolds, since it is related to their capability for waste removal and nutrients/oxygen supply. In this framework, Darcy's experiments were carried out in order to determine the relationship between the pressure drop gradient and the fluid flow velocity in Bioglass®-based scaffolds to obtain the scaffold's permeability. Using deionised water as working fluid, the measured average permeability value on scaffolds of 90-95% porosity was 1.96×10-9 m2. This value lies in the published range of permeability values for trabecular bone. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2009.tech.IW.LM.permea
Keywords: Bioglass; Darcy's equation; Permeability; Tissue engineering

Phase-specific bioactivity and altered Ostwald ripening pathways of calcium carbonate polymorphs in simulated body fluid - Myszka, Barbara; Schüßler, Martina; Hurle, Katrin; Demmert, Benedikt; Detsch, Rainer; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Wolf, Stephan (RSC Advances, 2019)
Calcium carbonate is an abundant biomineral, and already archeological records demonstrate its bioactivity and applicability for osseo-integrative implants. Its solubility, which is generally higher than those of calcium phosphates, depends on its polymorph turning calcium carbonate into a promising biomaterial with tunable bioresorption rate. However, the phase-dependent bioactivity of calcium carbonate, i.e., its osteoconductivity, is still insufficiently characterized. In this study, we address this issue by monitoring the behavior of the four most important calcium carbonate phases, i.e., calcite, aragonite, vaterite, and amorphous calcium carbonate, in simulated body fluid solution at 37 °C. Our results demonstrate that the thermodynamically stable calcite phase is essentially inert. In contrast, the metastable phases aragonite and vaterite are bioactive, thus promoting the formation of calcium phosphate. Amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) shows prominent bioactivity accompanied by pronounced redissolution processes. Mg-stabilized ACC was additionally tested since its increased stability eases formulation and handling in future applications. It is highly bioactive and, moreover, the additional release of Mg promotes cell viability. Overall, our results demonstrate that bioactivity of calcium carbonate is phase-dependent, allowing tailored response and bioactivity of future calcareous biomaterials. Our results also reveal that phosphate ions strongly interfere with Ostwald-Lussac step ripening of calcium carbonate, kinetically stabilizing metastable polymorphs such as vaterite and aragonite; this is a distinctive feature of the calcium carbonate mineral system which clearly has to be considered in future applications of calcium carbonate as a bioceramic.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2019-07-09

Phosphate glass fibers facilitate proliferation and osteogenesis through Runx2 transcription in murine osteoblastic cells - Lin, Xiao; Chen, Qiang; Xiao, Yunyun; Gao, Yongguang; Ahmed, Ifty; Li, Meng; Li, Hui; Zhang, Kewen; Qiu, Wuxia; Liu, Xianhu; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Qian, Airong (Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 2019)
Cell-material interactions and compatibility are important aspects of bioactive materials for bone tissue engineering. Phosphate glass fiber (PGF) is an attractive inorganic filler with fibrous structure and tunable composition, which has been widely investigated as a bioactive filler for bone repair applications. However, the interaction of osteoblasts with PGFs has not been widely investigated to elucidate the osteogenic mechanism of PGFs. In this study, different concentrations of short PGFs with interlaced oriented topography were cocultured with MC3T3-E1 cells for different periods, and the synergistic effects of fiber topography and ionic product of PGFs on osteoblast responses including cell adhesion, spreading, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation were investigated. It was found that osteoblasts were more prone to adhere on PGFs through Vinculin protein, leading to enhanced cell proliferation with polygonal cell shape and spreading cellular actin filaments. In addition, osteoblasts incubated on PGF meshes showed enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity, extracellular matrix mineralization, and increased expression of osteogenesis-related marker genes, which could be attributed to the Wnt/beta-catenin/Runx2 signaling pathway. This study elucidated the possible mechanism of PGF on triggering specific osteoblast behavior, which would be highly beneficial for designing PGF-based bone graft substitutes with excellent osteogenic functions.
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2019-11-15

Phosphate glass fibres with therapeutic ions release capability–a review - Lapa, Agata; Cresswell, Mark; Jackson, Phil; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Advances in Applied Ceramics, 2020)
Phosphate-based glasses (PBG) have low melting temperatures and can be obtained by melt-quenching and sol-gel methods. The most significant characteristic of PBG is their ability to dissolve completely in aqueous solution within different timeframes. This solubility can reduce the need for revision surgeries and makes PBG well-suited for soft tissue regeneration. Phosphate glass fibres (PGF) due to their geometry and volume–surface area ratio are the subject of a growing number of studies on resorbable composites. Medical applications include bone fixation devices, nerve tissue scaffolds and wound healing. PBG can be doped with various ions to enhance their biological, chemical and structural properties allowing the preparation of fibres with designed properties and with the ability to release biologically active ions upon degradation. The aim of this review is to look in detail at the influence of different dopants on PGF behaviour, both at a structural and biological level.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2019-12-24
Keywords: bone; bone fixation devices; hard tissue regeneration; metal ions; Phosphate glass fibres; soft tissue regeneration; soluble glasses; therapeutic ions

Physical and Antibacterial Properties of Peppermint Essential Oil Loaded Poly (epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) Electrospun Fiber Mats for Wound Healing - Ünalan, Irem; Slavik, Benedikt; Büttner, Andrea; Goldmann, Wolfgang; Frank, Gerhard; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2019)
The aim of this study was to fabricate and characterize various concentrations of peppermint essential oil (PEP) loaded on poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) electrospun fiber mats for healing applications, where PEP was intended to impart antibacterial activity to the fibers. SEM images illustrated that the morphology of all electrospun fiber mats was smooth, uniform, and bead-free. The average fiber diameter was reduced by the addition of PEP from 1.6 +/- 0.1 to 1.0 +/- 0.2 mu m. Functional groups of the fibers were determined by Raman spectroscopy. Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis demonstrated the actual PEP content in the samples. In vitro degradation was determined by measuring weight loss and their morphology change, showing that the electrospun fibers slightly degraded by the addition of PEP. The wettability of PCL and PEP loaded electrospun fiber mats was measured by determining contact angle and it was shown that wettability increased with the incorporation of PEP. The antimicrobial activity results revealed that PEP loaded PCL electrospun fiber mats exhibited inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus (gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (gram-negative) bacteria. In addition, an in-vitro cell viability assay using normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) cells revealed improved cell viability on PCL, PCLPEP1.5, PCLPEP3, and PCLGEL6 electrospun fiber mats compared to the control (CNT) after 48 h cell culture. Our findings showed for the first time PEP loaded PCL electrospun fiber mats with antibiotic-free antibacterial activity as promising candidates for wound healing applications.
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2019-12-27
Keywords: wound healing; peppermint essential oil; poly (ε-caprolactone); electrospinning; antibacterial activity

Physical characterizations and biological properties of PHP/PCL electrospun fibermats - Ding, Yaping; Roether, Judith; Schubert, Dirk W.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (European Polymer Federation, 2015)

Physicochemical, biological and drug-release properties of gallium crosslinked alginate/nanoparticulate bioactive glass composite films - Mourino, V.; Newby, P.; Pishbin, F.; Cattalini, J. P.; Lucangioli, S.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Soft Matter, 2011)
The aim of this work was to develop biodegradable and bioactive materials with sufficient structural integrity and prophylaxis effect against infection based on alginate-bioactive glass composite. The incorporation of bioactive glass nanoparticles (NBG) into Ga-crosslinked alginate films significantly improved their mechanical properties when compared with films fabricated with micron-sized bioactive glass particles. In addition, Ga-alginate films containing NBG induced a bacteriostatic effect in vitro towards S. aureus due to the presence of Ga ions (Ga 3+), whose release is controlled solely by crosslinking the ion with alginate. Biomineralization studies in simulated body fluid suggested the deposition of hydroxyapatite on the surface of the films indicating their bioactive nature. In addition, the films were shown to feature biocompatibility toward osteoblast-like cells. Thus, it was shown that Ga-crosslinked composite films possessed relevant physicochemical, biological and controlled bacteriostatic effects which make these materials promising candidates for bone tissue engineering applications. © 2011 The Royal Society of Chemistry.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2011.tech.IW.LM.physic

Physico-chemical modification of gelatine for the improvement of 3D printability of oxidized alginate-gelatine hydrogels towards cartilage tissue engineering - Kreller, Thomas; Distler, Thomas; Heid, Susanne; Gerth, S.; Detsch, Rainer; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials & Design, 2021)
This work explored 3D printing to mimic the intrinsic hierarchical structure of natural articular cartilage. Alginate di-aldehyde- gelatine (ADA-GEL) hydrogel was used as ink to create hierarchically ordered scaffolds. In comparison to previously reported ADA-GEL compositions, we introduce a modified formulation featuring increased amounts of thermally modified gelatine. Gelatine was degraded by hydrolysis which resulted in tailorable printability characteristics further substantiated by rheological analysis. ADA (3.75 %w/v)-GEL (7.5 %w/v) with gelatine modified at 80 °C for 3 h could be printed in hierarchical complex structures reaching scaffold heights of over 1 cm. The hierarchical structure of the scaffolds was confirmed via µCT analysis. To examine mechanical properties as well as the suitability of the hydrogel as a proper matrix for cell seeding and encapsulation, nanoindentation was performed. Elastic moduli in the range of 5 kPa were measured. Gelatine heat pre-treatment resulted in modifiable mechanical and rheological characteristics of ADA-GEL. In summary, this study demonstrates the possibility to enhance the printability of ADA-GEL hydrogels to fabricate hierarchical scaffold structures with shape stability and fidelity, without the necessity to change the initial hydrogel chemistry by the use of additives or crosslinkers, providing a valuable approach for fabrication of designed scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2021-07-16
Keywords: 3D Printing; Gelatine; Hydrogels; Oxidized Alginate; Tissue Engineering

Plug-and-Play Multimaterial Chaotic Printing/Bioprinting to Produce Radial and Axial Micropatterns in Hydrogel Filaments - Ceballos-González, Carlos Fernando; Bolívar-Monsalve, Edna Johana; Quevedo-Moreno, Diego Alonso; Chávez-Madero, Carolina; Velásquez-Marín, Silvana; Lam-Aguilar, Li Lu; Solís-Pérez, Óscar Emmanuel; Cantoral-Sánchez, Ariel; Neher, Mara; Yzar-García, Estefanía; Zhang, Yu Shrike; Gentile, Carmine; et al. (Advanced Materials Technologies, 2023)
Nature abounds with micro-architected materials containing layered multi-material patterns that often transition within the very same monolithic piece. Fabricating these complex materials using current technologies is challenging. Multimaterial chaotic printing is presented—an extrusive printing method based on the use of chaotic advection—that can fabricate microstructured hydrogels with well-defined multimaterial and multilayered micropatterns. Printheads containing internal Kenics static mixing (KSM) elements and top- and lateral-positioned inlets are used to produce a wide repertoire of multilayered hydrogel filaments. In this plug-and-play system, the radial and axial micropatterns can be designed ad hoc by defining the printhead configuration (i.e., the number of KSM elements and inlets, and the inlet positions) and the flow program (i.e., activation/deactivation of the ink-flow through each inlet). Computational fluid dynamics simulations closely predict the microstructure obtained by a given printhead configuration. The application of this platform is illustrated for easy fabrication of fibers with radial microgradients, bacterial ecosystems, structured emulsions, micro-channeled hydrogel filaments, a pre-vascularized tumor niche model, and skeletal muscle-like tissues with axial and radial transitions of bioactive glass compartments. It is envisioned that multimaterial chaotic printing will be a valuable addition to the toolbox of additive manufacturing for the rational fabrication of advanced materials.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2023-09-29
Keywords: bioprinting; chaotic printing; micropatterns; multimaterials; radial and axial transitions

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) multifunctional composite scaffolds for tissue engineering applications - Misra, Superb K.; Ansari, Tahera I.; Valappil, Sabeel P.; Mohn, Dirk; Philip, Sheryl E.; Stark, Wendelin J.; Roy, Ipsita; Knowles, Jonathan C.; Salih, Vehid; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Biomaterials, 2010)
Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P(3HB)) foams exhibiting highly interconnected porosity (85% porosity) were prepared using a unique combination of solvent casting and particulate leaching techniques by employing commercially available sugar cubes as porogen. Bioactive glass (BG) particles of 45S5 Bioglass® grade were introduced in the scaffold microstructure, both in micrometer ((m-BG), <5 μm) and nanometer ((n-BG), 30 nm) sizes. The in vitro bioactivity of the P(3HB)/BG foams was confirmed within 10 days of immersion in simulated body fluid and the foams showed high level of protein adsorption. The foams interconnected porous microstructure proved to be suitable for MG-63 osteoblast cell attachment and proliferation. The foams implanted in rats as subcutaneous implants resulted in a non-toxic and foreign body response after one week of implantation. In addition to showing bioactivity and biocompatibility, the P(3HB)/BG composite foams also exhibited bactericidal properties, which was tested on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus. An attempt was made at developing multifunctional scaffolds by incorporating, in addition to BG, selected concentrations of Vitamin E or/and carbon nanotubes. P(3HB) scaffolds with multifunctionalities (viz. bactericidal, bioactive, electrically conductive, antioxidative behaviour) were thus produced, which paves the way for next generation of advanced scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2010.tech.IW.LM.poly3h
Keywords: Bioactive glass; Bone tissue engineering; Carbon nanotubes; Composite materials; Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate); Scaffolds

Poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate), a promising new material for cardiac tissue engineering - Bagdadi, Andrea V.; Safari, Maryam; Dubey, Prachi; Basnett, Pooja; Sofokleous, Panagiotis; Humphrey, Eleanor; Locke, Ian; Edirisinghe, Mohan; Terracciano, Cesare; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Knowles, Jonathan C.; Harding, Sian E.; et al. (Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 2016)
Keywords: cardiac patches; cardiac tissue engineering; Poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate); polyhydroxyalkanoates

Poly-3-hydroxyoctanoate P(3HO), a Medium Chain Length Polyhydroxyalkanoate Homopolymer from Pseudomonas mendocina - Rai, Ranjana; Yunos, Darmawati M.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Knowles, Jonathan C.; Barker, Ian A.; Howdle, Steven M.; Tredwell, Gregory D.; Keshavarz, Tajalli; Roy, Ipsita (Biomacromolecules, 2011)
Pseudomonas mendocina was found to produce a unique homopolymer of poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate), P(3HO), rather than a copolymer, when grown on sodium octanoate as the sole carbon source. Although this polymer has been produced by other organisms, interestingly this is the first time an absolute homopolymer has been produced by a wild type organism. In addition, a detailed study on the effects of different extraction methods on the yield, molecular weight, thermal properties, and lipopolysaccharide content of P(3HO) has been carried out. The organism was able to accumulate P(3HO) up to 31.38% of its dry cell weight within 48 h in mineral salt medium. Characterization of the monomer was carried out using FTIR, GC-MS, 13C, 1H, and HSQC NMR spectroscopy. The polymer had a crystallinity of 37.5%, Young's modulus value of 11.6 MPa and contact angle of 77.3°. Microstructural studies of solvent cast polymer films revealed a smooth surface topography with a root-mean-square roughness value of 0.238 μm. © 2011 American Chemical Society.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2011.tech.IW.LM.poly3h

Polyaniline based polymers in tissue engineering applications: a review - Rai, Ranjana; Roether, Judith; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Progress in Biomedical Engineering, 2022)
A number of electrically conducting polymers, such as polyaniline (PANi), as well as functionalized aniline copolymers and composites, which are simultaneously biodegradable and conductive, have been applied for developing electrically conductive scaffolds for tissue engineering (TE) in recent years. The rationale behind these scaffolds is to induce ‘electroactivity’ in scaffolds, as many research works have shown that an intrinsic electrical activity leads to both increased regeneration rates and improved healing of damaged tissues. PANi is the conductive polymer of choice because it is economical and easy to process with a variety of methods. The resultant PANi based biomaterials have shown biocompatibility, conductivity, suitable processability, positive cellular response, as well as an intrinsic antibacterial effect in numerous research studies. The analysis of the literature has revealed that PANi based scaffolds have been investigated for TE applications including skin/wound healing, bone, cartilage, nerve/spinal cord, vascular, skeletal muscle repair and for the treatment of infertility. Although PANi based materials find widespread applications in other sectors, they are still far away from being commercially exploited as scaffolds for TE despite positive research results. This review aims to discuss and critically assess the current state of PANi based TE scaffolds for different applications. A future perspective for utilizing PANi based biomaterials for applications in TE is discussed, including recent considerations about potential cytotoxic effects.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-11-25
Keywords: antibacterial; biocompatibility; conductivity; polyaniline; tissue engineering

Polycaprolactone Electrospun Fiber Mats Prepared Using Benign Solvents: Blending with Copper(II)-Chitosan Increases the Secretion of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in a Bone Marrow Stromal Cell Line - Gritsch, Lukas; Liverani, Liliana; Lovell, Christopher; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Macromolecular Bioscience, 2020)
Inducing the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) is an essential requirement for successful tissue engineering. Approaches have been proposed to enhance angiogenesis using growth factors and other biomolecules; however, this approaches present drawbacks in terms of high cost and patient safety. Copper is known to effectively regulate angiogenesis and can offer a more cost-effective alternative than the direct use of growth factors. With this study, a strategy to incorporate copper in electrospun fibrous scaffolds with pro-angiogenic properties is presented. Polycaprolactone (PCL) and copper(II)-chitosan are electrospun using benign solvents. The morphological and physicochemical properties of the fiber mats are investigated through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), static contact angle measurements, energy dispersive X-ray, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopies. Scaffold stability in phosphate buffered saline at 37 °C is monitored over 1 week. A bone marrow stromal cell line (ST-2) is cultured for 7 days and its behavior is evaluated using SEM, fluorescence microscopy and a tetrazolium salt-based colorimetric assay. Results confirm that PCL/copper(II)-chitosan is suitable for electrospinning. The fiber mats are biocompatible and favor cell colonization and infiltration. Most notably, the angiogenic potential of PCL/copper(II)-chitosan blends is confirmed by a three-fold increase in VEGF secretion by ST-2 cells in the presence of copper(II)-chitosan.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2020-02-14
Keywords: angiogenesis; benign solvents; chitosan; copper; electrospinning; polycaprolactone

Poly-DL-lactic acid coated Bioglass® scaffolds: toughening effects and osteosarcoma cell proliferation - Bretcanu, Oana; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Salih, Vehid (Journal of Materials Science, 2012)
The fabrication and in vitro characterisation of 45S5 Bioglass®-derived scaffolds coated with poly-DL-lactic acid (PDLLA) are presented. Two types of scaffolds with different porosities were studied. The scaffold microstructure was analysed by scanning electron microscopy before and after polymer coating. Compressive strength tests were performed in as-fabricated condition and after 28 days of immersion in simulated body fluid. It was found that PDLLA-coated samples have higher compression strength compared with the uncoated samples. Human osteosarcoma cell line (HOS-TE85) was used to determine the biocompatibility of the scaffolds. Cell proliferation and differentiated functions were investigated by AlamarBlue™, alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin assays. The scaffolds were maintained in cell culture for periods of up to 14 days. The combined effects of the scaffold microstructure (porosity, surface roughness and bioreactivity) and the polymeric coating induce favourable HOS cell behaviour. The results confirmed the biocompatibility of Bioglass®/PDLLA composite scaffolds for HOS cell culture and contribute to the understanding of the characteristics of these scaffolds for potential applications in bone tissue engineering. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2012.tech.IW.LM.polydl

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) coatings on stainless steel by electrophoretic deposition - Corni, Ilaria; Neumann, Nico; Eifler, Dietmar; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Advanced Engineering Materials, 2008)
Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) coatings on 316Lstainless steel plates has been demonstrated. Deposition time, suspension concentration, difference of potential and distance between electrodes are the main parameters influencing EPD. These parameters were varied in wide ranges and their influences on deposition was examined to optimize the EPD conditions. A PEEK powder and pure ethanol were employed for the suspension preparation. It was observed that with increasing PEEK concentration, the rate of deposition and the thickness of the deposit increased if all other parameters were kept constant. It was also observed that with increasing strength of electric field the thickness of the coating deposited from the same suspension increased and the deposition rate was higher due to higher electrophoretic mobility of the suspended particles. The microstructure and morphology of PEEK coatings were quite reproducible, thus EPD can be considered an effective approach to produce PEEK films on metallic substrates.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2008.tech.IW.LM.polyet

Polyglycerol hyperbranched polyesters: Synthesis, properties and pharmaceutical and biomedical applications - Zamboulis, Alexandra; Nakiou, Eirini A.; Christodoulou, Evi; Bikiaris, Dimitrios N.; Kontonasaki, Eleana; Liverani, Liliana; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2019)
In a century when environmental pollution is a major issue, polymers issued from bio-based monomers have gained important interest, as they are expected to be environment-friendly, and biocompatible, with non-toxic degradation products. In parallel, hyperbranched polymers have emerged as an easily accessible alternative to dendrimers with numerous potential applications. Glycerol (Gly) is a natural, low-cost, trifunctional monomer, with a production expected to grow significantly, and thus an excellent candidate for the synthesis of hyperbranched polyesters for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. In the present article, we review the synthesis, properties, and applications of glycerol polyesters of aliphatic dicarboxylic acids (from succinic to sebacic acids) as well as the copolymers of glycerol or hyperbranched polyglycerol with poly(lactic acid) and poly(ε-caprolactone). Emphasis was given to summarize the synthetic procedures (monomer molar ratio, used catalysts, temperatures, etc.,) and their effect on the molecular weight, solubility, and thermal and mechanical properties of the prepared hyperbranched polymers. Their applications in pharmaceutical technology as drug carries and in biomedical applications focusing on regenerative medicine are highlighted.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2019-12-24
Keywords: Catalysts; Esterification reactions; Hyperbranched polymers; Medical and biomedical applications; Polycondensation; Polyglycerol polyesters

Poly(Glycerol Sebacate) Films Modified by Thermal Proteins for Cardiac Tissue Engineering - Tallawi, Marwa; Rai, Ranjana; Costa, Marina; Roether, Judith; Schubert, Dirk W.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Biomedical Engineering, 2013)
Scaffolds for cardiac tissue engineering must be designed to achieve adequate degradation kinetics and mechanical properties. In this study, bulk modification of poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) with different concentrations of thermal proteins (TP) was investigated to tailor the degradation properties of PGS. TP are poly-amino acids formed by heating a mixture of amino acids with minimal proportions of glutamic or aspartic acid. The degradation study of TP-PGS was performed in vitro in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution over a 21 day period. Results showed that the degradation rate of PGS increased with increasing content of TP. After 21 days in PBS, degradation weight loss values of 9.40% ± 0.07, 7.3% ± 0.8 and 6.0% ± 0.4 were determined for PGS-TP-2g, PGS-TP-0.01g and PGS-control, respectively. The studies also showed that TP altered the mechanical properties and surface hydrophilicity of PGS.
Keywords: Thermal proteins; degradation; poly(glycerol sebacate); cardiac tissue engineering

Poly(Glycerol Sebacate) in Biomedical Applications—A Review of the Recent Literature - Vogt, Lena; Ruther, Florian; Salehi, Sahar; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Advanced Healthcare Materials, 2021)
Poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) continues to attract attention for biomedical applications owing to its favorable combination of properties. Conventionally polymerized by a two-step polycondensation of glycerol and sebacic acid, variations of synthesis parameters, reactant concentrations or by specific chemical modifications, PGS materials can be obtained exhibiting a wide range of physicochemical, mechanical, and morphological properties for a variety of applications. PGS has been extensively used in tissue engineering (TE) of cardiovascular, nerve, cartilage, bone and corneal tissues. Applications of PGS based materials in drug delivery systems and wound healing are also well documented. Research and development in the field of PGS continue to progress, involving mainly the synthesis of modified structures using copolymers, hybrid, and composite materials. Moreover, the production of self-healing and electroactive materials has been introduced recently. After almost 20 years of research on PGS, previous publications have outlined its synthesis, modification, properties, and biomedical applications, however, a review paper covering the most recent developments in the field is lacking. The present review thus covers comprehensively literature of the last five years on PGS-based biomaterials and devices focusing on advanced modifications of PGS for applications in medicine and highlighting notable advances of PGS based systems in TE and drug delivery.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2021-03-26
Keywords: biodegradable polyester; bioelectronics; biomedical applications; composites; poly(glycerol sebacate); tissue engineering

Poly(Glycerol Sebacate)/Poly(Butylene Succinate-Butylene Dilinoleate) Fibrous Scaffolds for Cardiac Tissue Engineering - Tallawi, Marwa; Zebrowski, David; Rai, Ranjana; Roether, Judith; Schubert, Dirk W.; El Fray, Miroslawa; Engel, Felix; Aifantis, Katerina E.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Tissue Engineering - Part C: Methods, 2015)
The present article investigates the use of a novel electrospun fibrous blend of poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) and poly(butylene succinate-butylene dilinoleate) (PBS-DLA) as a candidate for cardiac tissue engineering. Random electrospun fibers with various PGS/PBS-DLA compositions (70/30, 60/40, 50/50, and 0/100) were fabricated. To examine the suitability of these fiber blends for heart patches, their morphology, as well as their physical, chemical, and mechanical properties were measured before examining their biocompatibility through cell adhesion. The fabricated fibers were bead-free and exhibited a relatively narrow diameter distribution. The addition of PBS-DLA to PGS resulted in an increase of the average fiber diameter, whereas increasing the amount of PBS-DLA decreased the hydrophilicity and the water uptake of the nanofibrous scaffolds to values that approached those of neat PBS-DLA nanofibers. Moreover, the addition of PBS-DLA significantly increased the elastic modulus. Initial toxicity studies with C2C12 myoblast cells up to 72 h confirmed nontoxic behavior of the blends. Immunofluorescence analyses and scanning electron microscopy analyses confirmed that C2C12 cells showed better cell attachment and proliferation on electrospun mats with higher PBS-DLA content. However, immunofluorescence analyses of the 3-day-old rat cardiomyocytes cultured for 2 and 5 days demonstrated better attachment on the 70/30 fibers containing well-aligned sarcomeres and expressing high amounts of connexin 43 in cellular junctions indicating efficient cell-to-cell communication. It can be concluded, therefore, that fibrous PGS/PBS-DLA scaffolds exhibit promising characteristics as a biomaterial for cardiac patch applications.

Poly(glycerol sebacate)(butylene succinate-dilinoleate) blends as candidate materials for cardiac tissue engineering - Göken, Mathias; Merle, Benoit; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Aifantis, K.; Tallawi, Marwa; Rai, Ranjana; R-Gleixner, M.; Roerick, Olaf; Weyand, Michael; Roether, Judith; Schubert, Dirk W.; Kozlowska, A.; et al. (Macromolecular Symposia, 2013)
Poly (glycerol sebacate) (PGS) and poly (butylene succinate‐dilinoleate) (PBS‐DLA) are biodegradable polymers with potential application in cardiac tissue engineering. In the present study novel blends comprising PGS prepolymer and PBS‐DLA were prepared with varying compositions (70/30, 60/40, 50/50, 40/60, 30/70 and 0/100 in weight percentage). The physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of the PGS/PBS‐DLA blends were measured and compared. By adding PBS‐DLA to PGS the need for curing PGS prepolymer was eliminated, as the blended films are chemically stable. With increasing amount of PBS‐DLA the hydrophobicity of the blend system increased reaching values close to that of neat PBS‐DLA films. Furthermore, addition of PBS‐DLA significantly affected the mechanical properties of the blends, i.e. the elastic modulus of the blends was enhanced with increasing PBS‐DLA addition from 1.2 MPa to 54 MPa. At the same time, PBS‐DLA addition led to decreased degradation rate of the films. Furthermore the PBS‐DLA counteracted the acidity of the free carboxylic groups on the free end chains of the PGS prepolymer. In vitro cytocompatibility studies indicated high biocompatibility. Taken together the results confirm that the novel PGS/PBS‐DLA matrices exhibit promising characteristics as a biomaterial for application in cardiac regeneration approaches.
Keywords: myoblasts; poly (butylene succinate-dilinoleate); cardiac tissue engineering; mechanobiology; substrate stiffness

Poly(glycerol sebacate){Poly(butylene succinate-dilinoleate) Blends as Candidate Materials for Cardiac Tissue Engineering - Tallawi, Marwa; Rai, Ranjana; Ramsperger-Gleixner, Martina; Roerick, Olaf; Weyand, Michael; Roether, Judith; Schubert, Dirk W.; Kozlowska, A.; El Fray, Miroslawa; Merle, Benoit; Göken, Mathias; Aifantis, K.; et al. (WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH, 2013)
Poly (glycerol sebacate) (PGS) and poly (butylene succinate-dilinoleate) (PBS-DLA) are biodegradable polymers with potential application in cardiac tissue engineering. In the present study novel blends comprising PGS prepolymer and PBS-DLA were prepared with varying compositions (70/30, 60/40, 50/50, 40/60, 30/70 and 0/100 in weight percentage). The physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of the PGS/PBS-DLA blends were measured and compared. By adding PBS-DLA to PGS the need for curing PGS prepolymer was eliminated, as the blended films are chemically stable. With increasing amount of PBS-DLA the hydrophobicity of the blend system increased reaching values close to that of neat PBS-DLA films. Furthermore, addition of PBS-DLA significantly affected the mechanical properties of the blends, i.e. the elastic modulus of the blends was enhanced with increasing PBS-DLA addition from 1.2 MPa to 54 MPa. At the same time, PBS-DLA addition led to decreased degradation rate of the films. Furthermore the PBS-DLA counteracted the acidity of the free carboxylic groups on the free end chains of the PGS prepolymer. In vitro cytocompatibility studies indicated high biocompatibility. Taken together the results confirm that the novel PGS/PBS-DLA matrices exhibit promising characteristics as a biomaterial for application in cardiac regeneration approaches.
Keywords: cardiac tissue engineering; mechanobiology; myoblasts; poly (butylene succinate-dilinoleate); substrate stiffness

Poly(glycerol sebacate){Poly(butylene succinate-dilinoleate) Blends as Candidate Materials for Cardiac Tissue Engineering - Tallawi, Marwa; Rai, Ranjana; Ramsperger-Gleixner, Martina; Roerick, Olaf; Weyand, Michael; Roether, Judith; Schubert, Dirk W.; Kozlowska, A.; El Fray, M.; Merle, Benoit; Göken, Mathias; Aifantis, K.; et al. (Macromolecular Symposia, 2013)
Poly (glycerol sebacate) (PGS) and poly (butylene succinate-dilinoleate) (PBS-DLA) are biodegradable polymers with potential application in cardiac tissue engineering. In the present study novel blends comprising PGS prepolymer and PBS-DLA were prepared with varying compositions (70/30, 60/40, 50/50, 40/60, 30/70 and 0/100 in weight percentage). The physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of the PGS/PBS-DLA blends were measured and compared. By adding PBS-DLA to PGS the need for curing PGS prepolymer was eliminated, as the blended films are chemically stable. With increasing amount of PBS-DLA the hydrophobicity of the blend system increased reaching values close to that of neat PBS-DLA films. Furthermore, addition of PBS-DLA significantly affected the mechanical properties of the blends, i.e. the elastic modulus of the blends was enhanced with increasing PBS-DLA addition from 1.2 MPa to 54 MPa. At the same time, PBS-DLA addition led to decreased degradation rate of the films. Furthermore the PBS-DLA counteracted the acidity of the free carboxylic groups on the free end chains of the PGS prepolymer. In vitro cytocompatibility studies indicated high biocompatibility. Taken together the results confirm that the novel PGS/PBS-DLA matrices exhibit promising characteristics as a biomaterial for application in cardiac regeneration approache
Keywords: cardiac tissue engineering; mechanobiology; myoblasts; poly (butylene succinate-dilinoleate); substrate stiffness

Poly(Glycerol Succinate) as Coating Material for 1393 Bioactive Glass Porous Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Applications - Nakiou, Eirini A.; Lazaridou, Maria; Pouroutzidou, Georgia K.; Michopoulou, Anna; Tsamesidis, Ioannis; Liverani, Liliana; Arango Ospina, Marcela; Beketova, Anastasia; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Kontonasaki, Eleana; Bikiaris, Dimitrios N. (Polymers, 2022)
Background: Aliphatic polyesters are widely used for biomedical, pharmaceutical and environmental applications due to their high biodegradability and cost-effective production. Recently, star and hyperbranched polyesters based on glycerol and ω-carboxy fatty diacids have gained considerable interest. Succinic acid and bio-based diacids similar to glycerol are regarded as safe materials according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Bioactive glass scaffolds utilized in bone tissue engineering are relatively brittle materials. However, their mechanical properties can be improved by using polymer coatings that can further control their degradation rate, tailor their biocompatibility and enhance their performance. The purpose of this study is to explore a new biopolyester poly(glycerol succinate) (PGSuc) reinforced with mesoporous bioactive nanoparticles (MSNs) as a novel coating material to produce hybrid scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. Methods: Bioactive glass scaffolds were coated with neat PGSuc, PGSuc loaded with dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DexSP) and PGSuc loaded with DexSP-laden MSNs. The physicochemical, mechanical and biological properties of the scaffolds were also evaluated. Results: Preliminary data are provided showing that polymer coatings with and without MSNs improved the physicochemical properties of the 1393 bioactive glass scaffolds and increased the ALP activity and alizarin red staining, suggesting osteogenic differentiation potential when cultured with adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Conclusions: PGSuc with incorporated MSNs coated onto 1393 bioactive glass scaffolds could be promising candidates in bone tissue engineering applications.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-12-02
Keywords: 1393 bioactive glass scaffolds; bioactivity; dexamethasone; glycerol; mechanical properties; mesoporous nanoparticles; osteogenic differentiation; succinic acid

Poly(hydroxyalkanoate)s meet benign solvents for electrospinning - Brunetti, Lucia; Degli Esposti, Micaela; Morselli, Davide; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Fabbri, Paola; Liverani, Liliana (Materials Letters, 2020)
Electrospinning (ES) technique allows the fabrication of nano/microfibers, relevant for tissue engineering (TE) applications. Several researches have been devoted to the use of benign solvents for ES, and in this work their use in combination with poly(hydroxyalkanoate)s (PHAs) is reported. Among PHAs, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and their blend have been selected for their suitability for TE applications. The morphological and chemical properties of the electrospun mats, their degradation behaviour and cytocompatibility have been investigated, obtaining promising results and comparable properties with mats obtained using standard (not benign) solvents. Moreover, the fabrication of composite fibers incorporating bioactive glass (BG) particles is also reported as proof of concept.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2020-08-14
Keywords: Benign solvents; Bioactive glass; Electrospinning; Poly(hydroxyalkanoate)s; Tissue engineering

Polylactide-based materials science strategies to improve tissue-material interface without the use of growth factors or other biological molecules. - Gritsch, Lukas; Conoscenti, Gioacchino; La Carrubba, Vincenzo; Nooeaid, Patcharakamon; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials Science and Engineering C, 2019)
In a large number of medical devices, a key feature of a biomaterial is the ability to successfully bond to living tissues by means of engineered mechanisms such as the enhancement of biomineralization on a bone tissue engineering scaffold or the mimicking of the natural structure of the extracellular matrix (ECM). This ability is commonly referred to as "bioactivity". Materials sciences started to grow interest in it since the development of bioactive glasses by Larry Hench five decades ago. As the main goal in applications of biomedical devices and tissue scaffolds is to obtain a seamless tissue-material interface, achieving optimal bioactivity is essential for the success of most biomaterial-based tissue replacement and regenerative approaches. Polymers derived from lactic acid are largely adopted in the biomedical field, they are versatile, FDA approved and relatively cost-effective. However, as for many other widespread biomedical polymers, they are hydrophobic and lack the intrinsic ability of positively interacting with surrounding tissues. In the last decades scientists have studied many solutions to exploit the positive characteristics of polylactide-based materials overcoming this bottleneck at the same time. The efforts of this research fruitfully produced many effective tissue engineering technologies based on PLA and related biopolymers. This review aims to give an overview on the latest and most promising strategies to improve the bioactivity of lactic acid-based materials, especially focusing on biomolecule-free bulk approaches such as blending, copolymerization or composite fabrication. Avenues for future research to tackle current needs in the field are identified and discussed.

Polymer-Bioactive Glass Composite Filaments for 3D Scaffold Manufacturing by Fused Deposition Modeling: Fabrication and Characterization - Distler, Thomas; Fournier, Niklas; Grünewald, Alina; Polley, Christian; Seitz, Hermann; Detsch, Rainer; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2020)
Critical size bone defects are regularly treated by auto- and allograft transplantation. However, such treatments require to harvest bone from patient donor sites, with often limited tissue availability or risk of donor site morbidity. Not requiring bone donation, three-dimensionally (3D) printed implants and biomaterial-based tissue engineering (TE) strategies promise to be the next generation therapies for bone regeneration. We present here polylactic acid (PLA)-bioactive glass (BG) composite scaffolds manufactured by fused deposition modeling (FDM), involving the fabrication of PLA-BG composite filaments which are used to 3D print controlled open-porous and osteoinductive scaffolds. We demonstrated the printability of PLA-BG filaments as well as the bioactivity and cytocompatibility of PLA-BG scaffolds using pre-osteoblast MC3T3E1 cells. Gene expression analyses indicated the beneficial impact of BG inclusions in FDM scaffolds regarding osteoinduction, as BG inclusions lead to increased osteogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells in comparison to pristine PLA. Our findings confirm that FDM is a convenient additive manufacturing technology to develop PLA-BG composite scaffolds suitable for bone tissue engineering.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2020-07-17
Keywords: 3D printing; 3D printing filaments; bioactive glass; bone tissue engineering; fused deposition modeling; polymer ceramic composites

Polymer/bioactive glass nanocomposites for biomedical applications: A review - Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Erol, Melek; Stark, Wendelin J.; Mohn, Dirk; Hong, Zhongkui; Mano, Joao F. (Composites Science and Technology, 2010)
Nanoscale bioactive glasses have been gaining attention due to their reported superior osteoconductivity when compared to conventional (micron-sized) bioactive glass materials. The combination of bioactive glass nanoparticles or nanofibers with polymeric systems enables the production of nanocomposites with potential to be used in a series of orthopedic applications, including scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This review presents the state of art of the preparation of nanoscale bioactive glasses and corresponding composites with biocompatible polymers. The recent developments in the preparation methods of nano-sized bioactive glasses are reviewed, covering sol-gel routes, microemulsion techniques, gas phase synthesis method (flame spray synthesis), laser spinning, and electro-spinning. Then, examples of the preparation and properties of nanocomposites based on such inorganic bionanomaterials are presented, obtained using various polymer matrices, including polyesters such as poly(hydroxybutyrate), poly(lactic acid) and poly(caprolactone), and natural-based polymers such as polysaccharides (starch, chitin, chitosan) or proteins (silk fibroin, collagen). The physico-chemical, mechanical, and biological advantages of incorporating nanoscale bioactive glasses in such biodegradable nanocomposites are discussed and the possibilities to expand the use of these materials in other nanotechnology concepts aimed to be used in different biomedical applications are also highlighted. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2010.tech.IW.LM.polyme
Keywords: A. Bioactive glass; A. Nanocomposites; A. Nanoparticles; A. Particle-reinforced composites; B. Porosity/voids

Polymer-derived Biosilicate-C composite foams: In-vitro bioactivity, biocompatibility and antibacterial activity - Dogrul, Fulden; Nawaz, Qaisar; Elsayed, Hamada; Liverani, Liliana; Galusek, Dušan; Bernardo, Enrico; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2024)
Biosilicate/carbon composites were fabricated in the form of highly porous foams by the polymer-derived ceramic route, and their biological response was analysed. Two different commercial silicone polymers (a poly-methyl-siloxane, MK, and a polymethyl-phenyl-silsesquioxane, H44) were considered as a silica source, mixed with active fillers yielding Na2O, CaO and P2O5. The samples were heat treated either in air or in N2 atmosphere to obtain products resembling the known Biosilicate® glass-ceramic, with or without free carbon. All fabricated samples exhibited acellular in-vitro bioactivity upon immersion in SBF as well as antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli. Direct contact cell viability test, assessed by using a WST-8 assay, indicated that both carbon-containing and carbon-free samples were cytocompatible.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2024-03-29
Keywords: Antibacterial activity; biocompatibility; cell viability; Biosilicate glass-ceramic; Composites; Polymer-derived-ceramics; SiOC

Polymer-derived biosilicate®-like glass-ceramics: Engineering of formulations and additive manufacturing of three-dimensional scaffolds - Dogrul, Fulden; Ożóg, Paulina; Michálek, Martin; Elsayed, Hamada; Galusek, Dušan; Liverani, Liliana; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Bernardo, Enrico (Materials, 2021)
Silicone resins, filled with phosphates and other oxide fillers, yield upon firing in air at 1100◦C, a product resembling Biosilicate® glass-ceramics, one of the most promising systems for tissue engineering applications. The process requires no preliminary synthesis of parent glass, and the polymer route enables the application of direct ink writing (DIW) of silicone-based mixtures, for the manufacturing of reticulated scaffolds at room temperature. The thermal treatment is later applied for the conversion into ceramic scaffolds. The present paper further elucidates the flexibility of the approach. Changes in the reference silicone and firing atmosphere (from air to nitrogen) were studied to obtain functional composite biomaterials featuring a carbon phase embedded in a Biosilicate®-like matrix. The microstructure was further modified either through a controlled gas release at a low temperature, or by the revision of the adopted additive manufacturing technology (from DIW to digital light processing).
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2021-09-24
Keywords: Additive manufacturing; Biosilicate® glass-ceramic; Digital light processing; Direct ink writing; Polymer-derived ceramics; SiOC

Polymeric Hydrogel Systems as Emerging Biomaterial Platforms to Enable Hemostasis and Wound Healing - Pourshahrestani, Sara; Zeimaran, Ehsan; Kadri, Nahrizul Adib; Mutlu, Nurshen; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Advanced Healthcare Materials, 2020)
Broad interest in developing new hemostatic technologies arises from unmet needs in mitigating uncontrolled hemorrhage in emergency, surgical, and battlefield settings. Although a variety of hemostats, sealants, and adhesives are available, development of ideal hemostatic compositions that offer a range of remarkable properties including capability to effectively and immediately manage bleeding, excellent mechanical properties, biocompatibility, biodegradability, antibacterial effect, and strong tissue adhesion properties, under wet and dynamic conditions, still remains a challenge. Benefiting from tunable mechanical properties, high porosity, biocompatibility, injectability and ease of handling, polymeric hydrogels with outstanding hemostatic properties have been receiving increasing attention over the past several years. In this review, after shedding light on hemostasis and wound healing processes, the most recent progresses in hydrogel systems engineered from natural and synthetic polymers for hemostatic applications are discussed based on a comprehensive literature review. Most studies described used in vivo models with accessible and compressible wounds to assess the hemostatic performance of hydrogels. The challenges that need to be tackled to accelerate the translation of these novel hemostatic hydrogel systems to clinical practice are emphasized and future directions for research in the field are presented.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2020-09-25
Keywords: adhesives; hemostasis; hemostats; injectable hydrogels; wound healing

Polymer (PCL) fibers with Zn-doped mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles for tissue regeneration - Nescakova, Zuzana; Kankova, Hana; Galuskova, Dagmar; Galusek, Dusan; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Liverani, Liliana (International Journal of Applied Glass Science, 2021)
Composite fibrous membranes based on poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) and mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs) were fabricated by electrospinning. MBGNs and Zn-doped MBGNs prepared by microemulsion sol–gel method were successfully incorporated inside the polymeric fibers of 240 and 385 nm in diameter for undoped and Zn-doped PCL_MBGNs fibers, respectively. Thermal analysis showed that the concentration of MBGNs reached a maximum of around 21 wt% for Zn-doped MBGNs. Both PCL_MBGNs and PCL_MBGNs_Zn composite membrane exhibited bioactivity after immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed the evolution of composite membranes, confirming the formation of hydroxyapatite (HAp). However, the degradation products of membranes did not affect the viability and proliferation of murine stromal cells (ST-2) and thus the new fiber structures represent a suitable environment for cell adhesion. Therefore, the incorporation of mesoporous glass nanoparticles doped with therapeutically active Zn2+ ions inside the PCL fibers offers the possibility to create a multifunctional biomaterial suitable for drug delivery and tissue engineering.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2021-07-30
Keywords: benign solvents; composite fibers; composites; electrospinning; mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles; poly(ɛ-caprolactone); tissue engineering; zinc

Polymers and Bioactive Compounds with a Macrophage Modulation Effect for the Rational Design of Hydrogels for Skin Regeneration - Sánchez, Mirna L.; Valdez, Hugo; Conde, Micaela; Viaña-Mendieta, Pamela; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Pharmaceutics, 2023)
The development of biomaterial platforms for dispensing reagents of interest such as antioxidants, growth factors or antibiotics based on functional hydrogels represents a biotechnological solution for many challenges that the biomedicine field is facing. In this context, in situ dosing of therapeutic components for dermatological injuries such as diabetic foot ulcers is a relatively novel strategy to improve the wound healing process. Hydrogels have shown more comfort for the treatment of wounds due to their smooth surface and moisture, as well as their structural affinity with tissues in comparison to hyperbaric oxygen therapy, ultrasound, and electromagnetic therapies, negative pressure wound therapy or skin grafts. Macrophages, one of the most important cells of the innate immune system, have been described as the key not only in relation to the host immune defense, but also in the progress of wound healing. Macrophage dysfunction in chronic wounds of diabetic patients leads to a perpetuating inflammatory environment and impairs tissue repair. Modulating the macrophage phenotype from pro-inflammatory (M1) to anti-inflammatory (M2) could be a strategy for helping to improve chronic wound healing. In this regard, a new paradigm is found in the development of advanced biomaterials capable of inducing in situ macrophage polarization to offer an approach to wound care. Such an approach opens a new direction for the development of multifunctional materials in regenerative medicine. This paper surveys emerging hydrogel materials and bioactive compounds being investigated to induce the immunomodulation of macrophages. We propose four potential functional biomaterials for wound healing applications based on novel biomaterial/bioactive compound combination that are expected to show synergistic beneficial outcomes for the local differentiation of macrophages (M1–M2) as a therapeutic strategy for chronic wound healing improvement.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2023-07-28
Keywords: biomaterials; inmunomodulation; macrophages M1–M2; polymers; wound-healing

Polymers for myocardial tissue engineering - Roether, Judith; Jawad, H.; Rai, Ranjana; Ali, N. N.; Harding, S. E.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (CRC Press, 2013)
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the industrialized world (Lloyd-Jones et al. 2010). Heart attacks are the main cause of death in patients with CVD, although damage to heart muscle can also occur from infection, drugs, alcohol, chemotherapeutic agents, or because of congenital conditions. According to available statistical information (www.bhf.org.uk), approximately 30% of patients suffering from heart attacks each year die suddenly before reaching hospital. In the remaining patients who survive the initial acute event, the damage sustained to the heart may eventually develop heart failure. A heart attack, known as myocardial infarction (MI), occurs when one or more of the blood vessels supplying the heart suddenly occlude. These vessels are the coronary arteries, and when blocked abruptly, there is a sudden decrease in the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the portion of heart muscle supplied by the artery. If blood flow is not restored rapidly, the result is irreversible cell death within the affected part of the heart muscle.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-08-05

Polyurethane foams electrophoretically coated with carbon nanotubes for tissue engineering scaffolds - Boccaccini, Aldo R.; et al. (Biomedical Materials, 2009)
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were deposited on the surfaces of polyurethane (PUR) foams by electrophoretic deposition (EPD). The parameters of EPD were optimized in order to obtain homogeneous CNT coatings on PUR foams and adequate infiltration of the three-dimensional (3D) porous network. The microstructure of the composites was investigated by high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM), revealing that optimal quality of the coatings was achieved by an EPD voltage of 20 V. The thermal properties of the CNT-coated specimens, determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), were correlated to the foam microstructure. In vitro tests in concentrated simulated body fluid (1.5 SBF) were performed to study the influence of the presence of CNTs on the bioactivity of PUR-based scaffolds, assessed by the formation of calcium phosphate (CaP) compounds, e.g. hydroxyapatite (HA), on the foam surfaces. It was observed that CNTs accelerate the precipitation of CaP, which is thought to be due to the presence of more nucleation centres for crystal nucleation and growth, as compared with uncoated foams. Polyurethane foams with CNT coating have the potential to be used as bioactive scaffolds in bone tissue engineering due to their high interconnected porosity, bioactivity and nanostructured surface topography. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2009.tech.IW.LM.polyur

Poly(ε-caprolactone)/bioactive glass composite electrospun fibers for tissue engineering applications - Piatti, Elisa; Miola, Marta; Liverani, Liliana; Verné, Enrica; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 2023)
In this work, composite electrospun fibers containing innovative bioactive glass nanoparticles were produced and characterized. Poly(ε-caprolactone), benign solvents, and sol–gel B- and Cu-doped bioactive glass powders were used to fabricate fibrous scaffolds. The retention of bioactive glass nanoparticles in the polymer matrix, the electrospinnability of this novel solution and the obtained electrospun composites were extensively characterized. As a result, composite electrospun fibers characterized by biocompatibility, bioactivity, and exhibiting overall properties adequate for both hard and soft tissue engineering applications, have been produced. The addition of these bioactive glass nanoparticles was, indeed, able to impart bioactive properties to the fibers. Cell culture studies show promising results, demonstrating proliferation and growth of cells on the composite fibers. Wettability, degradation rate, and mechanical performance were also tested and are in line with previous results.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2023-06-23
Keywords: benign solvents; bioactive glass; boron; composite; copper; electrospinning; poly(epsilon-caprolactone)

Poly(ε-caprolactone)/poly(glycerol sebacate) electrospun scaffolds for cardiac tissue engineering using benign solvents - Vogt, Lena; Ramos Rivera, Laura; Liverani, Liliana; Piegat, Agnieszka; El Fray, Miroslawa; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials Science and Engineering C, 2019)
Electrospun fibers based on combinations of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) have been studied for applications in cardiac tissue engineering. The aim of the present study is to demonstrate the fabrication of PCL and PGS prepolymer or mildly crosslinked PGS by electrospinning using less toxic solvents, like acetic acid, as opposed to conventional solvents such as chloroform or dichloromethane. The morphological and physiochemical properties and degradation susceptibility of the fiber mats were determined. A cell study using ST2 cells was performed to assess cytocompatibility. Neat PCL and PCL/PGS blends showed defect-free microstructures, whereby the average fiber diameter increased with the addition of PGS (0.8 ± 0.3 μm and 1.3 ± 0.7 μm, respectively). The mechanical properties were tested at 23 °C and 37 °C and showed higher values compared to native human myocardium. Degradation studies revealed a fast PGS degradation but the mildly cross-linked PGS resulted in acidification of the degradation medium. The biocompatibility was significantly increased when the samples were disinfected in 70% v/v ethanol in comparison to ultra-violet light disinfection. PCL/PGS fibers fabricated with acetic acid proved to be potentially suitable for application in cardiac tissue engineering based on their mechanical properties and biodegradability.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2019-05-21
Keywords: Acetic acid; Cardiac patch; Cardiac tissue engineering; Electrospinning; Poly(glycerol sebacate); Poly(ε-caprolactone)

Porous bioactive glass micro- And nanospheres with controlled morphology: Developments, properties and emerging biomedical applications - Zheng, Kai; Sui, Baiyan; Ilyas, Kanwal; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials Horizons, 2021)
In recent years, porous bioactive glass micro/nanospheres (PBGSs) have emerged as attractive biomaterials in various biomedical applications where such engineered particles provide suitable functions, from tissue engineering to drug delivery. The design and synthesis of PBGSs with controllable particle size and pore structure are critical for such applications. PBGSs have been successfully synthesized using melt-quenching and sol-gel based methods. The morphology of PBGSs is controllable by tuning the processing parameters and precursor characteristics during the synthesis. In this comprehensive review on PBGSs, we first overview the synthesis approaches for PBGSs, including both melt-quenching and sol-gel based strategies. Sol-gel processing is the primary technology used to produce PBGSs, allowing for control over the chemical compositions and pore structure of particles. Particularly, the influence of pore-forming templates on the morphology of PBGSs is highlighted. Recent progress in the sol-gel synthesis of PBGSs with sophisticated pore structures (e.g., hollow mesoporous, dendritic fibrous mesoporous) is also covered. The challenges regarding the control of particle morphology, including the influence of metal ion precursors and pore expansion, are discussed in detail. We also highlight the recent achievements of PBGSs in a number of biomedical applications, including bone tissue regeneration, wound healing, therapeutic agent delivery, bioimaging, and cancer therapy. Finally, we conclude with our perspectives on the directions of future research based on identified challenges and potential new developments and applications of PBGSs.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2021-03-05

Porous bioactive glass microspheres prepared by flame synthesis process - Kraxner, Jozef; Michalek, Martin; Romero, Acacio Rincon; Elsayed, Hamada; Bernardo, Enrico; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Galusek, Dušan (Materials Letters, 2019)
A scaleable, low cost processing method to prepare porous bioactive glass (BG) microspheres is presented. Glass powder with composition based on 45S5 BG and exhibiting irregularly shaped particles was fabricated by conventional melting. Glass powder was alkali activated to induce pore formation during the following flame synthesis step. Porous microspheres, with diameters ranging between 45 and 75 µm, were successfully prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The porous bioactive glass microspheres are promising candidates for applications in bone regeneration, tissue engineering, and as carriers for controlled drug delivery.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2019-09-24
Keywords: Alkaline activation; Bioactive glass; Flame synthesis; Porous microspheres

Porous Bioactive Nanofibers via Cryogenic Solution Blow Spinning and Their Formation into 3D Macroporous Scaffolds - Medeiros, Eudes Leonnan G.; Braz, Ana Leticia; Porto, Isaque Jeronimo; Menner, Angelika; Bismarck, Alexander; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Lepry, William C.; Nazhat, Showan N.; Medeiros, Eliton S.; Blaker, Jonny J. (ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering, 2016)
Keywords: bioactive composite; nanofibers; polylactide; solution blow spinning; thermally induced phase separation

Porous Biomaterials and Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering - Liverani, Liliana; Guarino, Vincenzo; La Carrubba, Vincenzo; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Encyclopedia of Biomedical Engineering, 2019)
In the present article, an overview of the definition of tissue engineering and scaffold requirements is reported. In particular, scaffold porosity and its relevance for several tissue target regeneration is highlighted. Different scaffold fabrication techniques are reported and explained in details, highlighting advantages and disadvantages for all of these techniques, regarding the specific final applications.<br
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2020-04-10
Keywords: Porosity; Scaffold fabrication techniques; Scaffolds; Tissue engineering

Porous magnesium-based scaffolds for tissue engineering - Yazdimamaghani, Mostafa; Razavi, Mehdi; Vashaee, Daryoosh; Moharamzadeh, Keyvan; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Tayebi, Lobat (Materials Science and Engineering C, 2017)
Keywords: Biodegradation; Bone; Cartilage; Magnesium; Porous scaffolds

Positive effect of wrapping poly caprolactone/polyethylene glycol fibrous films on the mechanical properties of 45S5 bioactive glass scaffolds - Shi, Quan; Li, Zhi-Yong; Liverani, Liliana; Roether, Judith; Chen, Qiang; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (International Journal of Applied Ceramic Technology, 2018)
Keywords: electrospinning; mechanical properties; 45S5 bioactive glass scaffold; bone tissue engineering; poly caprolactone/polyethylene glycol film

Potential of laponite incorporated oxidized alginate–gelatin (ADA-GEL) composite hydrogels for extrusion-based 3D printing - Cai, Fei Fan; Heid, Susanne; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials, 2020)
The concept of adding inorganic fillers into hydrogels to form hydrogel nanocomposites often provides advantageous properties which can be exploited for successful 3D biofabrication. In this study, a new composite hydrogel combining oxidized alginate–gelatin (ADA-GEL) hydrogel and laponite nanoclay as inorganic nanofiller was successfully developed and characterized. The results showed that the addition of 0.5% (wt/vol) laponite nanoplatelets improved the printability of ADA-GEL hydrogels enabling the fabrication of detailed structures since a low effect of material spreading and reduced tendency to pore closure appeared. Furthermore, a comparison of different needle types (cylindrical and conical; same inner diameter of 250 μm) in filament fusion test showed that the pattern dispensed by cylindrical tip has enhanced printing accuracy and pattern fidelity when compared with the pattern from conical tip. A glass flip test determined a processing window of 1–2 h after composite ink preparation. Overall, laponite/ADA-GEL hydrogel composites are confirmed as promising inks for 3D bioprinting.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2020-12-11
Keywords: ADA-GEL; biomaterial; bioprinting; composite; hydrogel; laponite; nanoclay; scaffold; tissue engineering

Preconditioning of bioactive glasses before introduction to static cell culture: What is really necessary? - Hohenbild, Frederike; Arango Ospina, Marcela; Moghaddam, Arash; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Westhauser, Fabian (Methods and Protocols, 2020)
Due to their high bioreactivity, the in-vitro analysis of bioactive glasses (BGs) can be challenging when it comes to maintaining a physiological pH. To improve BG biocompatibility, a heterogenic spectrum of preconditioning approaches, such as “passivation” of the BGs by incubation in cell culture medium, are used but have never been directly compared. In this study, the effect of passivation periods of up to 72 h on pH alkalization and viability of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells was evaluated to determine a time-efficient passivation protocol using granules based on the 45S5-BG composition (in wt%: 45.0 SiO2, 24.5 Na2 O, 24.5 CaO, 6.0 P2 O5) in different concentrations. pH alkalization was most reduced after passivation of 24 h. Cell viability continuously improved with increasing passivation time being significantly higher after passivation of at least 24 h compared to non-passivated 45S5-BG and the necessary passivation time increased with increasing BG concentrations. In this setting, a passivation period of 24 h presented as an effective approach to provide a biocompatible cell culture setting. In conclusion, before introduction of BGs in cell culture, different passivation periods should be evaluated in order to meet the respective experimental settings, e.g., by following the experimental protocols used in this study.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2020-09-04
Keywords: 45S5 bioactive glass; Biocompatibility; Cytocompatibility; Cytotoxicity; Human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells; Passivation

Pre-Crosslinking with Hydrogel Microparticles Enhances the Printability of Alginate-Based Inks - Hazur, Jonas; Röder, Jonas; Czwalinna, Jonas; Schubert, Dirk W.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Macromolecular Materials and Engineering, 2023)
The main challenge in extrusion-based bioprinting is to develop inks which must comprise a manifold of characteristics before, during, and after printing. To tackle the challenge of good shape fidelity and printability of low concentration inks, in this study hydrogel microparticles (HMPs) are proposed to produce internally pre-crosslinked inks. Alginate (Alg) and oxidized alginate (OA)-based HMPs are fabricated and used as Ca2+-releasing reservoirs. OA HMPs are used to demonstrate the versatility of this approach and to show its suitability also for chemically modified alginate. Embedded in either fresh Alg or OA solution, HMPs are used to pre-crosslink the inks. Rheological measurements revealed that HMP pre-crosslinking increases the yield stress and viscosity while reducing the loss angle of bioinks. Moreover, printing experiments reveal that being able to tailor rheological properties is an effective tool to improve printability. Furthermore, pre-crosslinking significantly alters the hydogel internal microstructure. In vitro studies show that NIH/3T3 cells proliferate in HMP pre-crosslinked bioinks modified with gelatin. Altogether, a low-cost and easy to use setup to prepare HMPs is presented and for the first time, the possibility of using such HMPs as pre-crosslinking agent to tailor the printability of alginate-based bioinks is demonstrated.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2023-08-18
Keywords: alginate; bioprinting; cross-linking; gelatin; oxidized alginate

Preface of the Special Issue ‘ESB 2017’ - Chatzinikolaidou, Maria; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 2018)
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-08-05

Preface: Syntactic and composite foams special section - Gladysz, G. M.; Chawla, K. K.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Materials Science, 2012)

Preface: Vitrification and geopolymerization of industrial wastes - Ma Rincon, Jesus; Jordan, Manuel; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials Letters, 2019)
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2019-10-15

Preliminary Studies for One-Step Fabrication of Metallic Iron-Based Coatings on Magnesium as Temporary Protection in Biodegradable Medical Application - Yang, Yuyun; Shi, Zizhong; Cui, Xiufang; Liu, Yuejun; Jin, Guo; Virtanen, Sannakaisa; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; She, Peng (Frontiers in Materials, 2021)
Iron and magnesium are being considered as promising candidates for biodegradable materials in medical applications, both materials having their specific advantages and challenges. A hybrid of metallic iron and magnesium in a layered composite is studied in the present work, to combine the merits of both metals. A single-step dip-coating method was employed to prepare the layered composite material. Morphology, composition, crystal structure and corrosion behavior of the Mg/Fe sheet were assessed by SEM, EDX, XRD, and electrochemical measurements. The Mg/Fe layered composite sheet is composed of the magnesium substrate, a 1-2 mu m metallic iron coating, and a pompon-like Mg(OH)(2)/MgO top layer. Long-term open-circuit potential measurements revealed that the Mg/Fe sheet samples exhibit a "self-healing" effect in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium.
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2021-12-31

Premature degradation of poly(α-hydroxyesters) during thermal processing of Bioglass® containing composites - Blaker, Jonny J.; Bismarck, Alexander; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Young, Anne M.; Nazhat, Showan N. (Acta Biomaterialia, 2010)
Bioactive, biodegradable composites are increasingly being explored as bone replacement materials and as scaffolds for tissue engineering. Their properties are not only dependent on the properties of the filler and matrix, but are also determined by their interaction. This study investigated the effect on poly(d,l-lactide) (PDLLA) matrix when processed at high-temperatures in the presence of Bioglass® particulate filler. Composites with different filler contents were compounded at elevated temperatures by co-extrusion followed by compression moulding and compared with composites of similar composition prepared by thermally induced phase separation (TIPS), a low-temperature processing route. It was found that the inclusion of Bioglass® in PDLLA under elevated temperatures resulted in the degradation of the matrix, leading to a reduction in the mechanical properties of the composites and in the molecular weight of the matrix. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy showed the presence of a peak at 1600 cm-1 in the composite material, particularly when processed at elevated temperatures, whereas no peak at this wavelength was discernible for the pure PDLLA. Furthermore, time-based ATR-FTIR spectra taken at elevated temperatures on the TIPS-processed composites showed an increase in the intensity of the peak at 1600 cm-1 and a concomitant reduction of the Cdouble bond, longO stretch peak at 1745 cm-1 with time. This suggested the formation of a carboxylate salt by-products as a consequence of a reaction at the interface between the Bioglass® filler and the PDLLA matrix. Therefore, the results confirmed that this degradation was not solely due to shear effects during the extrusion process. This work thereby supports the assertion that, in the presence of Bioglass® filler particles, poly(α-hydroxyester)-based composites should not be processed at elevated temperatures. © 2009 Acta Materialia In
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2010.tech.IW.LM.premat
Keywords: Bioactive glass; Biodegradable composite; Bioglass; Scaffolds; Silica

Preparation and characterisation of gallium releasing 3-D alginate coated 45S5 Bioglass® based scaffolds for bone tissue engineering - Mourino, Viviana; Newby, Phillipa; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Advanced Engineering Materials, 2010)
The aim of this work was to develop functional three-dimensional scaffolds based on Bioglass® derived glass-ceramics for bone tissue engineering (TE) with prophylaxis effect against infections. The highly porous scaffolds were fabricated by the foam replication technique and then coated with sodium alginate crosslinked with Ga3+. It was confirmed that the polymer coating did not affect the interconnectivity of the scaffold pore structure. The resulting composite scaffold exhibited antibacterial effect and improved mechanical properties as well as high bioactivity. The novel Ga3p loaded 45S5 Bioglass1-based scaffolds coated with alginate are promising candidates for bone TE applications. © 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2010.tech.IW.LM.prepar

Preparation and characterization of 45S5 bioactive glass-based scaffolds loaded with PHBV microspheres with daidzein release function - Macias-Andres, Victor I.; Li, Wei; Aguilar-Reyes, Ena A.; Ding, Yaping; Roether, Judith; Harhaus, Leila; Leon-Patino, Carlos A.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 2017)
Keywords: 45S5 bioactive glass; Bone tissue engineering; Daidzein; Drug delivery; PHBV; Scaffold

Preparation and characterization of aligned porous PCL/zein scaffolds as drug delivery systems via improved unidirectional freeze-drying method - Fereshteh, Zeinab; Fathi, Mohammadhossein; Bagri, Akbar; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials Science and Engineering C, 2016)
Keywords: Aligned PCL/zein scaffolds; Controlled release; Drug delivery; Freeze-drying; Protein release

Preparation and characterization of Bioglass®-based scaffolds reinforced by poly-vinyl alcohol/microfibrillated cellulose composite coating - Bertolla, L.; Dlouhy, I.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2014)
The present work deals with the preparation and mechanical characterization of Bioglass-based porous scaffolds reinforced by a composite coating constituted by polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and microfibrillated cellulose (MFC). Samples were produced by foam replication process, using a novel ethanol-based Bioglass slurry. The addition of PVA/MFC coating led to a 10 fold increase of compressive strength and a 20 fold increase of tensile strength in comparison with non-coated scaffolds. SEM observations of broken struts surfaces proved the reinforcing and toughening effect of the composite coating which were ascribed to crack bridging and fracture of cellulose fibrils. The mechanical properties of the coatings were investigated by tensile testing of PVA/MFC composite stripes. The stirring time of the PVA/MFC solution came out as a crucial parameter in order to achieve a more homogeneous dispersion of the fibers and therefore enhanced strength and stiffness. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.
Keywords: Bioceramics; Composite coating; Polymer coating; Porous materials

Preparation and characterization of electrosprayed daidzein-loaded PHBV microspheres - Scheithauer, Ellen Corinna; Li, Wei; Ding, Yaping; Harhaus, Leila; Roether, Judith; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials Letters, 2015)
Given that hormone therapy of osteoporosis with estrogen and progesterone may have potential negative side effects, there is a strong need of developing alternative solutions. Possible therapy alternatives involve the use of phytoestrogens such as daidzein. In this study, daidzein-loaded poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) microspheres were prepared using electrospraying. The obtained microspheres had uniform surface morphology, and narrow particle size distribution with mean particle size of 4.8 μm. Daidzein was determined to be in amorphous state in the PHBV microspheres by differential scanning calorimetry analysis. Encapsulated daidzein was released with a low initial burst release (7.6% at 1 h) followed by a sustained release over a period of 3 days. The developed PHBV microspheres with daidzein delivery function have potential applications in the treatment of osteoporosis and for bone tissue engineerin
Keywords: Bone tissue engineering; Daidzein; Drug delivery; Electrospraying; Osteoporosis; PHBV microspheres

Preparation and Characterization of Electrospun Blend Fibrous Polyethylene Oxide:Polycaprolactone Scaffolds to Promote Cartilage Regeneration - Mirzaei, Zeynab; Kuth, Sonja; Schubert, Dirk W.; Detsch, Rainer; Roether, Judith; Blunk, Torsten; Kordestani, Soheila S.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Advanced Engineering Materials, 2020)
Fibrous scaffolds can be used to mimic the structure of cartilage extracellular matrix aiming at cartilage regeneration through optimal utilization of such scaffolds and chondrogenic cells. Herein, different types of fibrous structures are manufactured through electrospinning of blends of polyethylene oxide (PEO) and polycaprolactone (PCL), and the physical and chemical characteristics of the produced fiber mats are investigated. The amount of PEO influenced hydrophilicity, biodegradability, and mechanical properties of the blend fibers. To assess the cytotoxicity and biocompatibility of the scaffolds as well as the effect of fiber orientation, in vitro cell culture studies with a chondrogenic cell line (ATDC5) are conducted. The results show no cytotoxicity of the developed fibrous structures. A promising fibrous scaffold technology is presented with potential applications in cartilage tissue engineering.
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2020-05-29

Preparation and characterization of fibrous chitosan-glued phosphate glass fiber scaffolds for bone regeneration - Zheng, Kai; Wu, Zhaoying; Wei, Jie; Russel, Christian; Liang, Wen; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 2015)
Phosphate glass fibers (PGF) have emerged as promising building blocks for constructing bone scaffolds. In this study, fibrous scaffolds (PGFS) were fabricated using a facile binding method at room temperature. PGFS exhibited an extracellular matrix-like morphology and were composed of PGF as matrix and chitosan as the natural binding glue. They showed an interconnected porous structure with a porosity of 87 % and pore size of 100–500 µm. PGFS exhibited the typical compressive stress–strain behaviour of highly porous, low-density, open-cell scaffolds. Their yield stress and modulus were 0.38 and 2.84 MPa, respectively, with the strength being higher than the lower bound of the compressive strength of cancellous bone. PGFS were degradable and the weight loss was about 25 % after immersion in stimulated body fluid (SBF) for 28 days. In addition, the yield stress and the modulus decreased with increasing immersion time in SBF. Apatite formation could be detected on the surface of PGFS within 7 days of immersion in SBF. MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay indicated that PGFS were non-cytotoxic against bone marrow stromal cells (bMSCs) after culture for up to 72 h. These results suggest that PGFS could be promising scaffolds for bone regeneration applications.

Preparation and characterization of mesoporous calcium-doped silica-coated TiO2 scaffolds and their drug releasing behavior - Sengottuvelan, Abirami; Mederer, Marco; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (International Journal of Applied Ceramic Technology, 2018)
Keywords: Bioactivity; Drug release; Ibuprofen; Mesoporous calcium silica coatings; Scaffold; Titania

Preparation and characterization of mesoporous calcium-doped silica-coated TiO2 scaffolds and their drug releasing behavior - Sengottuvelan, Abirami; Mederer, Marco; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (International Journal of Applied Ceramic Technology, 2018)
Keywords: titania; bioactivity; ibuprofen; drug release; scaffold; mesoporous calcium silica coatings

Preparation and characterization of novel poly (lactic acid)/calcium oxide nanocomposites by electrospinning as a potential bone tissue scaffold - Canales, Daniel; Moyano, Dominique; Alvarez, Fabian; Grande-Tovar, Carlos David; Valencia-Llano, Carlos H.; Peponi, Laura; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Zapata, Paula A. (Biomaterials Advances, 2023)
Calcium oxide nanoparticles (n-CaO) ca. 22 nm were obtained from eggshell waste. The n-CaO was incorporated into the PLA matrix in 10 and 20 wt% of filler content by electrospinning process to get PLA/n-CaO fibers with homogenous morphology and diameter as a potential use in scaffold for bone tissue regeneration. The incorporation of n-CaO into PLA modifies the mechanical properties, having a reinforcement effect on the matrix. The Young modulus for PLA/n-CaO nanocomposites increased between 122 and 138 % concerning neat PLA fibers, showing a more rigid behavior. The PLA/n-CaO nanocomposite fibers showed in vitro bioactivity, capable of inducing the precipitation of hydroxyapatite (HA) layer in the fiber surface after seven days in SBF solution. The biocidal and biological properties of PLA/n-Cao with 20 wt% showed a 30 % reduction in bacterial viability against S. aureus and 11 % against E. coli after 6 h of bacterial exposure. Furthermore, the fibers did not show a cytotoxic effect on the bone marrow ST-2 cell line, allowing cell adhesion and proliferation in the RPMI medium. The PLA/n-CaO with 20 wt% of nanoparticles showed a higher capacity to promote osteogenic differentiation, significantly increasing the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) expression after seven days compared to PLA and cell control. The in vivo analysis corroborated the biocompatibility of the prepared scaffolds; the presence of n-CaO in PLA reduced the formation of fibrous encapsulation of the material, improving the healing process. These results validated using n-CaO to enhance the functionality of polymer matrices as a PLA, bringing bioactive, biocide, and biocompatible properties, opening a new and interesting route to develop new biomaterials as a scaffold for bone tissue engineering.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2023-08-18
Keywords: CaO nanoparticles; Electrospun fiber; Functional biomaterials; PLA-based nanocomposites; Tissue engineering

Preparation and characterization of PHBV microsphere/45S5 bioactive glass composite scaffolds with vancomycin releasing function - Li, Wei; Ding, Yaping; Rai, Ranjana; Roether, Judith; Schubert, Dirk W.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials Science and Engineering C, 2014)
PHBV microsphere/45S5 bioactive glass (BG) composite scaffolds with drug release function were developed for bone tissue engineering. BG-based glass-ceramic scaffolds with high porosity (94%) and interconnected pore structure prepared by foam replication method were coated with PHBV microspheres (nominal diameter = 3.5 μm) produced by water-in-oil-in-water double emulsion solvent evaporation method. A homogeneous microsphere coating throughout the porous structure of scaffolds was obtained by a simple dip coating method, using the slurry of PHBV microspheres in hexane. Compressive strength tests showed that the microsphere coating slightly improved the mechanical properties of the scaffolds. It was confirmed that the microsphere coating did not inhibit the bioactivity of the scaffolds in SBF. Hydroxyapatite crystals homogeneously grew not only on the struts of the scaffolds but also on the surface of microspheres within 7 days of immersion in SBF. Vancomycin was successfully encapsulated into the PHBV microspheres. The encapsulated vancomycin was released with a dual release profile involving a relatively low initial burst release (21%) and a sustained release (1 month), which is favorable compared to the high initial burst release (77%) and short release period (4 days) measured on uncoated scaffolds. The developed bioactive composite scaffold with drug delivery function has thus the potential to be used advantageously in bone tissue engineering. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Bioglass; drug delivery; PHBV; scaffold; tissue engineering; vancomycin

Preparation and characterization of PHBV microsphere/45S5 bioactive glass composite scaffolds with vancomycin releasing function - Li, Wei; Ding, Yaping; Rai, Ranjana; Roether, Judith; Schubert, Dirk W.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials Science and Engineering C, 2014)
PHBV microsphere/45S5 bioactive glass (BG) composite scaffolds with drug release function were developed for bone tissue engineering. BG-based glass-ceramic scaffolds with high porosity (94%) and interconnected pore structure prepared by foam replication method were coated with PHBV microspheres (nominal diameter = 3.5 μm) produced by water-in-oil-in-water double emulsion solvent evaporation method. A homogeneous microsphere coating throughout the porous structure of scaffolds was obtained by a simple dip coating method, using the slurry of PHBV microspheres in hexane. Compressive strength tests showed that the microsphere coating slightly improved the mechanical properties of the scaffolds. It was confirmed that the microsphere coating did not inhibit the bioactivity of the scaffolds in SBF. Hydroxyapatite crystals homogeneously grew not only on the struts of the scaffolds but also on the surface of microspheres within 7 days of immersion in SBF. Vancomycin was successfully encapsulated into the PHBV microspheres. The encapsulated vancomycin was released with a dual release profile involving a relatively low initial burst release (21%) and a sustained release (1 month), which is favorable compared to the high initial burst release (77%) and short release period (4 days) measured on uncoated scaffolds. The developed bioactive composite scaffold with drug delivery function has thus the potential to be used advantageously in bone tissue engineerin
Keywords: tissue engineering; vancomycin; PHBV; scaffold; drug delivery; Bioglass

Preparation and characterization of sintered bioactive borate glass tape - Sengupta, Susanta; Michalek, Martin; Liverani, Liliana; Švančárek, Peter; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Galusek, Dušan (Materials Letters, 2021)
Non-aqueous tape casting was used to prepare flexible green tapes from borate glass (1393B3) particles. The tapes were sintered at 550, 575, 600 °C: dense tapes were prepared at 600 °C. In-vitro bioactivity in simulated body fluid (SBF) of tapes sintered at different temperatures was evaluated. SEM, FTIR and XRD results showed slow degradation of dense borate glass tape in SBF compared to the non-dense tapes sintered at different temperatures. Formation of HCA (hydroxy carbonated apatite) on sample surfaces was confirmed after 7D in SBF.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2020-10-30
Keywords: Bioactivity; Borate bioactive glass; Densification; Tape casting

Preparation and characterization of vancomycin releasing PHBV coated 45S5 Bioglass®-based glassceramic scaffolds for bone tissue engineering - Li, Wei; Nooeaid, Patcharakamon; Roether, Judith; Schubert, Dirk W.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2014)
Porous 45S5 Bioglass®-based glass-ceramic scaffolds with high porosity (96%) and interconnected pore structure (average pore size 300μm) were prepared by foam replication method. In order to improve the mechanical properties and to incorporate a drug release function, the scaffolds were coated with a drug loaded solution, consisting of PHBV and vancomycin. The mechanical properties of the scaffolds were significantly improved by the PHBV coating. The bioactivity of scaffolds upon immersion in SBF was maintained in PHBV coated scaffolds although the formation of hydroxyapatite was slightly retarded by the presence of the coating. The encapsulated drug in coated scaffolds was released in a sustained manner (99.9% in 6 days) as compared to the rapid release (99.5% in 3 days) of drug directly adsorbed on the uncoated scaffolds. The obtained drug loaded and bioactive composite scaffolds represent promising candidates for bone tissue engineering applications. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2014.tech.IW.LM.prepar
Keywords: 45S5 Bioglass; Drug release; Mechanical properties; PHBV; Scaffold

Preparation and characterization of vancomycin releasing PHBV coated 45S5 Bioglass®-based glass-ceramic scaffolds for bone tissue engineering - Li, Wei; Nooeaid, Patcharakamon; Roether, Judith; Schubert, Dirk W.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2014)
Porous 45S5 Bioglass®-based glass–ceramic scaffolds with high porosity (96%) and interconnected pore structure (average pore size 300 μm) were prepared by foam replication method. In order to improve the mechanical properties and to incorporate a drug release function, the scaffolds were coated with a drug loaded solution, consisting of PHBV and vancomycin. The mechanical properties of the scaffolds were significantly improved by the PHBV coating. The bioactivity of scaffolds upon immersion in SBF was maintained in PHBV coated scaffolds although the formation of hydroxyapatite was slightly retarded by the presence of the coating. The encapsulated drug in coated scaffolds was released in a sustained manner (99.9% in 6 days) as compared to the rapid release (99.5% in 3 days) of drug directly adsorbed on the uncoated scaffolds. The obtained drug loaded and bioactive composite scaffolds represent promising candidates for bone tissue engineering applications.
Keywords: Drug release; 45S5 Bioglass®; PHBV; Mechanical properties; Scaffold

Preparation and in vitro characterization of silver-doped bioactive glass nanoparticles fabricated using a sol-gel process and modified Stöber method - El-Rashidy, Aiah A.; Waly, Gihan; Gad, Ahmed; Hashem, Azza A.; Balasubramanian, Preethi; Kaya, Seray; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Sami, Inas (Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 2018)
The study aimed at preparing Ag-doped bioactive glass (BG) nanoparticles containing 5 wt% Ag2O using a new modified Stöber method (Ag-BGm) and the conventional sol-gel method (Ag-BGsg). The aim of employing the new Ag-doping mechanism is to implement a relatively short process to incorporate higher concentration of silver (Ag+) ions in an attempt to combine the antibacterial activity of silver with the bioactivity of BG. SEM and TEM micrographs showed that Ag-BGm nanoparticles were mondispersed, and spherical, while Ag-BGsg nanoparticles were formed of highly porous irregular agglomerated particles. A significantly higher silicon, calcium and silver ions release from the Ag-BGsg was evident, as compared to Ag-BGm, in deionized water (DIW). In vitro bioactivity test showed rapid bioactive properties of Ag-BGsg in simulated body fluid (SBF), as compared to Ag-BGm. Both BGs showed antibacterial effect against E. coli O157: H7 wild type strain 93111 and S. aureus ATCC 25923 as evident by the disc diffusion assay, but Ag-BGsg showed significantly higher mean inhibition zone compared to Ag-BGm. It may be concluded that both Ag-BGsg and Ag-BGm has the potential to be used as bone substitute materials with the Ag-BGsg being more promising due to its high bioactivity and antibacterial effect.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-08-05
Keywords: Antibacterial; Bioactive glass; Bioactivity; In vitro; Modified Stöber; Silver

Preparation of BaTiO3 nanotube arrays, CoFe2O4 nanoparticles and their composites - Tan, W. K.; Oura, K.; Kawamura, Go; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Matsuda, Atsunori (ECS Transactions, 2018)
Multiferroic nanocomposites which possess both ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties are attracting much attention because of their scientific interest and significant technological promise in novel multifunctional devices. In this work, multiferroic nanocomposites are targeted by anodization of Ti sheets to get TiO2 nanotubes followed by hydrothermal treatment to form BaTiO3 nanotube arrays, which were then used as a component to fabricate multiferroic nanocomposites through electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles into the tubular pores. Successful formation of BaTiO3 nanotube arrays and CoFe2O4 nanoparticles were achieved. The morphologies and crystal structure of BaTiO3 nanotube arrays were analyzed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an X-ray diffractometer (XRD). Simulation of EPD of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles into BaTiO3 nanotube arrays was also performed in order to predict and improve the susceptibility of forming a desired composite layer.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-08-05

Preparation of compact alginate films for 2D in vitro studies: Challenges and strategies for improvement - Schöbel, Lisa; Karakaya, Emine; Detsch, Rainer; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials Letters, 2023)
Alginate-based hydrogels show high biocompatibility and therefore are broadly used for cell cultivation and tissue engineering approaches in general. When hydrogel films for cell seeding were prepared by following published protocols, attached but inhomogeneously distributed cells were observed, which was attributed to the fact that casted hydrogel films were uneven and irregularly shaped. The causes of these irregularities resulting in an inhomogeneous cell distribution, e.g., due to accumulation of cells in cracks, were investigated. This study established a universal protocol for preparing planar hydrogel films that allow a homogenous cell distribution by varying several parameters such as alginate type, freezing, and crosslinking conditions. This finding can be applied to investigations of two-dimensional cell-material interactions of advanced alginate-based materials, e.g., when coupled with peptides.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2023-03-17
Keywords: Crosslinking; Fibroblasts; Hydrogels; In vitro cell culture; Sodium alginate

Preparation of low melting temperature glass-ceramics from municipal waste incineration fly ash - Yang, Jiakuan; Xiao, Bo; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Fuel, 2009)
Glass-ceramics have been prepared from air pollution control residues (fly ash) of a municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) plant in southern China. The use of additives was investigated in order to decrease the melting temperature of the waste and thus to reduce the costs of production of glass-ceramics from the vitrified waste. Results showed that the melting temperature can be decreased significantly from 1500 to 1200 °C, which was achieved by combining the MSWI fly ash with silica sand powder and a Fe2O3-rich and CaO-rich iron slag to form a glass in the SiO2-CaO-Al2O3-Fe2O3 quaternary phase system. Sodium carbonate and borax were used as fluxing agents and TiO2 of chemical grade was added as a nucleation agent. The main crystalline phase in both high and low melting temperature glass-ceramics was found to be diopside (Fe-bearing), and the microstructure exhibited the presence of fine crystals of size in the range 100-200 nm which developed at crystallization temperatures in the range 800-900 °C for 1-2 h. The leaching behaviour of the glass-ceramic materials was tested, and it was found to be lower than that of a cement-stabilized body that was fabricated using the same waste for comparison. The results demonstrate the feasibility of reusing MSWI fly ash for glass-ceramic production at relatively low melting temperature, e.g. in a less energy-intensive process, as a viable approach for tackling the problem of hazardous MSWI residues. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2009.tech.IW.LM.prepar
Keywords: Fly ash; Glass-ceramic; Municipal solid waste

Preparation of ZSM-5 zeolite membranes by combined hydrothermal synthesis and electrophoretic deposition - Negishi, Hideyuki; Reuß, Stephanie; Schwieger, Wilhelm; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Key Engineering Materials, 2015)
The preparation of a ZSM-5 zeolite membrane on porous stainless steel disk by hydrothermal synthesis with electrophoretic deposition (EPD) as a seeding method was investigated. Micron size ZSM-5 crystal powder was seeded by EPD on the support disk by using ZSM-5 powder dispersed in ethanol. The seeded amounts were easily controlled by the deposition time during EPD. The membrane after secondary growth had a low amount of zeolite in comparison with the in situ seeding method and the permeance of single gas such as He, N2 and CO was also low in comparison with that of the in situ seeding method.
Keywords: Electrophoretic deposition (EPD); Permeance; Secondary growth; Seeding; Zeolite membrane

Pressure assisted flash sintering of Mn-Co based spinel coatings for solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) - Javed, Hassan; Saunders, Theo; Reece, Michael John; Zanchi, Elisa; Sabato, Antonio Gianfranco; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Smeacetto, Federico (Ceramics International, 2021)
Pressure assisted flash sintering was used to process Mn-Co-Cu based spinel coatings, electrophoretically deposited on a Crofer22APU interconnect. This method resulted in highly dense coatings, heat-treated for only a short duration (<10 min) at temperatures lower than conventional sintering temperatures. The electrophoretically deposited coatings showed no delamination or cracks after flash sintering at high heating rates (>200 °C/min). The high heating rate promoted Cu modified Mn-Co spinel and limited the formation of a Cr-oxide scale on the Crofer22APU substrate. Flash sintering was found to be a promising and time efficient sintering technique to overcome some of the issues related to low coating density and oxide scale formation in solid oxide electrolysis cell conditions.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2021-03-26
Keywords: EPD; Flash sintering; Protective coatings; SOEC; SOFC

Pressureless spark plasma–sintered Bioglass® 45S5 with enhanced mechanical properties and stress–induced new phase formation - Bertolla, Luca; Dlouhy, Ivo; Tatarko, Peter; Viani, Alberto; Mahajan, Amit; Chlup, Zdenek; Reece, Michael J.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2017)
Keywords: Bioglass; Biomaterials; Mechanical properties; Spark plasma sintering

Primary osteoblasts, osteoblast precursor cells or osteoblast-like cell lines: Which human cell types are (most) suitable for characterizing 45S5-bioactive glass? - Wilkesmann, Sebastian; Fellenberg, Joerg; Nawaz, Qaisar; Reible, Bruno; Moghaddam, Arash; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Westhauser, Fabian (Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 2019)
The question how bioactive glasses (BGs) influence the viability and osteogenic differentiation of human osteogenic cells has already been addressed by several studies. However, a literature review revealed great differences in the type of cells used for these experiments. Primary human osteoblasts (hOBs) represent the desired standard, but possess the limitation of patient variability and time-consuming isolation protocols. Therefore, several alternative cell types have been used including primary mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) and the "osteoblast-like" cell lines MG-63, Saos-2, HOS, and U2OS. The aim of our study was the identification of the cell type most suitable for tissue engineering projects involving BGs by comparative analysis of cell viability and osteogenic differentiation in response to crystallized 45S5-BG. We observed that hOBs, BMSCs, and MG-63 cells were resistant to 45S5-BG induced cytotoxicity, while the viability of Saos-2, HOS, and U2OS cells was significantly reduced. In addition, we detected alkaline phosphatase activity, except in U2OS cells, that increased upon 45S5-BG cocultivation, demonstrating the induction of osteogenic differentiation. Our data and the fact that the donor-dependent variations can be avoided when using MG-63 cells suggest that these are a promising alternative to primary cells and remain an important cell line for future BG related studies.
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2019-12-17

Proangiogenic effects of tumor cells on endothelial progenitor cells vary with tumor type in an in vitro and in vivo rat model. - An, Ran; Schmid, Rafael; Klausing, Anne; Robering, Jan Willem; Weber, Manuel; Bäuerle, Tobias; Detsch, Rainer; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Horch, Raymund E.; Boos, Anja; Weigand, Annika (The FASEB Journal, 2018)
Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) contribute to neovascularization in tumors. However, the relationship of EPCs and tumor-induced angiogenesis still remains to be clarified. The present study aimed at investigating the influence of 4 different tumor types on angiogenic properties of EPCs in an in vitro and in vivo rat model. It could be demonstrated that in vitro proliferation, migration, and angiogenic abilities and genetic modifications of EPCs are controlled in a tumor-type-dependent manner. The proangiogenic effect of mammary carcinoma, osteosarcoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma cells was more pronounced compared to colon carcinoma cells. Coinjection of encapsulated tumor cells, especially mammary carcinoma cells, and EPCs in a rat model confirmed a contributing effect of EPCs in tumor vascularization. Cytokines secreted by tumors such as monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, macrophage inflammatory protein 2, and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand play a pivotal role in the tumor cell-EPC interaction, leading to enhanced migration and angiogenesis. With the present study, we were able to decipher possible underlying mechanisms by which EPCs are stimulated by tumor cells and contribute to tumor vascularization. The present study will contribute to a better understanding of tumor-induced vascularization, thus facilitating the development of therapeutic strategies targeting tumor-EPC interactions.-An, R., Schmid, R., Klausing, A., Robering, J. W., Weber, M., Bäuerle, T., Detsch, R., Boccaccini, A. R., Horch, R. E., Boos, A. M., Weigand, A. Proangiogenic effects of tumor cells on endothelial progenitor cells vary with tumor type in an in vitro and in vivo rat model.

PROCESSING AND ANTIBACTERIAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THERAPEUTIC ION-DOPED MESOPOROUS BIOACTIVE SILICATE GLASSES (MBGS) - Kaya, Seray; Cresswell, Mark; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (EUROMAT 2017 (European Congress and Exhibition on Advanced Materials and Processes), 2017)
The first bioactive silicate glass (BG) (45S5- 46.1SiO2, 24.4Na2O, 26.9CaO and 2.6P2O5 (mol%)) was invented by Larry Hench at the University of Florida in 1969 (Hench et al., 1971)and prepared by the melt-quenching method. After his invention there has been great interest to develop new BGs and in this perspective in 2004 Yan (Yan et al., 2004)produced the first MBG by combining sol-gel and surfactant templating methods. Imparting osteogenesis, antibacterial capacity, angiogenesis or cementogenesis properties to BGs can be achieved by incorporating biologically active ions (Hoppe et al., 2011). Doping MBGs with metallic ions has been also investigated (e.g. Wu and Chang, 2012). In this study, a new family of mesoporous silicate bioactive glasses doped with varying wt% of therapeutic antibacterial ions (Ag, Cu, Ce and Zn) has been synthesized via sol-gel technique in combination with a surfactant (Pluronic P123). After successful production of the MBGs, their resistance against E. coli and S. carnosus bacteria was investigated viathe disk diffusion test. Results have shown the increase in the percentage of doping ions, the inhibition zone for the growth of bacteria. It was observed that the largest inhibition zone was obtained with copper-doped MBGs. Zinc and cerium-doped MBGs are the least bacterial resistance. The implications of these results for designing novel MBGs with antibacterial capability.

Processing and bioactivity of 45S5 Bioglass®-graphene nanoplatelets composites - Porwal, Harshit; Grasso, Salvatore; Cordero Arias, Luis Eduardo; Li, Chunchun; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Reece, Mike J. (Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 2014)
Well dispersed 45S5 Bioglass® (BG)-graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) composites were prepared after optimising the processing conditions. Fully dense BG nanocomposites with GNP loading of 1, 3 and 5 vol% were consolidated using Spark plasma sintering (SPS). SPS avoided any structural damage of GNP as confirmed using Raman spectroscopy. GNP increased the viscosity of BG-GNP composites resulting in an increase in the sintering temperature by ∼50°C compared to pure BG. Electrical conductivity of BG-GNP composites increased with increasing concentration of GNP. The highest conductivity of 13 S/m was observed for BG-GNP (5 vol%) composite which is ∼9 orders of magnitude higher compared to pure BG. For both BG and BG-GNP composites, in vitro bioactivity testing was done using simulated body fluid for 1 and 3 days. XRD confirmed the formation of hydroxyapatite for BG and BG-GNP composites with cauliflower structures forming on top of the nano-composites surface. GNP increased the electrical conductivity of BG-GNP composites without affecting the bioactivity thus opening the possibility to fabricate bioactive and electrically conductive scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media.

Processing and characterisation of alginate-based hydrogels for the application in 3-D Bio Platting - Detsch, Rainer; Zehnder, Tobias; Sarker, Bapi; Kaschta, Joachim; Schubert, Dirk W.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (14th BIONANO-MATERIALS, 2013)

Processing and characterization of aligned electrospun gelatin/polycaprolactone nanofiber mats incorporating borate glass (13-93B3) microparticles - Ege, Duygu; Pourshahrestani, Sara; Iorio, Francesco; Reinfelder, Heike; de Ligny, Dominique; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Biomedical Materials (Bristol), 2023)
Aligned biodegradable fibers incorporating bioactive glass particles are being highly investigated for tissue engineering applications. In this study, 5, 7 and 10 wt% melt-derived 1393B3 borate glass (BG) microparticles (average size: 3.15 µm) were incorporated in 83 wt% polycaprolactone (PCL) and 17 wt% gelatin (GEL) (83PCL/17GEL) solutions to produce aligned electrospun composite nanofiber mats. Addition of 5 wt% BG particles significantly increased the alignment of the nanofibers. However, further incorporation of BG particles led to reduced degree of alignment, likely due to an increase of viscosity. Mechanical tests indicated a tensile modulus and tensile strength of approximately 51 MPa and 3.4 MPa, respectively, for 5 wt% addition of 1393B3 BG microparticles, values considered suitable for soft tissue engineering applications. However, with the increasing amount of 1393B3 BG, the nanofiber mats became brittle. Contact angle was reduced after the addition of 5 wt% of 1393B3 BG particles from∼45° to∼39°. Cell culture studies with normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) cells indicated that 5 wt% 1393B3 BG incorporated nanofiber mats were cytocompatible whereas higher doping with 1393B3 BGs reduced biocompatibility. Overall, 5 wt% 1393B3 BG doped PCL/GEL nanofiber mats were aligned with high biocompatibility exhibiting desirable mechanical properties for soft tissue engineering, which indicates their potential for applications requiring aligned nanofibers, such as peripheral neural regeneration.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2023-09-08
Keywords: bioactive glasses; borate glasses; electrospinning; nanofiber; peripheral nerve tissue regeneration; soft tissue engineering

Processing and Characterization of Mesoporous Bioactive Silicate Glasses Doped with Biologically Active Ions - Kaya, Seray; Cresswell, Mark; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (The International Workshop on Advanced Ceramics (IWAC 07), 2016)
There is a general research interest in upgrading the properties of mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) by incorporating biologically active ions which can be released in a dose dependent manner [1-3]. By taking advantage of the silicate network of MBGs, small amounts of metallic ions can be substituted into the network which will have an impact on the biological response, including osteogenesis, antibacterial capacity, angiogenesis or cementogenesis [4-6]. In this study, a new family of mesoporous silicate bioactive glasses doped with several biologically active ions has been synthesized. The methodology to produce these glasses was the sol-gel technique in combination with surfactant-templating and evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) processes. After successful production of the mesoporous glasses, several techniques were performed to characterize them, in terms of their mesostructure, porosity, and degradation behavior in biological fluids. Finally, undoped and doped mesoporous silicate bioactive glasses were compared in terms of their antibacterial and bioactivity response and conclusions about the synergetic effect of doping with metallic ions were obtained, with a specific focus on their potential application in the treatment of critical bone defects.

Processing and strengthening of 58S bioactive glass-infiltrated titania scaffolds - Mesquita-Guimaraes, Joana; Leite, M. A.; Souza, J. C. M.; Henriques, Bruno; Silva, F. S.; Hotza, Dachamir; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Fredel, M. C. (Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 2017)
Keywords: bioactive glass; hybrid scaffolds; mechanical properties; titanium dioxide; zeta potential

Processing of 45S5 Bioglass by lithography-based additive manufacturing - Tesavibul, Passakorn; Felzmann, Ruth; Gruber, Simon; Liska, Robert; Thompson, Ian; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Stampfl, Juergen (Materials Letters, 2012)
Lithography-based Additive Manufacturing Technologies (AMTs) were used for fabricating cellular structures made of 45S5 Bioglass®. Using AMTs it is possible to design and fabricate cellular structures with a resolution of around 40 μm and wall thicknesses down to 200 μm. The presented process relies on selectively polymerizing a photosensitive, ceramic-filled resin with a dynamic mask. The dynamic mask is based on a digital mirror array which projects blue light (light emitting diodes with a wavelength of 460 nm) onto the resin. The mechanical properties of sintered bulk samples (biaxial strength) and cylindrical cellular structures (compressive strength) were determined. The biaxial strength of the manufactured samples was 40 MPa, and the compressive strength of the cellular structure was 0.33 MPa, which is slightly lower than the strength of porous Bioglass® structures made by the foam replica method. Lithography-based AMT offers an excellent alternative to existing bone implant and scaffold fabrication methods providing accurate control of 3D morphology and pore architecture. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2012.tech.IW.LM.proces
Keywords: Biomaterials; Biomimetic; Porous materials; Structural

Processing of porous glass ceramics from highly crystallisable industrial wastes - Chinnam, Rama Krishna Satish; Bernardo, Enrico; Will, Julia; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Advances in Applied Ceramics, 2015)
This study was carried out to gain understanding about the sintering behaviour of highly crystallisable industrial waste derived silicate mixtures under direct heating and rapid cooling conditions. The materials used in this study were plasma vitrified air pollution control waste and rejected pharmaceutical borosilicate glass. Powder compacts sintered under direct heating conditions were highly porous; compacts with particle size <38 mu m reached a maximum density of 2.74 g cm(-3) at 850 degrees C, whereas compacts with particles of size <100 and <250 mu m reached maximum densities of 2.69 and 2.72 g cm(-3) at 875 and 900 degrees C respectively. Further increase in sintering temperature resulted in a rapid decrease in density of the glass ceramics. Image analysis results were used to link the sudden drop in density to the increase in volume of microsized pores formed in the samples during sintering. In particular, compacts made from <38 mu m particles sintered at 950 degrees C resulted in 65 vol.-% porosity with a pore size of similar to 20 mu m. Such materials can be used for sound and thermal insulation purposes.
Keywords: Porosity; Glass ceramics; Industrial waste; Silicates; Sintering; Recycling

Processing Technologies for 3D Nanostructured Tissue Engineering Scaffolds - Meng, Decheng; Erol, Melek; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Advanced Engineering Materials, 2010)
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2010.tech.IW.LM.proces

Production of a novel poly(ɛ-caprolactone)-methylcellulose electrospun wound dressing by incorporating bioactive glass and Manuka honey - Schuhladen, Katharina; Vakamulla Raghu, Swathi Naidu; Liverani, Liliana; Neščáková, Zuzana; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials, 2020)
Wound dressings produced by electrospinning exhibit a fibrous structure close to the one of the extracellular matrix of the skin. In this article, electrospinning was used to fabricate fiber mats based on the well-known biopolymers poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) and methylcellulose (MC) using benign solvents. The blend fiber mats were cross-linked using Manuka honey and additionally used as a biodegradable platform to deliver bioactive glass particles. It was hypothesized that a dual therapeutic effect can be achieved by combining Manuka honey and bioactive glass. Morphological and chemical examinations confirmed the successful production of submicrometric PCL-MC fiber mats containing Manuka honey and bioactive glass particles. The multifunctional fiber mats exhibited improved wettability and suitable mechanical properties (ultimate tensile strength of 3–5 MPa). By performing dissolution tests using simulated body fluid, the improved bioactivity of the fiber mats by the addition of bioactive glass was confirmed. Additionally, cell biology tests using human dermal fibroblasts and human keratinocytes-like HaCaT cells showed the potential of the fabricated composite fiber mats to be used as wound dressing, specially due to the ability to support wound closure influenced by the presence of bioactive glass. Moreover, based on the results of the antibacterial tests, it is apparent that an optimization of the electrospun fiber mats is required to develop suitable wound dressing for the treatment of infected wounds.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2020-07-31
Keywords: bioactive glass; electrospinning; Manuka honey; methylcellulose; wound healing

Production of geopolymers using glass produced from DC plasma treatment of air pollution control (APC) residues - Kourti, Ioanna; Rani, D. Amutha; Deegan, D.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Cheeseman, Christopher R. (Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2010)
Air pollution control (APC) residues are the hazardous waste produced from cleaning gaseous emissions at energy-from-waste (EfW) facilities processing municipal solid waste (MSW). APC residues have been blended with glass-forming additives and treated using DC plasma technology to produce a high calcium alumino-silicate glass. This research has investigated the optimisation and properties of geopolymers prepared from this glass. Work has shown that high strength geopolymers can be formed and that the NaOH concentration of the activating solution significantly affects the properties. The broad particle size distribution of the APC residue glass used in these experiments results in a microstructure that contains unreacted glass particles included within a geopolymer binder phase. The high calcium content of APC residues may cause the formation of some amorphous calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) gel. A mix prepared with S/L = 3.4, Si/Al = 2.6 and [NaOH] = 6 M in the activating solution, produced high strength geopolymers with compressive strengths of ∼130 MPa. This material had high density (2070 kg/m3) and low porosity. The research demonstrates for the first time that glass derived from DC plasma treatment of APC residues can be used to form high strength geopolymer-glass composites that have potential for use in a range of applications. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2010.tech.IW.LM.produc
Keywords: Energy; Geopolymers; Incineration; Plasma; Waste

Production of nepheline/quartz ceramics from geopolymer mortars - Kuenzel, C.; Grover, L. M.; Vandeperre, Luc; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Cheeseman, C. R. (Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2013)
This research has investigated the mechanical properties and microstructure of metakaolin derived geopolymer mortars containing 50% by weight of silica sand, after exposure to temperatures up to 1200°C. The compressive strength, porosity and microstructure of the geopolymer mortar samples were not significantly affected by temperatures up to 800°C. Nepheline (NaAlSiO 4) and carnegieite (NaAlSiO 4) form at 900°C in the geopolymer phase and after exposure to 1000°C the mortar samples were transformed into polycrystalline nepheline/quartz ceramics with relatively high compressive strength (∼275MPa) and high Vickers hardness (∼350 HV). Between 1000 and 1200°C the samples soften with gas evolution causing the formation of closed porosity that reduced sample density and limited the mechanical properties. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2013.tech.IW.LM.produc
Keywords: A. Sintering; C. Mechanical properties; Ceramic; Final microstructure; Geopolymer

Production of novel ceramic materials from coal fly ash and metal finishing wastes - Little, M. R.; Adell, V.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Cheeseman, C. R. (Resources Conservation and Recycling, 2008)
Fly ash from coal fired power stations is a potential raw material for the production of ceramic tiles, bricks and blocks. Previous work has demonstrated that the addition of metals can significantly alter fly ash sintering. Metal finishing produces problematic waste filter cakes and sludges that are increasingly difficult to dispose of to landfill. The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of selected metal finishing wastes on the properties of sintered fly ash. A 10 wt.% addition of dried metal finishing sludge obtained from the phosphate bath at a tri-cationic phosphating operation significantly reduced the sintering temperature for maximum density by approximately 75 °C. The addition of the phosphate bath sludge also reduced leaching of As, to the extent that fly ash ceramics containing this waste would be classified as inert. Potential industrial applications for these novel waste-derived ceramic materials are discussed. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2008.tech.IW.LM.produc
Keywords: Ceramics; Fly ash; Metal finishing wastes; Pressing; Sintering; Waste reuse

Production of pulverised fuel ash tiles using conventional ceramic production processes - Bou, E.; Quereda, M. F.; Lever, D.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Cheeseman, C. R. (Advances in Applied Ceramics, 2009)
The feasibility of manufacturing sintered ceramic tiles containing a high proportion of pulverised fuel ash (PFA) using conventional ceramic tile processing methods has been investigated at pilot plant scale. From earlier laboratory experiments, a composition containing 92.0 wt-%PFA, 5.0 wt-% sodium bentonite and 3.0 wt-% talc produced good quality small disc samples. The scale-up trials reported here used this same composition and involved deflocculant addition, wet milling, spray drying, pressing and firing, with the behaviour during each processing stage being characterised. Although there were no substantial technical problems associated with forming green tiles, the composition selected needed high levels of deflocculant and produced pressed samples with low green densities, resulting in high shrinkage during firing. The high dependence of shrinkage on temperature caused excessive tile distortion. In addition, sintered samples with less than 2% water absorption exhibited a bloating effect, resulting in poor surface quality. Possible solutions to the problems encountered during the pilot scale trials are considered and the potential commercial viability of high PFA content ceramic products is discussed. © 2009 Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining Published by Maney on behalf of the Institute.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2009.tech.IW.LM.produc
Keywords: Ceramics; Fly ash; Pulverised fuel ash; Reuse; Sintering; Waste

Production of sintered materials from air pollution control residues from waste incineration - Dimech, C.; Cheeseman, C. R.; Cook, S.; Simon, J.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Materials Science, 2008)
Air pollution control residues from waste incineration have been washed to remove excess chloride and other soluble salts and blended with combinations of soda lime glass and waste electrostatic precipitator dust containing boric oxide from the fibre-glass industry. Homogenous fine powder mixes have been pressed and sintered at temperatures between 900 and 1000 °C. The physical properties and microstuctural characteristics of the glass-ceramics formed have been assessed. The results show that it is possible to produce a dense glass-ceramic material containing wollastonite and gehlenite crystalline phases with a hardness of 4.5 GPa. The high density and hardness means that the glass-ceramic may have a potential use in high value construction products. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2008.tech.IW.LM.produc_9

Progress on Electrospun Composite Fibers Incorporating Bioactive Glass: An Overview - Ghorbani, Farnaz; Reiter, Theresa; Liverani, Liliana; Schubert, Dirk W.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Roether, Judith (Advanced Engineering Materials, 2023)
Electrospinning is a promising approach for the development of fibrous tissue engineering (TE) scaffolds suitable for hard and soft tissues. Apart from physicomechanical properties, electrospun fibers are required to incorporate bioactive cues to control cellular functions, including facilitating biomineralization and osteogenic differentiation in case of bone TE, as well as vascularization, to support successful tissue regeneration. In recent years, bioactive glass (BG) addition to electrospun biopolymer fibers has shown promising results in enhancing the properties of fibers, including the improvement of biological performance. In this article, a comprehensive overview of BG-containing electrospun polymer composite fibers is presented, identifying the parameters that affect the mechanical properties as well as the biological response in vivo and in vitro. Subsequently, the effects of BG addition on the properties of the scaffolds are discussed. Recent developments in the fields of bone regeneration, wound healing, and drug delivery using BG-containing electrospun fibrous scaffolds are described in detail. Essential aspects related to BG-polymer composite fibers for translational research in TE are highlighted for future research in this field.
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2023-02-03

Propagation-Based Phase Contrast Computed Tomography as a Suitable Tool for the Characterization of Spatial 3D Cell Distribution in Biomaterials - Wieland, D. C.Florian; Krueger, Simone; Moosmann, Julian; Distler, Thomas; Weizel, Alina; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Seitz, Hermann; Jonitz-Heincke, Anika; Bader, Rainer (Advanced Engineering Materials, 2021)
The 3D structural investigation of soft tissue samples under near physiological conditions is challenging as most established techniques require embedding, staining, or cutting samples. Such manipulations can induce artifacts or result in a tremendous workload by, e.g., the preparation of multiple 2D images to retrieve the volume information. A non-invasive technique allowing to image the soft tissue in a 3D fashion is propagation-based phase contrast computed tomography. We explore the methods' unique properties to assess the 3D distribution and size of human chondrocytes within collagen scaffolds in a liquid environment without embedding. To seek if the identification of differences in cell distribution is possible, we have seeded cartilage cells on collagen scaffolds that were unstimulated or stimulated by alternating electric fields for 7 days. Analysis of the 3D cell distributions reveals that the migration depth of the chondrocytes into the scaffold is nearly doubled along with the total number of cells due to the applied electric field. Further analysis shows no specific size distribution of the chondrogenic cells. Our results indicate that propagation-based phase contrast computed tomography is a suitable tool to determine the 3D distribution of cells within a biomaterial investigated under aqueous conditions.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2021-04-30
Keywords: biomaterials; histology; multimodal analysis; phase contrast tomography

Properties of sintered glass-ceramics prepared from plasma vitrified air pollution control residues - Roether, Judith; Daniel, D. J.; Rani, D. Amutha; Deegan, D. E.; Cheeseman, Christopher R.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2010)
Air pollution control (APC) residues, obtained from a major UK energy from waste (EfW) plant, processing municipal solid waste, have been blended with silica and alumina and melted using DC plasma arc technology. The glass produced was crushed, milled, uni-axially pressed and sintered at temperatures between 750 and 1150 °C, and the glass-ceramics formed were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Mechanical properties assessed included Vickers's hardness, flexural strength, Young's modulus and thermal shock resistance. The optimum sintering temperature was found to be 950 °C. This produced a glass-ceramic with high density (∼2.58 g/cm3), minimum water absorption (∼2%) and relatively high mechanical strength (∼81 ± 4 MPa). Thermal shock testing showed that 950 °C sintered samples could withstand a 700 °C quench in water without micro-cracking. The research demonstrates that glass-ceramics can be readily formed from DC plasma treated APC residues and that these have comparable properties to marble and porcelain. This novel approach represents a technically and commercially viable treatment option for APC residues that allow the beneficial reuse of this problematic waste. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2010.tech.IW.LM.proper
Keywords: Air pollution control residues; Energy from waste; Glass-ceramics; Hazardous waste treatment; Plasma vitrification

Protective coatings for carbon bonded carbon fibre composites - Smeacetto, F.; Ferraris, M.; Saivo, M.; Ellacott, S. D.; Ahmed, A.; Rawlings, R. D.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Ceramics International, 2008)
Carbon bonded carbon fibre composites (CBCF) were modified by direct reaction with molten silicon in order to obtain a silicon carbide layer on the composite surface. Subsequently, the Si-infiltrated CBCF material was coated with a silica-based glass containing yttria and alumina by means of a slurry-dipping technique. On heat treatment the glass yielded a glass-ceramic layer thus giving a multi-layered oxidation and erosion protection system. The microstructural characterisation of the coating was conducted by standard microscopy techniques and by X-ray diffraction. The controlled crystallization of the glass-produced cristobalite, yttrium silicate (Y2Si2O7, keiviite, β-form) and mullite as main crystalline phases. These are excellent ceramic materials for oxidation and erosion protection of SiC-coated carbon-based composites since their coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) closely match that of SiC. The possibility of healing (closure) of micro cracks by a thermal treatment at 1375 °C, thus exploiting the viscous flow of the residual glass in the glass-ceramic, was explored in order to extend the service life of the protection system. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2008.tech.IW.LM.protec
Keywords: Carbon matrix composites; D. Glass ceramics; Oxidation protection; Slurry infiltration

Protein-adsorption and Ca-phosphate formation on chitosan-bioactive glass composite coatings - Wagener, Victoria; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Virtanen, Sannakaisa (Applied Surface Science, 2017)
Keywords: Bioactive glass; Chitosan; EPD; Protein adsorption; ToF-SIMS; XPS calcium-phosphate precipitation

Protein adsorption on magnesium and its alloys: A review - Höhn, Sarah; Virtanen, Sannakaisa; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Applied Surface Science, 2019)
Keywords: Corrosion; Adsorption; Magnesium; Interface; Proteins

Protein adsorption on sio2-cao bioactive glass nanoparticles with controllable ca content - Kapp, Martin; Li, Chunde; Xu, Zeqian; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Zheng, Kai (Nanomaterials, 2021)
Bioactive glass nanoparticles (BGNs) are emerging multifunctional building blocks for various biomedical applications. In this study, the primary aim was to develop monodispersed bi-nary SiO2-CaO BGNs with controllable Ca content. We successfully synthesized such spherical BGNs (size 110 nm) using a modified Stöber method. Our results showed that the incorporated Ca did not significantly affect particle size, specific surface area, and structure of BGNs. Concentrations of CaO in BGN compositions ranging from 0 to 10 mol% could be obtained without the gap between actual and nominal compositions. For this type of BGNs (specific surface area 30 m2/g), the maximum concentration of incorporated CaO appeared to be 12 mol%. The influence of Ca content on protein adsorption was investigated using bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lysozyme as model proteins. The amount of adsorbed proteins increased over time at the early stage of adsorption (<2 h), regardless of glass composition and protein type. Further incubation of BGNs with protein-con-taining solutions seemed to induce a reduced amount of adsorbed proteins, which was more signif-icant in BGNs with higher Ca content. The results indicate that the Ca content in BGNs is related to their protein adsorption behavior.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2021-03-05
Keywords: Bioactive glass nanoparticles; Calcium; Protein adsorption

Protein interactions with bioactive glass surfaces: A review - Zheng, Kai; Kapp, Martin; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Applied Materials Today, 2019)
Bioactive glasses (BGs) are an important class of biomaterials being proposed for several biomedical applications including bone/soft tissue regeneration, bone substitute materials, bioactive orthopedic coatings, wound healing, cancer treatment, and drug delivery. Adsorption of proteins onto bioactive glass (BG) surfaces is the initial interaction between BGs and the biological medium, e.g., blood plasma, interstitial fluids. Protein adsorption plays an essential role in determining biocompatibility, cell adhesion and proliferation as well as influencing a series of cellular pathways after cell-material contact. Understanding the adsorption of proteins on BGs is thus necessary for accelerating the development and applications of next-generation BG-based healthcare materials and devices. In this review, we comprehensively cover previous literature regarding protein adsorption on BG surfaces. The factors impacting protein adsorption on these bioreactive materials are summarized and discussed. In particular, the influence of BG surface properties (e.g., surface topography, composition) on protein adsorption is highlighted. The effects of adsorbed proteins on the surface properties of BGs, in terms of biological response, biomineralization (hydroxyapatite formation in contact with biological fluids), and BG dissolution, are also covered in this review. The paper discusses the methods suitable to analyze the protein adsorption process and to characterize possible changes in the structure of adsorbed proteins, and also presents approaches to control the protein adsorption phenomenon. A discussion on applications of protein adsorbed BGs is also included. The review also highlights the current challenges and uncertainties in this field and discusses future research directions.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2019-06-07
Keywords: Applications; Bioreactive materials; Cellular response; Protein adsorption; Solid surfaces

Proving the role of boron in the structure of fly-ash/borosilicate glass based geopolymers - Taveri, Gianmarco; Toušek, Jaromír; Bernardo, Enrico; Toniolo, Nicoletta; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Dlouhy⁠, Ivo (Materials Letters, 2017)
A spectroscopic investigation was carried out in order to determine the boron evolution into the structure of fly-ash based geopolymers, integrated with borosilicate glass coming from pharmaceutical waste. Fourier transformed infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to define the type of bonds after geopolymerization. Various solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS-NMR) measurements were instrumental to evaluate the extent of network formation in the structure and to compare the type of environments among the geopolymerization products and the source materials. ⁠11B NMR conducted firstly on a pure borosilicate glass sample and then on a geopolymeric sample evidenced a variation of the chemical shifts of the pattern, proving that boron oxide (B⁠2O⁠3) initially dissolved and then took part in polycondensation reactions. FTIR spectroscopy showed the characteristic peaks of a geopolymeric product, also proving that the effectiveness of the reaction was not affected by incorporation of boron.
Keywords: Fly-ash Borosilicate Geopolymerization Spectroscopy NMR FTIR

Pulse electrodeposition and characterization of non-continuous, multi-element-doped hydroxyapatite bioceramic coatings - Furko, Monika; May, Zoltan; Havasi, Viktor; Konya, Zoltan; Grünewald, Alina; Detsch, Rainer; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Balazsi, Csaba (Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry, 2017)
Keywords: Bioceramic layer; Biocompatibility; Corrosion; Hydroxyapatite; Implant materials

Quantitative evaluation of electrophoretic deposition kinetics of graphene oxide - Diba, Mani; Garcia-Gallastegui, Ainara; Klupp Taylor, Robin; Pishbin, Fatemeh; Ryan, Mary P.; Shaffer, Milo S. P.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Carbon, 2014)
The electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technique is an attractive approach for development of graphene and graphene oxide (GO) films for a variety of applications. However, in order to establish the influence of the EPD parameters on the properties of the deposited films, a deeper investigation of the fundamental GO-EPD kinetics is required. Previous studies have reported a simultaneous anodic reduction of GO flakes during EPD, complicating the kinetics and process control. Therefore, in this study, low voltages were used to prevent significant GO reduction during EPD, as confirmed by XPS and FTIR. Accordingly, the GO-EPD kinetics was established as a function of deposition time and voltage, accompanied by microscopic characterization of the deposited films. The experimental results show that the deposition follows a linear growth law, in good agreement with the predictions of Hamaker's law. Comparisons of optical absorbance and profilometry provide estimates of (reduced) GO deposition rate, extinction coefficient, and density. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Quaternary and pentanar mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles as novel nanocarriers for gallic acid: Characterisation, drug release and antibacterial activity - Damian-Buda, Andrada-Ioana; Nawaz, Qaisar; Ünalan, Irem; Beltrán, Ana M.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Ceramics International, 2023)
Mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs) have gained considerable attention as multifunctional platforms for simultaneously releasing ions and phytotherapeutic compounds. Thus, in the first part of this study, MBGNs based on the 53SiO2–4P2O5–20CaO–23Na2O (wt %) (S53P4) composition were synthesized by a microemulsion assisted sol-gel method. More precisely, P2O5 was substituted with B2O3 and Na2O with MgO and/or ZnO. For B containing MBGNs all ions were successfully incorporated into the borosilicate structure without inducing crystallisation. In contrast, for S53P4 a poorly crystalline hydroxyapatite phase was identified. All MBGNs had a typical spherical shape with an internal radial network of mesopores. Additionally, for S53P4 a second fraction of particles with a smaller size and compact core was observed. Secondly, the feasibility of MBGNs as nanocarriers for gallic acid (GA) was evaluated. All drug-loaded samples showed a similar in vitro release profile which can be divided into three main phases: burst release, slow release and sustained release. Among the different compositions, S53P4 exhibited the highest cumulative release, whereas B and Mg containing particles exhibited the opposite. The presence of Zn in the MBGN compositions improved their antibacterial effect against both E. coli and S. aureus. Moreover, it was shown that depending on the MBGNs’ composition, the antibacterial activity of GA loaded MBGNs can be enhanced. Thus, the results proved that MBGNs can be used as controlled drug delivery system and, by tailoring the composition, a synergistic antibacterial effect can be achieved, considering that GA and biologically active ions are simultaneously released.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2023-07-21
Keywords: Antibacterial effect; Control release; Gallic acid; Mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles

Quaternary bioactive glass-derived powders presenting submicrometric particles and antimicrobial activity - Novak, Sara; Orives, Juliane Resges; Nalin, Marcelo; Ünalan, Irem; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; de Camargo, Emerson R. (Ceramics International, 2022)
The biomedical engineering advances in the last years have been rising demand for multifunctional biomaterials. Bioactive glass (BG) submicron particles are potential candidates for the formulation of composites with improved dispersion and homogeneity between the constituents. This work presents the preparation of SiO2–Na2O–CaO–P2O5 glass-derived powders composed of particles with homogenous shapes and sizes between 300 and 500 nm. Two types of synthesis were employed for the preparation of the BG powders, the melt-quenching method, and a citric acid-assisted sol-gel route at a low citric acid concentration (0.005 mol L−1). The morphology of the particles was achieved by a low-energy process using a ball mill. These powders were characterized for their structure and surface area and evaluated for in vitro mineralization and antibacterial behavior. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed different crystalline silicate phases in the sol-gel-derived powder and confirmed the amorphous structure of the melt-quenching-derived one. The surface of the particles was covered by hydroxycarbonate-apatite (HCA) after five days in simulated body fluid (SBF). The antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus was higher for the sol-gel-derived powder, showing inhibition >99% of the bacteria growth in 24 h for all concentrations studied. These BG-based powders present a set of characteristics useful for the formulation of multifunctional composites for orthopedic applications.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-07-22
Keywords: Antimicrobial glass; Bioactive glass-ceramic particles; Ion release; Mineralization

Random and aligned electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)/poly(1,8-octanediol-co-citrate) (POC) fiber mats for cardiac tissue engineering using benign solvents - Vogt, Lena; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (European Polymer Journal, 2021)
Cardiac tissue engineering (CTE) is a rising field of research aiming to provide strategies to repair or regenerate damaged heart tissue after events like myocardial infarction. Here, poly(1,8-octanediol-co-citrate) (POC) has been blended with poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and the blend polymer was electrospun using the benign solvents acetic acid and formic acid to develop cardiac patches for CTE. The fiber mats were thermally crosslinked under mild conditions. Random and aligned PCL/POC fiber mats were investigated with regard to their morphological and physico-chemical properties, their degradation behavior, and their cytocompatibility in vitro. Homogenous and defect-free fibrous structures with average fiber diameters of 0.61 and 1.11 µm were observed for 2:1 and 1:1 ratios of PCL/POC blends. The wettability as well as mechanical properties of the PCL/POC fiber mats were dependent on blend composition, crosslinking treatment, and fiber orientation. While the wettability of the fiber mats was in a suitable range, the mechanical properties even exceeded necessary values for CTE after 14 days of incubation in Dulbecco's phosphate buffered saline (DPBS). The post-crosslinking of the fiber mats also increased the degradation resistance resulting in less acidic leaching and more stable fibers after 28 days in DPBS. Cytocompatibility tests with C2C12 cells demonstrated an excellent cytocompatibility of PCL/POC blends with a PCL/POC ratio of 2:1. Based on the obtained data, PCL/POC fiber mats made from benign solvents showed promising properties for applications in CTE as cardiac patches and should be subjected to further research to elucidate their in vitro and in vivo potential.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2021-10-08
Keywords: Benign solvents; Cardiac tissue engineering (CTE); Electrospinning; Poly(1; 8-octanediol-co-citrate) (POC); Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)

Rational design of a triple-layered coaxial extruder system: In silico and in vitro evaluations directed toward optimizing cell viability - Silva, Christian; Cortés-Rodriguez, Carlos J.; Hazur, Jonas; Reakasame, Supachai; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (International Journal of Bioprinting, 2020)
Biofabrication is a rapidly evolving field whose main goal is the manufacturing of three-dimensional (3D) cell-laden constructs that closely mimic tissues and organs. Despite recent advances on materials and techniques directed toward the achievement of this goal, several aspects such as tissue vascularization and prolonged cell functionality are limiting bench-to-bedside translation. Extrusion-based 3D bioprinting has been devised as a promising biofabrication technology to overcome these limitations, due to its versatility and wide availability. Here, we report the development of a triple-layered coaxial nozzle for use in the biomanufacturing of vascular networks and vessels. The design of the coaxial nozzle was first optimized toward guaranteeing high cell viability upon extrusion. This was done with the aid of in silico evaluations and their subsequent experimental validation by investigating the bioprinting of an alginate-based bioink. Results confirmed that the values for pressure distribution predicted by in silico experiments resulted in cell viabilities above 70% and further demonstrated the effect of layer thickness and extrusion pressure on cell viability. Our work paves the way for the rational design of multi-layered coaxial extrusion systems to be used in biofabrication approaches to replicate the very complex structures found in native organs and tissues.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2020-08-28
Keywords: Biomaterials; Coaxial nozzle; Three-dimensional bioprinting; Tissue-engineered vessels; Vascularized tissues

Recent advances on spinel-based protective coatings for solid oxide cell metallic interconnects produced by electrophoretic deposition - Zanchi, E.; Sabato, A. G.; Molin, S.; Cempura, G.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Smeacetto, F. (Materials Letters, 2021)
The application of ceramic protective coatings to the metallic interconnects in solid oxide cells (SOCs) is a viable and effective method to limit interconnect degradation issues. This featured letter provides a critical overview of the main outcomes of current research on the use of the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technique to produce protective coatings for SOC metallic interconnects, specifically focusing on different approaches to stabilise spinel-based suspensions, as well as the possible sintering procedures. The protective properties of EPD coatings are reviewed and discussed in terms of oxidation kinetics and area specific resistance evaluation. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2021-03-05

Recent developments in electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of antibacterial coatings for biomedical applications- A review - Hadzhieva, Zoya; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering, 2022)
Bacterial infections are one of the leading causes for long-term failure of medical implants, associated with hospitalization, costly revision surgeries, increased morbidity and even mortality. Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) appears as a suitable coating technology to confer antibacterial efficacy to implant surfaces without changing the properties of the constituent (or base) material. Typical antibacterial coatings by EPD rely on bactericidal (release-killing, contact-killing and stimuli responsive-killing) and bacteriostatic (anti-adhesive) approaches. The current review paper presents novel strategies to prevent bacterial infections by means of EPD focusing on relevant published studies in the last two years and provides a critical reflection on future prospects of EPD-based biomedical coatings.
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2022-04-29

Recent progress in inorganic and composite coatings with bactericidal capability for orthopaedic applications - Simchi, Abdolreza; Tamjid, E.; Pishbin, F.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Nanomedicine, 2011)
This review covers the most recent developments of inorganic and organic-inorganic composite coatings for orthopedic implants, providing the interface with living tissue and with potential for drug delivery to combat infections. Conventional systemic delivery of drugs is an inefficient procedure that may cause toxicity and may require a patient's hospitalization for monitoring. Local delivery of antibiotics and other bioactive molecules maximizes their effect where they are required, reduces potential systemic toxicity and increases timeliness and cost efficiency. In addition, local delivery has broad applications in combating infection-related diseases. Polymeric coatings may present some disadvantages. These disadvantages include limited chemical stability, local inflammatory reactions, uncontrolled drug-release kinetics, late thrombosis and restenosis. As a result, embedding of bioactive compounds and biomolecules within inorganic coatings (bioceramics, bioactive glasses) is attracting significant attention. Recently nanoceramics have attracted interest because surface nanostructuring allows for improved cellular adhesion, enhances osteoblast proliferation and differentiation, and increases biomineralization. Organic-inorganic composite coatings, which combine biopolymers and bioactive ceramics that mimick bone structure to induce biomineralization, with the addition of biomolecules, represent alternative systems and ideal materials for "smart" implants. In this review, emphasis is placed on materials and processing techniques developed to advance the therapeutic use of biomolecules-eluting coatings, based on nanostructured ceramics. One part of this report is dedicated to inorganic and composite coatings with antibacterial functionality. From the Clinical Editor: Inorganic and composite nanotechnology-based coating methods have recently been developed for orthopedic applications, with the main goal to provide bactericide and other enhanced properties, which may result in reduced need for pharmaceutical interventions and overall more cost effective orthopedic procedures. This review discusses key aspects of the above developments. © 2011 Elsevier Inc.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2011.tech.IW.LM.recent
Keywords: Antimicrobial; Ceramics; Coatings; Composites; Drug-eluting implants; Nanostructures

Recycling of pre-stabilized municipal waste incinerator fly ash and soda-lime glass into sintered glass-ceramics - Ponsot, Ines; Bernardo, Enrico; Bontempi, Elza; Depero, Laura; Detsch, Rainer; Chinnam, Rama Krishna Satish; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Cleaner Production, 2015)
A recent method, based on the use of amorphous silica, allows for the inertization of MSWI fly ash, avoiding expensive vitrification. The present paper demonstrates that glass-ceramics, i.e the most established products from waste-derived glasses, are feasible by direct, inexpensive viscous flow sintering of pre-stabilized fly ash mixed with clay and recycled soda-lime glass. The sintering treatment did not compromise the chemical stabilization of fly ash, as confirmed by leaching test and by cell culture studies (with mouse embryonic fibroblasts used to assess possible cytotoxicity), applied on sintered glass-ceramics. Optimized glass-ceramic tiles, processed at 1050 °C for 30 min, not only featured attractive aesthetic appearance and low water absorption (<2%), but also exhibited a remarkable specific strength (∼3.6 MPa cm/g).
Keywords: Cytotoxicity; Glass ceramics; MSWI fly ash

Re-engineering Artificial Neoplastic Milieus: Taking Lessons from Mechano- and Topobiology - Leal-Egaña, Aldo; Balland, Martial; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Trends in Biotechnology, 2019)
Traditionally, cancer-like scaffolds have been developed with tissue regeneration in mind and therefore designed to mimic the regenerative environment of otherwise healthy tissues. However, the tumoral niche exhibits specific biophysical cues far from being ‘cell friendly’, suggesting that a different approach should be taken to design these artificial neoplastic niches. From bare 2D surfaces to 3D and 1D microstructured platforms, this opinion article focuses on evolving approaches used to mimic in vitro the neoplastic niche, discussing why this pathology cannot be assessed with tissue engineering (TE) approaches (i.e., using scaffolds facilitating cell growth, migration, and matrix degradation in the absence of diffusional restrictions, among others), and suggests how to improve them with recent lessons learned from mechanobiology and topobiology.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2019-10-15
Keywords: artificial neoplastic architecture; biomaterials for cancer research; cancer-like scaffolds; mechanobiology; topobiology; tumor-like scaffold

Reepithelialization in focus: Non-invasive monitoring of epidermal wound healing in vitro - Kiesewetter, Lisa; Littau, Laura; Walles, Heike; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Groeber-Becker, Florian (Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 2019)
Up to today, in vivo studies are the gold standard for testing of new therapeutics for cutaneous wound healing. Alternative in vitro studies are mostly limited to two-dimensional cell cultures and thus only poorly reflect the complex physiological wound situation. Here we present a new three-dimensional wound model based on a reconstructed human epidermis (RHE). We introduce impedance spectroscopy as a time-resolved test method to determine the efficacy of wound healing non-destructively by focusing on the barrier function of the RHE as a main feature of intact skin. We assessed the skin barrier quantitatively and qualitatively by calculating the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), by fitting an equivalent circuit and by analyzing the single characteristic frequency. Upon wounding using a 2 mm biopsy punch, the impedance dropped significantly to 3.5% of the initial value. Impedance spectroscopy thereby proved to be a sensitive tool to distinguish between wounds of different sizes. The glucose and lactate concentration in the medium revealed an acute stress reaction of the wounded RHE (wRHE) in the first days after wounding. During monitoring of reepithelialization over fourteen days, the barrier fully recovered. Microscopy and histology images correlate well with these findings, revealing an active wound closure mostly completed by day seven after wounding. These wounded epidermal models can now be applied in therapeutic screenings and with the help of rapid screening by impedance spectroscopy, expensive and time-consuming imaging and histological methods as well as the use of animal models can be reduced.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2019-08-16
Keywords: Epidermal wound healing; Impedance spectroscopy; Reconstructed human epidermis; Reepithelialization; Transepithelial electrical resistance

REEPITHELIALIZATION IN FOCUS: RAPID SCREENING OF WOUND CLOSURE USING ORGANOTYPIC SKIN MODELS - Kiesewetter, Lisa; Littau, Laura; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Walles, Heike; Groeber-Becker, Florian (WOUND REPAIR AND REGENERATION, 2019)
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2019-04-18

Regenerating bone with bioactive glass scaffolds: A review of in vivo studies in bone defect models - El-Rashidy, Aiah A.; Roether, Judith; Harhaus, Leila; Kneser, Ulrich; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Acta Biomaterialia, 2017)
Keywords: 3D scaffolds; Animal model; Bioactive glass; Bone defects; Bone regeneration; In vivo

Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering: How Far Are We? - Horch, Raymund E.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Arkudas, Andreas (Journal of Tissue Science & Engineering, 2013)

Reinforced Hyaluronic Acid-Based Matrices Promote 3D Neuronal Network Formation - Janzen, Dieter; Bakirci, Ezgi; Faber, Jessica; Mier, Mateo Andrade; Hauptstein, Julia; Pal, Arindam; Forster, Leonard; Hazur, Jonas; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Detsch, Rainer; Tessmar, Joerg; Budday, Silvia; et al. (Advanced Healthcare Materials, 2022)
3D neuronal cultures attempt to better replicate the in vivo environment to study neurological/neurodegenerative diseases compared to 2D models. A challenge to establish 3D neuron culture models is the low elastic modulus (30-500 Pa) of the native brain. Here, an ultra-soft matrix based on thiolated hyaluronic acid (HA-SH) reinforced with a microfiber frame is formulated and used. Hyaluronic acid represents an essential component of the brain extracellular matrix (ECM). Box-shaped frames with a microfiber spacing of 200 mu m composed of 10-layers of poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) microfibers (9.7 +/- 0.2 mu m) made via melt electrowriting (MEW) are used to reinforce the HA-SH matrix which has an elastic modulus of 95 Pa. The neuronal viability is low in pure HA-SH matrix, however, when astrocytes are pre-seeded below this reinforced construct, they significantly support neuronal survival, network formation quantified by neurite length, and neuronal firing shown by Ca2+ imaging. The astrocyte-seeded HA-SH matrix is able to match the neuronal viability to the level of Matrigel, a gold standard matrix for neuronal culture for over two decades. Thus, this 3D MEW frame reinforced HA-SH composite with neurons and astrocytes constitutes a reliable and reproducible system to further study brain diseases.
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2022-09-09

Reinforcement of calcium phosphate cement with multi-walled carbon nanotubes and bovine serum albumin for injectable bone substitute applications - Chew, Kean-Khoon; Low, Kah-Ling; Zein, Sharif Hussein Sharif; Mcphail, David S.; Gerhardt, Lutz-Christian; Roether, Judith A.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 2011)
This paper presents the development of novel alternative injectable calcium phosphate cement (CPC) composites for orthopaedic applications. The new CPC composites comprise β-tri-calcium phosphate (β-TCP) and di-calcium phosphate anhydrous (DCPA) mixed with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and incorporated with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) or functionalized MWCNTs (MWCNTs-OH and MWCNTs-COOH). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), compressive strength tests, injectability tests, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to evaluate the properties of the final products. Compressive strength tests and SEM observations demonstrated particularly that the concomitant admixture of BSA and MWCNT improved the mechanical properties, resulting in stronger CPC composites. The presence of MWCNTs and BSA influenced the morphology of the hydroxyapatite (HA) crystals in the CPC matrix. BSA was found to act as a promoter of HA growth when bounded to the surface of CPC grains. MWCNT-OH-containing composites exhibited the highest compressive strengths (16.3 MPa), being in the range of values for trabecular bone (2-12 MPa). © 2010 Elsevier Ltd.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2011.tech.IW.LM.reinfo
Keywords: Bovine serum albumin (BSA); Calcium phosphate cement (CPC); Carbon nanotubes (CNTs); Compressive strength; Injectability

Reinforcing Tissue-Engineered Cartilage: Nanofibrillated Cellulose Enhances Mechanical Properties of Alginate Dialdehyde–Gelatin Hydrogel - Chayanun, Slila; Ahmadi Soufivand, Anahita; Faber, Jessica; Budday, Silvia; Lohwongwatana, Boonrat; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Advanced Engineering Materials, 2023)
Cartilage tissue engineering offers a promising option for treating osteochondral defects. Alginate dialdehyde–gelatin (ADA–GEL) hydrogel has been explored as promising material for soft tissue scaffolds; however, its low stiffness has posed a constraint to load bearing applications. Herein, this limitation is addressed by introducing nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) into the ADA–GEL matrix. The effect of NFC on the physicochemical properties of hydrogels is evaluated. Fourier transform infrared spectra demonstrate no chemical interaction between NFC and ADA–GEL, while scanning electron microscopy pictures reveal NFC fibers embedded in the hydrogel matrix, thus confirming the fiber-reinforced composite hypothesis. NFC-reinforced ADA–GEL (AG-N) composite hydrogels exhibit increased stiffness, with a maximum compressive effective modulus of 19.6 ± 3.0 kPa at 25% w/w NFC content. ATDC5 cell viability and proliferation as well as chondrogenic differentiation are assessed using immunohistochemical staining for sulfated glycosaminoglycans and collagen type II. A possible application of AG-N hydrogels as an osteochondral plug is also proposed, with polyetheretherketone as the subchondral bone anchor part. The mechanical properties of the resulting osteochondral device highlight its potential as a promising biomaterial for treatment of osteochondral defects. These findings provide valuable insights into the development of AG-N hydrogels for load-bearing tissue engineering applications.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2023-09-22
Keywords: alginate; alginate dialdehyde–gelatin; cartilage tissue engineering; nanofibrillated cellulose; osteochondral plugs

Relation between chemical composition, morphology, and microstructure of poly(ether ether ketone)/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite coatings obtained by electrophoretic deposition - González Castillo, Eduin Ivan; Žitňan, Michal; Torres, Yadir; Shuttleworth, Peter S.; Galusek, Dušan; Ellis, Gary; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Materials Science, 2022)
The effect of the chemical composition on the morphology and microstructure of poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK)/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanocomposite coatings is analyzed. RGO induced three main morphological features in the nanocomposites: (i) a large-scale co-continuous morphology related to nanosheets whose basal planes were mainly aligned with the coating surface, (ii) a dendritic morphology of PEEK domains, and (iii) irregular domains related to the deposition of PEEK particles wrapped by the nanosheets. The development of these morphological features was influenced by the RGO content, allowing the modification of the surface roughness. RGO also induced changes in the melting and non-isothermal crystallization of the polymeric matrix and promoted transcrystallinity in PEEK that, in turn, was a key factor in the development of the final microstructure. In addition, polymer chain mobility was observed to be hindered at high nanofiller concentrations, increasing the glass transition temperature, and diminishing the recrystallization of the polymeric matrix.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-03-11

Reply to the comment to: Bioactive layers based on black glasses on titanium substrates - Gaweda, Magdalena; Jelen, Piotr; Dlugon, Elzbieta; Wajda, Aleksandra; Lesniak, Magdalena; Simka, Wojciech; Sowa, Maciej; Detsch, Rainer; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Sitarz, Maciej (Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 2018)
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-08-05
Keywords: bioceramics; biocompatibility; coatings; silicon oxycarbide; sol-gel

Response of 45S5 Bioglass® foams to tensile loading - Rehorek, L.; Chlup, Zdenek; Meng, D.; Yunos, D. M.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Dlouhy, Ivo (Ceramics International, 2013)
The tensile strength test of highly porous ceramic foams has been developed and first results have been obtained on bioactive glass foams. The tested material was a 45S5 Bioglass® derived foam-like scaffold intended for use in bone tissue engineering which was manufactured by Bioglass® slurry coating of polyurethane foam and subsequent sintering. The Bioglass® foam structure was investigated in two states: uncoated (as fabricated) and with a PDLLA polymer coating. The tensile testing procedure is based on fixation of the foam into aluminium pots by a suitable adhesive. Tensile test samples having cross-section of 10×10 mm2 and a length of 30 mm were used for the experiments. Basic fractographic analysis was applied to get relevant information about specimens' behaviour during tensile loading. In Bioglass® based scaffolds, the presence of PDLLA coating led to a significant increase of the fracture strength, which is attributed to the interaction of the polymer phase with propagating cracks, e.g. enabling a crack bridging mechanism to take place. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2013.tech.IW.LM.respon
Keywords: 45S5 Bioglass®; Foams; Open porosity; Scaffolds; Tensile strength

Reticulated bioactive scaffolds with improved textural properties for bone tissue engineering: Nanostructured surfaces and porosity - Ramiro-Gutiérrez, M. Lourdes; Will, Julia; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Díaz-Cuenca, Aránzazu (Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 2013)
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2013.tech.IW.LM.reticu

Review. Functional glasses and glass-ceramics derived from iron rich waste and combination of industrial residues - Chinnam, Rama Krishna Satish; Francis, A. A.; Will, Julia; Bernardo, Enrico; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 2013)
Wastes from industrial processes and energy generation facilities pose environmental and health issues. Diversion of waste from landfill to favour reuse or recycling options and towards the fabrication of marketable products is of high economic and ecologic interest. Moreover safe recycling of industrial wastes is necessary and even vital to our society because of the increasing volume being generated. Glasses and glass-ceramics attract particular interest in waste recycling concepts. Novel and/or improved glass-based products from wastes should meet a variety of demands, among which the functional requirements are paramount. The investigations reviewed in this paper focusing on iron rich waste materials demonstrate the potential of turning these silicate based wastes into functional glass-based products. By properly selecting iron oxide containing residues and processing parameters, functional glass-based products with suitable catalytic activity, magnetic, optical and electrical properties can be obtained. The possibility of fabricating highly porous materials using different types of wastes for sound and thermal insulating as well as catalytic support applications is also discussed based on literature results. Thus, porosity can be considered to achieve particular properties in waste derived products. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2013.tech.IW.LM.review
Keywords: Functional properties; Glass-ceramics; Porous materials; Silicate waste

Review: Silicon oxycarbide based materials for biomedical applications - Arango Ospina, Marcela; Xie, Fangtong; Gonzalo-Juan, Isabel; Riedel, Ralf; Ionescu, Emanuel; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Applied Materials Today, 2019)
Silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) based materials are of interest due to their unique properties, including high-temperature resistance, mechanical strength, chemical durability and corrosion resistance. The versatility of the silicon oxycarbide chemistry allows the modification of properties for different fields. In the last decade, attention has been paid to the potential use of SiOC materials in biomedical applications. Surface functionalization of SiOC is a promising approach to create efficient and controllable drug delivery systems with adequate molecule adsorption and release kinetics. The analysis of the literature reveals that silicon oxycarbides have also potential applications as protective biocompatible coatings, for example in blood-contact devices. Additionally, by incorporating metallic ions (i.e. Ca2+, Mg2+, Ag+) in the material network structure, promising antibacterial properties and bioactive behavior have been observed despite the high network connectivity values compared to silicate bioactive glasses. This review covers studies which have reported the use of silicon oxycarbide based materials for biomedical applications. Advances in the evaluation of biocompatibility, bioactivity, surface functionalization and antibacterial effects are discussed in detail, highlighting advantages and limitations of SiOC systems in the biomedical field.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2019-11-05
Keywords: Bioactive glass; Biocompatibility; Coating; Cytotoxicity; Polymer-derived ceramic; Silicon oxycarbide

Rheological examination and 3D bioprinting of pre-gelled alginate hydrogels - Hazur, Jonas; Kaschta, Joachim; Bednarzig, Vera; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Schubert, Dirk W.; Detsch, Rainer (Nordic Polymer Days 2018, 2018)
lginate hydrogels are from special interest in wound healing, drug delivery and tissue engineering applications, due to their biocompatibility and similarity to the extracellular matrices in tissues [1]. In this project, bioprinting of pre-crosslinked medical grade alginate gels via an internal gelation method using D-(+)-Gluconic acid-lactone in combination with CaCO3 was implemented and the rheological characteristics of the gels were examined. By parameter optimization, it was possible to print 3D porous structures with a height of 5 mm and a pore size of 1.1 mm with those gels. Surprisingly, the stirring process during cross-linking turned out to play a major role for the absolute value of complex viscosity (|η*|), as well as for the homogeneity of the gels. A significant increase of |η*| as well as of the storage modulus was obtained, when the gels were not stirred, leading to gels without viscous flow and therefore to less defined printed structures. Apart from that, the temperature during pre-crosslinking plays an important role on the homogeneity. At lower temperatures than room temperature, the gels showed a more uniform gelation process, compared to those at 20 °C. Furthermore, the concentration and temperature dependence of the alginate solutions were rheologically characterized. The shear dependent viscosities were superposable for both temperature and concentration and appropriate fitting functions in the investigated regions were derive

Role of ZnO additions on the β/α phase relation in TCP based materials: Phase stability, properties, dissolution and biological response - Carbajal, L.; Serena, S.; Caballero, A.; Sainz, M. A.; Detsch, Rainer; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2014)
Guided by the need to manufacture smart biomaterials, capable to replace and regenerate the mineral component of the bone, with optimized mechanical performance and bioresoption rate under physiological conditions, modified synthetic Zinc doped monophasic and/or biphasic β/α-tricalcium phosphate, Znc-Ca3-x(PO4)2 (Zn-TCP), dense bioceramics with different phase proportions and microstructures were synthesized by solid state sintering process.The compositions studied, ranging from 0.125 to 1.000wt% ZnO were formulated in the Ca3(PO4)2-Zn3(PO4)2 subsystem of the ternary ZnO-CaO-P2O5 system. The design and control of compositions and processing conditions, enabled to fulfill the requirement in which Zn2+ was incorporated in solid solution in the TCP structure. Consequently, biomaterials with controlled porosity, density, phase proportion and microstructural distribution of α/β-TCP polymorphs were developed.The effect of ZnO content on the final properties was discussed and an improvement in relation to pure TCP samples was obtained. The influence of the surface physico-chemical characteristics on the mechanical performance and "in vitro" solubility in SBF was also studied. In addition "in vitro" biocompatibility was evaluated using MG-63 human osteoblast cells, obtaining synthetic Zn-TCP based biomaterials with improved cell-material interaction. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2014.tech.IW.LM.roleof
Keywords: Bioactivity; Biological response; Mechanical properties; Raman spectroscopy; Tricalcium phosphate; ZnO

Scaffold-Mediated Immunoengineering as Innovative Strategy for Tendon Regeneration - Russo, Valentina; El Khatib, Mohammad; Prencipe, Giuseppe; Cervero-Varona, Adrian; Citeroni, Maria Rita; Mauro, Annunziata; Berardinelli, Paolo; Faydaver, Melisa; Haidar-Montes, Arlette A.; Turriani, Maura; Di Giacinto, Oriana; Raspa, Marcello; et al. (Cells, 2022)
Tendon injuries are at the frontier of innovative approaches to public health concerns and sectoral policy objectives. Indeed, these injuries remain difficult to manage due to tendon's poor healing ability ascribable to a hypo-cellularity and low vascularity, leading to the formation of a fibrotic tissue affecting its functionality. Tissue engineering represents a promising solution for the regeneration of damaged tendons with the aim to stimulate tissue regeneration or to produce functional implantable biomaterials. However, any technological advancement must take into consideration the role of the immune system in tissue regeneration and the potential of biomaterial scaffolds to control the immune signaling, creating a pro-regenerative environment. In this context, immunoengineering has emerged as a new discipline, developing innovative strategies for tendon injuries. It aims at designing scaffolds, in combination with engineered bioactive molecules and/or stem cells, able to modulate the interaction between the transplanted biomaterial-scaffold and the host tissue allowing a pro-regenerative immune response, therefore hindering fibrosis occurrence at the injury site and guiding tendon regeneration. Thus, this review is aimed at giving an overview on the role exerted from different tissue engineering actors in leading immunoregeneration by crosstalking with stem and immune cells to generate new paradigms in designing regenerative medicine approaches for tendon injuries.
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2022-02-04

Scaffolds for vascularized bone regeneration: Advances and challenges - Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Kneser, Ulrich; Arkudas, Andreas (Expert Review of Medical Devices, 2012)

Scavenging of bacteria or bacterial products by magnetic particles functionalized with a broad-spectrum pathogen recognition receptor motif offers diagnostic and therapeutic applications - Friedrich, Bernhard; Lyer, Stefan; Janko, Christina; Unterweger, Harald; Brox, Regine; Cunningham, Sarah; Dutz, Silvio; Taccardi, Nicola; Bikker, Floris J.; Hurle, Katrin; Sebald, Heidi; Lenz, Malte; et al. (Acta Biomaterialia, 2022)
Sepsis is a dysregulated host response of severe bloodstream infections, and given its frequency of occurrence and high mortality rate, therapeutic improvements are imperative. A reliable biomimetic strategy for the targeting and separation of bacterial pathogens in bloodstream infections involves the use of the broad-spectrum binding motif of human GP-340, a pattern-recognition receptor of the scavenger receptor cysteine rich (SRCR) superfamily that is expressed on epithelial surfaces but not found in blood. Here we show that these peptides, when conjugated to superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), can separate various bacterial endotoxins and intact microbes (E. coli, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and S. marcescens) with high efficiency, especially at low and thus clinically relevant concentrations. This is accompanied by a subsequent strong depletion in cytokine release (TNF, IL-6, IL-1β, Il-10 and IFN-γ), which could have a direct therapeutic impact since escalating immune responses complicates severe bloodstream infections and sepsis courses. SPIONs are coated with aminoalkylsilane and capture peptides are orthogonally ligated to this surface. The particles behave fully cyto- and hemocompatible and do not interfere with host structures. Thus, this approach additionally aims to dramatically reduce diagnostic times for patients with suspected bloodstream infections and accelerate targeted antibiotic therapy. Statement of significance: Sepsis is often associated with excessive release of cytokines. This aspect and slow diagnostic procedures are the major therapeutic obstacles. The use of magnetic particles conjugated with small peptides derived from the binding motif of a broad-spectrum mucosal pathogen recognition protein GP-340 provides a highly efficient scavenging platform. These peptides are not found in blood and therefore are not subject to inhibitory mechanisms like in other concepts (mannose binding lectine, aptamers, antibodies). In this work, data are shown on the broad bacterial binding spectrum, highly efficient toxin depletion, which directly reduces the release of cytokines. Host cells are not affected and antibiotics not adsorbed. The particle bound microbes can be recultured without restriction and thus be used directly for diagnostics.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-03-11
Keywords: GP-340; Magnetic nanoparticles; Pathogen binding; Sepsis; SRCR domain