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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Electrospun PCL/PGS composite fibers incorporating bioactive glass particles for soft tissue engineering applications - Luginina, Marina; Schuhladen, Katharina; Orrú, Roberto; Cao, Giacomo; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Liverani, Liliana (Nanomaterials, 2020)
Poly(glycerol-sebacate) (PGS) and poly(epsilon caprolactone) (PCL) have been widely investigated for biomedical applications in combination with the electrospinning process. Among others, one advantage of this blend is its suitability to be processed with benign solvents for electrospinning. In this work, the suitability of PGS/PCL polymers for the fabrication of composite fibers incorporating bioactive glass (BG) particles was investigated. Composite electrospun fibers containing silicate or borosilicate glass particles (13-93 and 13-93BS, respectively) were obtained and characterized. Neat PCL and PCL composite electrospun fibers were used as control to investigate the possible effect of the presence of PGS and the influence of the bioactive glass particles. In fact, with the addition of PGS an increase in the average fiber diameter was observed, while in all the composite fibers, the presence of BG particles induced an increase in the fiber diameter distribution, without changing significantly the average fiber diameter. Results confirmed that the blended fibers are hydrophilic, while the addition of BG particles does not affect fiber wettability. Degradation test and acellular bioactivity test highlight the release of the BG particles from all composite fibers, relevant for all applications related to therapeutic ion release, i.e., wound healing. Because of weak interface between the incorporated BG particles and the polymeric fibers, mechanical properties were not improved in the composite fibers. Promising results were obtained from preliminary biological tests for potential use of the developed mats for soft tissue engineering applications.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2020-06-23
Keywords: Benign solvents; Bioactive glass; Composite fibers; Electrospinning; Poly(glycerol-sebacate)

Electrospun PHB/PCL/FUMED Silica Fibrous Structure for Bone Tissue Engineering - Ding, Yaping; Li, Wei; Roether, Judith; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Schubert, Dirk W. (Polychar 23rd, 2015)

Electrospun Polyhydroxybutyrate/Poly(ϵ-caprolactone)/58S Sol-Gel Bioactive Glass Hybrid Scaffolds with Highly Improved Osteogenic Potential for Bone Tissue Engineering - Ding, Yaping; Li, Wei; Mueller, Teresa; Schubert, Dirk W.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Yao, Qingqing; Roether, Judith (ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 2016)
Keywords: electrospinning; hybrid scaffolds; poly(ϵ-caprolactone); polyhydroxybutyrate; sol-gel method; tissue engineering

Electrospun Polyhydroxybutyrate/Poly(ϵ-caprolactone)/58S Sol-Gel Bioactive Glass Hybrid Scaffolds with Highly Improved Osteogenic Potential for Bone Tissue Engineering - Ding, Yaping; Li, Wei; Mueller, Teresa; Schubert, Dirk W.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Yao, Qingqing; Roether, Judith (ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 2016)
Electrospinning of biopolymer and inorganic substances is one of the efficient ways to combine various advantageous properties in one single fibrous structure with potential for tissue engineering applications. In the present study, to integrate the high stiffness of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), the flexibility of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and the bioactivity of 58S bioactive glass, PHB/PCL/58S sol-gel bioactive glass hybrid scaffolds were fabricated using combined electrospinning and sol-gel method. Physical features such as fiber diameter distribution, mechanical strength and Young's modulus were characterized thoroughly. FTIR analysis demonstrated the successful incorporation of 58S bioactive glass into the blend polymers, which greatly improved the hydrophilicity of PHB/PCL fibermats. The primary biological response of MG-63 osteoblast-like cells on the prepared fibrous scaffolds was evaluated, proving that the 58S glass sol containing hybrid scaffold were not only favorable to MG-63 cell adhesion but also slightly enhanced cell viability and significantly increased alkaline phosphate activity
Keywords: sol-gel method; tissue engineering; poly(ϵ-caprolactone); polyhydroxybutyrate; hybrid scaffolds; electrospinning

Electrospun Polyhydroxybutyrate/Poly(ε-caprolactone)/Sol-Gel-Derived Silica Hybrid Scaffolds with Drug Releasing Function for Bone Tissue Engineering Applications. - Ding, Yaping; Li, Wei; Correia, Alexandra; Yang, Yuyun; Zheng, Kai; Liu, Dongfei; Schubert, Dirk W.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Santos, Helder A.; Roether, Judith (ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 2018)
Electrospun hybrid scaffolds are an effective platform to deliver drugs site specifically for the prevention and treatment of diseases in addition to promote tissue regeneration because of the flexibility to load drugs therein. In the present study, electrospun hybrid scaffolds containing antibiotics were developed to support cellular activities and eliminate potential postoperative inflammation and infection. As a model drug, levofloxacin (LFX) was successfully incorporated into pure polyhydroxybutyrate/poly(ε-caprolactone) (PHB/PCL) scaffolds and PHB/PCL/sol-gel-derived silica (SGS) scaffolds. The influence of LFX on the morphology, mechanical performance, chemical structure, drug release profile, and antibacterial effect of the scaffolds was thoroughly and comparatively investigated. MG-63 osteoblast-like cell cultivation on both scaffolds certified that LFX inclusion did not impair the biocompatibility. In addition to the favorable cellular proliferation and differentiation, scaffolds containing both LFX and SGS displayed highly increased mineralization content. Therefore, the present multifunctional hybrid scaffolds are promising in tissue engineering applications.

Electrospun Polyhydroxybutyrate/Poly(ϵ-caprolactone)/Sol-Gel-Derived Silica Hybrid Scaffolds with Drug Releasing Function for Bone Tissue Engineering Applications - Ding, Yaping; Li, Wei; Correia, Alexandra; Yang, Yuyun; Zheng, Kai; Liu, Dongfei; Schubert, Dirk W.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Santos, Helder A.; Roether, Judith (ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 2018)
Electrospun hybrid scaffolds are an effective platform to deliver drugs site specifically for the prevention and treatment of diseases in addition to promote tissue regeneration because of the flexibility to load drugs therein. In the present study, electrospun hybrid scaffolds containing antibiotics were developed to support cellular activities and eliminate potential postoperative inflammation and infection. As a model drug, levofloxacin (LFX) was successfully incorporated into pure polyhydroxybutyrate/poly(ε-caprolactone) (PHB/PCL) scaffolds and PHB/PCL/sol-gel-derived silica (SGS) scaffolds. The influence of LFX on the morphology, mechanical performance, chemical structure, drug release profile, and antibacterial effect of the scaffolds was thoroughly and comparatively investigated. MG-63 osteoblast-like cell cultivation on both scaffolds certified that LFX inclusion did not impair the biocompatibility. In addition to the favorable cellular proliferation and differentiation, scaffolds containing both LFX and SGS displayed highly increased mineralization content. Therefore, the present multifunctional hybrid scaffolds are promising in tissue engineering application
Keywords: hybrid scaffolds; poly(ϵ-caprolactone); antibacterial; polyhydroxybutyrate; sol.gel silica

ELECTROSPUN SCAFFOLDS FOR OVARIAN TISSUE ENGINEERING: KEY POINTS OF SCAFFOLD-FOLLICLES INTERACTIONS - Liverani, Liliana; Bleisinger, Nathalie; Hoffmann, Inge; Beckmann, Matthias; Dittrich, Ralf; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A, 2022)
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2022-08-12

Electrospun Zein Fibers Incorporating Poly(glycerol sebacate) for Soft Tissue Engineering. - Vogt, Lena; Liverani, Liliana; Roether, Judith; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Nanomaterials, 2018)
For biomedical applications such as soft tissue engineering, plant proteins are becoming increasingly attractive. Zein, a class of prolamine proteins found in corn, offers excellent properties for application in the human body, but has inferior mechanical properties and lacks aqueous stability. In this study, electrospun scaffolds from neat zein and zein blended with prepolymer and mildly cross-linked poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) were fabricated. Less toxic solvents like acetic acid and ethanol were used. The morphological, physiochemical and degradation properties of the as-spun fiber mats were determined. Neat zein and zein-PGS fiber mats with high zein concentration (24 wt % and 27 wt %) showed defect-free microstructures. The average fiber diameter decreased with increasing PGS amount from 0.7 ± 0.2 µm to 0.09 ± 0.03 µm. The addition of PGS to zein resulted in a seven-fold increase in ultimate tensile strength and a four-fold increase in failure strain, whereas the Young’s Modulus did not change significantly. Degradation tests in phosphate buffered saline revealed the morphological instability of zein containing fiber mats in contact with aqueous media. Therefore, the fibers were in situ cross-linked with N-(3-Dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide (EDC)/N-Hydroxysuccinimide (NHS), which led to improved morphological stability in aqueous environment. The novel fibers have suitable properties for application in soft tissue engineering.
Keywords: zein; poly(glycerol sebacate); electrospinning; nano-fibers; soft tissue engineering

Encapsulation of aluminium in geopolymers produced from metakaolin - Kuenzel, C.; Neville, T. P.; Omakowski, T.; Vandeperre, Luc; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Bensted, J.; Simons, S. J. R.; Cheeseman, C. R. (Journal of Nuclear Materials, 2014)
Magnox swarf contaminated with trace levels of Al metal is an important UK legacy waste originated from the fuel rod cladding system used in Magnox nuclear power stations. Composite cements made from Portland cement and blast furnace slag form a potential encapsulation matrix. However the high pH of this system causes the Al metal to corrode causing durability issues. Geopolymers derived from metakaolin are being investigated as an alternative encapsulation matrix for Magnox swarf waste and the corrosion kinetics and surface interactions of Al with metakaolin geopolymer are reported in this paper. It is shown that the pH of the geopolymer paste can be controlled by the selection of metakaolin and the sodium silicate solution used to form the geopolymer. A decrease in pH of the activation solution reduces corrosion of the Al metal and increases the stability of bayerite and gibbsite layers formed on the Al surface. The bayerite and gibbsite act as a passivation layer which inhibits further corrosion and mitigates H generation. The research shows that optimised metakaolin geopolymers have potential to be used to encapsulate legacy Magnox swarf wastes. © 2014 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Encapsulation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improves Vascularization of Alginate-Based Scaffolds. - Steiner, Dominik; Lingens, Lara; Fischer, Laura; Köhn, Katrin; Detsch, Rainer; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Fey, Tobias; Greil, Peter; Weis, Christian; Beier, Justus; Horch, Raymund E.; Arkudas, Andreas (Tissue Engineering: Parts A, B, and C, 2018)
DiI-labeled MSCs/mL ADA-GEL. Four weeks postoperatively, tissue formation and vascularization were investigated by histology and microcomputed tomography. We were able to prove vascularization originating from the AV loop in both groups with statistically significant more vessels in group B containing MSCs. Moreover, encapsulated MSCs promoted biodegradation of the ADA-GEL microcapsules. In the present study, we were able to demonstrate for the first time, the successful vascularization of ADA-GEL microcapsules by means of the AV loop. Furthermore, ADA-GEL displayed a good biocompatibility and encapsulation of MSCs into ADA-GEL microcapsule-enhanced vascularization as well as biodegradation.

Encapsulation of Rat Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Alginate Dialdehyde/Gelatin Microbeads with and without Nanoscaled Bioactive Glass for In Vivo Bone Tissue Engineering. - Rottensteiner-Brandl, Ulrike; Detsch, Rainer; Sarker, Bapi; Lingens, Lara; Köhn, Katrin; Kneser, Ulrich; Boßerhoff, Anja Katrin; Horch, Raymund E.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Arkudas, Andreas (Materials, 2018)
Alginate dialdehyde (ADA), gelatin, and nano-scaled bioactive glass (nBG) particles are being currently investigated for their potential use as three-dimensional scaffolding materials for bone tissue engineering. ADA and gelatin provide a three-dimensional scaffold with properties supporting cell adhesion and proliferation. Combined with nanocristalline BG, this composition closely mimics the mineral phase of bone. In the present study, rat bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), commonly used as an osteogenic cell source, were evaluated after encapsulation into ADA-gelatin hydrogel with and without nBG. High cell survival was found in vitro for up to 28 days with or without addition of nBG assessed by calcein staining, proving the cell-friendly encapsulation process. After subcutaneous implantation into rats, survival was assessed by DAPI/TUNEL fluorescence staining. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemical staining for the macrophage marker ED1 (CD68) and the endothelial cell marker lectin were used to evaluate immune reaction and vascularization. After in vivo implantation, high cell survival was found after 1 week, with a notable decrease after 4 weeks. Immune reaction was very mild, proving the biocompatibility of the material. Angiogenesis in implanted constructs was significantly improved by cell encapsulation, compared to cell-free beads, as the implanted MSCs were able to attract endothelial cells. Constructs with nBG showed higher numbers of vital MSCs and lectin positive endothelial cells, thus showing a higher degree of angiogenesis, although this difference was not significant. These results support the use of ADA/gelatin/nBG as a scaffold and of MSCs as a source of osteogenic cells for bone tissue engineering. Future studies should however improve long term cell survival and focus on differentiation potential of encapsulated cells in vivo.

Endotenon-Derived Type II Tendon Stem Cells Have Enhanced Proliferative and Tenogenic Potential - Clerici, Marta; Citro, Vera; Byrne, Amy L.; Dale, Tina P.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Della Porta, Giovanna; Maffulli, Nicola; Forsyth, Nicholas R. (International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2023)
Tendon injuries caused by overuse or age-related deterioration are frequent. Incomplete knowledge of somatic tendon cell biology and their progenitors has hindered interventions for the effective repair of injured tendons. Here, we sought to compare and contrast distinct tendon-derived cell populations: type I and II tendon stem cells (TSCs) and tenocytes (TNCs). Porcine type I and II TSCs were isolated via the enzymatic digestion of distinct membranes (paratenon and endotenon, respectively), while tenocytes were isolated through an explant method. Resultant cell populations were characterized by morphology, differentiation, molecular, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence analysis. Cells were isolated, cultured, and evaluated in two alternate oxygen concentrations (physiological (2%) and air (21%)) to determine the role of oxygen in cell biology determination within this relatively avascular tissue. The different cell populations demonstrated distinct proliferative potential, morphology, and transcript levels (both for tenogenic and stem cell markers). In contrast, all tendon-derived cell populations displayed multipotent differentiation potential and immunophenotypes (positive for CD90 and CD44). Type II TSCs emerged as the most promising tendon-derived cell population for expansion, given their enhanced proliferative potential, multipotency, and maintenance of a tenogenic profile at early and late passage. Moreover, in all cases, physoxia promoted the enhanced proliferation and maintenance of a tenogenic profile. These observations help shed light on the biological mechanisms of tendon cells, with the potential to aid in the development of novel therapeutic approaches for tendon disorders.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2023-11-10
Keywords: tendinopathies; tendon regeneration; tenogenic markers; TNCs; TSCs

Engineered Nanomaterials - Misra, Superb; Tetley, Terry; Thorley, Andrew; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Valsami-Jones, Eugenia (Pollutants, Human Health and the Environment: A Risk Based Approach, 2012)
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2012.tech.IW.LM.engine

Engineering of Metabolic Pathways by Artificial Enzyme Channels. - Pröschel, Marlene; Detsch, Rainer; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Sonnewald, Uwe (Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2015)
Application of industrial enzymes for production of valuable chemical compounds has greatly benefited from recent developments in Systems and Synthetic Biology. Both, in vivo and in vitro systems have been established, allowing conversion of simple into complex compounds. Metabolic engineering in living cells needs to be balanced which is achieved by controlling gene expression levels, translation, scaffolding, compartmentation, and flux control. In vitro applications are often hampered by limited protein stability/half-life and insufficient rates of substrate conversion. To improve stability and catalytic activity, proteins are post-translationally modified and arranged in artificial metabolic channels. Within the review article, we will first discuss the supramolecular organization of enzymes in living systems and second summarize current and future approaches to design artificial metabolic channels by additive manufacturing for the efficient production of desired products.

Engineering the surface functionality of 45S5 bioactive glass-based scaffolds by the heterogeneous nucleation and growth of silver particles - Meincke, Thomas; Miguez Pacheco, Valentina; Hoffmann, Daniel; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Klupp Taylor, Robin (Journal of Materials Science, 2017)

Enhanced bacteriostatic activity, osteogenesis and osseointegration of silicon nitride/polyetherketoneketone composites with femtosecond laser induced micro/nano structural surface - Wu, Han; Liu, Tao; Xu, Zhiyan; Qian, Jun; Shen, Xuening; Li, Yuan; Pan, Yongkang; Wang, Deqiang; Zheng, Kai; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Wei, Jie (Applied Materials Today, 2020)
Poor cell adhesion and osteogenic activity impede the bone regeneration and osseointegration effects of polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) implants. Surface modification and incorporation of bioactive fillers are effective strategies to promote the cellular responses of PEKK implants and their integration with bone tissues. In this study, silicon nitride (SN) microparticles were blended with PEKK to develop bioactive composite implants (SPC). Femtosecond laser was then used to modify SPC surfaces inducing favorable micro/nano structural surface (FSPC). After the laser ablation, irregularly shaped SN microparticles were converted to “petal-like” clusters composed of “pin-like” SN nanoparticles, while the entire surface was covered by SN particles due to the removal of PEKK. The roughness, hydrophilicity, content of surface chemical groups (e.g., -NH2), and protein adsorption capability of FSPC were significantly enhanced compared to SPC and PEKK. Also, the release of biologically active Si ions was increased after the femtosecond laser treatment, inducing a positive microenvironment favorable for cellular activities. Moreover, FSPC exhibited a greater bacteriostatic activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) than SPC. The presence of micro/nano structure also remarkably promoted adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of rat bone mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs). In vivo evaluation of the composites in a rabbit femur defect model verified that FSPC could enhance osteogenesis and osseointegration to a greater extent than SPC, evidenced with greater bone-implant contacts and push-out force. These results indicate that the femtosecond laser induced micro/nano structural surface on SN/PEKK implants can significantly promote osseointegration and bone repair. The femtosecond laser exhibits great potential in surface modifying bioceramic/polymer composites. The fabricated FSPC have shown great potential as bone implants in orthopedic applications considering their excellent biocompatibility, bacteriostatic property, osteogenic activity, and osseointegration.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2019-12-20
Keywords: Femtosecond laser; Micro/nano structure; Osseointegration; Polyetherketoneketone; Silicon nitride

Enhancing biological activity of bioactive glass scaffolds by inorganic ion delivery for bone tissue engineering - Mouriño, V.; Vidotto, R.; Cattalini, J. P.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering, 2019)
This review covers recent research on therapeutic inorganic ions' (TIIs) ‘in situ’ delivery for bone repair and highlights some of the challenges involved, especially related to TII delivery in a controlled and sustained manner from bone tissue engineering (BTE) scaffolds. Strategies for the delivery of relevant biologically active ions with potential angiogenic and osteogenic effects in BTE approaches reported during the last five years are discussed, and the description of delivery techniques to meet bone regeneration requirements is presented. From early approaches using conventional bioceramics, the field has grown tremendously, driven in part by innovations in the biomaterials field, particularly bioactive glasses loaded with and capable to deliver TIIs. Modern advances in drug delivery applied to regenerative medicine focus on the rational design of scaffolds tailored for specific cargo and engineered to exert distinct biological functions. However, even though there is no release system universally suited to different TIIs, specific features and problems of one design or material type can shed light on how to approach TII release in BTE applications generally. Successful strategies to overcome current challenges will have broad application in bone regeneration with great promise for future clinical therapies.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2019-10-29
Keywords: Bioactive glasses; Bone tissue engineering; Controlled release; Scaffolds; Therapeutic ions

Enhancing In Vitro Bioactivity of Melt-Derived 45S5 Bioglass® by Comminution in a Stirred Media Mill - Romeis, Stefan; Hoppe, Alexander; Eisermann, Claudia; Schneider, Nadine; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Schmidt, Jochen; Peukert, Wolfgang (Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 2014)
45S5 Bioglassâ (45S5 BG) is a frequently applied Type A bioactive material, capable of forming an inherent bond to bone and soft tissue. Currently, applied melt-derived bioactive glass powders (BG) exhibit particle sizes between a few to several hundred micrometers. Recent studies on nanometer-sized bioactive glasses (nBGs), produced by bottom-up methods like sol– gel processing or flame spray pyrolysis, have indicated their great potential for several biomedical applications. In this study, the feasibility of top-down processing starting from bulk 45S5 BG by wet comminution in a stirred media mill was investigated. The products were assessed by in vitro hydroxycarbonate apatite (HCAp) formation in simulated body fluid, which is a marker for bioactive behavior. The study reveals the paramount influence of the used solvent for a successful topdown processing: In comparison with the as-received material bioactivity is lost for powders processed in water, preserved for comminution in ethanol and increased for powders processed using the alcohols n-butanol, n-pentanol, and n-hexanol. It was also found that only for the latter solvents, the chemical composition of the glass is maintained during comminution. Flakelike, slightly porous particles with specific surface areas of  25–30 m2/g are obtained. Thus, the presented comminution approach offers a convenient technique to process 45S5 BG with enhanced bioactivity.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2013.tech.IW.LM.enhanc

Enhancing PEEK surface bioactivity: Investigating the effects of combining sulfonation with sub-millimeter laser machining - Chayanun, Slila; Chanamuangkon, Theerapat; Boonsuth, Budsaraporn; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Lohwongwatana, Boonrat (Materials Today Bio, 2023)
Due to its superior mechanical properties and chemical stability, Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) has emerged as an alternative to conventional metal implants. However, the bio-inertness of PEEK's surface has limited its applications. Ambient sulfonation has been adopted to enhance bioactivity, but its nanoscale topographic changes are insufficient for implant-bone interlock. To further improve bone-implant interlock, this study employs CO2 laser machining to create sub-millimeter (0.5 mm) grooves on PEEK's surface, aiming to encourage bone ingrowth and strengthen the implant-bone interface. This research investigated the physical and chemical properties and bio-interaction of PEEK surface modified by sulfonation (SPEEK), laser machining (L-PEEK), and combination of both technique (L-SPEEK). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra revealed that sulfonation compensates for the surface chemical shift instigated by laser ablation, aligning the surface chemistry of L-SPEEK with that of SPEEK. Furthermore, L-PEEK surfaces presented pores with sizes ranging from 1 to 600 μm, while SPEEK surfaces exhibited pores between 5 and 700 nm. All tested samples demonstrated non-cytotoxicity, with L-SPEEK exhibiting the highest mineralization and ALP activity as 2 and 2.1 times that of intrinsic PEEK, after 21 days of incubation. Microscopic imaging reveals a notably higher extracellular content on L-SPEEK compared to the other groups. This study underscores the potential of combining sub-millimeter laser machining with sulfonation in enhancing early osteogenic markers, providing a promising pathway for future PEEK-based orthopedic applications.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2023-08-11
Keywords: Laser etching; Osseointegration; Polyetheretherketone; Sulfonation; Surface modification

Environmentally friendly fabrication of electrospun nanofibers made of polycaprolactone, chitosan and k-carrageenan (PCL/CS/k-C) - Vargas Osorio, Zulema; Ruther, Florian; Chen, Si; Sengupta, Susanta; Liverani, Liliana; Michalek, Martin; Galusek, Dušan; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Biomedical Materials, 2022)
Electrospun fibers based on biodegradable polyanionic or polycationic biopolymers are highly beneficial for biomedical applications. In this work, electrospun nanofibers made from poly(epsilon caprolactone) (PCL), chitosan (CS) and k-carrageenan (k-C) were successfully fabricated using several mixtures of benign solvents containing formic acid and acetic acid. The addition of k-C improved the preparation procedure for the production of PCL/CS fibers by electrospinning. Moreover, a polymer mixture was selected to be stored at -20 degrees C for one month with the purpose to study the properties of the resulting fiber mat. The results indicated that fiber characteristics were not seriously compromised compared to the ones of those fabricated with the original solution, which represents an important reduction in produced waste. Thus, the interactions that occur between positively and negatively charged hydrophilic polysaccharides might induce higher stability to the linear aliphatic polyester in the polymer mixture. All fiber mats were morphologically, physico-chemically and mechanically characterized, showing average fiber diameters in the nano scale. A direct cell viability assay using ST-2 cells demonstrated cell proliferation after seven days of incubation for all prepared fiber mats, confirming their suitability as potential candidates for bone tissue engineering and wound healing applications.
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2022-06-17

Erosion protective coatings for low density, highly porous carbon/carbon composites - Smeacetto, F.; Salvo, M.; Ferraris, M.; Casalegno, V.; Canavese, Giancarlo; Moskalewicz, Tomasz; Ellacott, S.; Rawlings, R. D.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Carbon, 2009)
A simple and low cost method based on slurry coating was used to produce silicon carbide, titanium carbide and glass-ceramic coatings on low density carbon/carbon composites in order to improve their erosion resistance. Microstructural analyses were performed for substrate and coatings by optical microscopy, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. As-received and coated composites were submitted to erosion tests using a sandblasting machine according to ASTM G76-95. The best results were obtained with a silica-alumina-yttria based glass-ceramic coating. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2009.tech.IW.LM.erosio

Erratum: 45S5 bioactive glass-based scaffolds coated with cellulose nanowhiskers for bone tissue engineering (RSC Adv. (2014) 4 (56156-56164) DOI: 10.1039/C4RA07740G) - Li, Wei; Garmendia, Nere; De Larraya, Uxua Perez; Ding, Yaping; Detsch, Rainer; Grünewald, Alina; Roether, Judith; Schubert, Dirk W.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (RSC Advances, 2023)
The authors regret unattributed data overlap between their RSC Advances article and ref. 1. The Royal Society of Chemistry apologises for these errors and any consequent inconvenience to authors and readers.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2023-05-26

Erratum to: Bioactive layers based on black glasses on titanium substrates (Journal of the American Ceramic Society, (2018), 101, 2, (590-601), 10.1111/jace.15202) - 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)
In the published article listed above, the last sentence of the Introduction should be changed from “To the best of our knowledge, there is no work devoted to the study of the bioactivity and biocompatibility of black glasses.” to the corrected version, which is “The bioactivity and cytocompatibility of silicon oxycarbide monoliths and powders have been investigated previously, however, to the best of our knowledge, there is no previous work devoted to the study of the bioactivity and biocompatibility of black glasses as coatings of titanium substrates.” In addition, the sentence should include citation of the reference “Gonzalo-Juan I, Detsch R, Mathur S, Ionescu E, Boccaccini AR, Riedel R. Synthesis and in vitro activity assessment of novel silicon oxycarbide-based bioactive glasses. Materials. 2016;9(12):959-969”.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-08-05

Essential oils in biomedical applications: Recent progress and future opportunities - Ünalan, Irem; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering, 2021)
The use of essential oils (EOs) combined with engineered biomaterials has been continuously growing. Research has focused on counteracting drawbacks of EOs such as volatility, relative low stability, and high sensitivity to environmental factors, in addition to investigating biological effects of EOs. This review discusses recent developments in the use of EOs in biomedical applications, such as antibacterial materials, drug delivery systems, and wound healing. Furthermore, we summarize not only the antibacterial and biological activities of biomaterial–EO combinations, but also discuss the effects of EOs on physical, thermal, and mechanical properties of biomaterials, which distinguishes this review from previous similar articles. EOs discussed are cinnamon, clove, and peppermint. Results show that the incorporation of EOs in engineered biomaterials has led to improved antibacterial activity, biocompatibility, and wound healing in several systems. Biomaterial–EO combinations represent a promising alternative for a new generation of hybrid biomedical systems incorporating natural medicinal compounds in engineered biomaterials.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2021-03-05
Keywords: Composites; Essential oils; Hybrid biomaterials; Natural medical products

Evaluation of an alginate-gelatine crosslinked hydrogel for bioplotting - Zehnder, Tobias; Sarker, Bapi; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Detsch, Rainer (Biofabrication, 2015)
Using additive manufacturing to create hydrogel scaffolds which incorporate homogeneously distributed, immobilized cells in the context of biofabrication approaches represents an emerging and expanding field in tissue engineering. Applying hydrogels for additive manufacturing must consider the material processing properties as well as their influence on the immobilized cells. In this work alginate-dialdehyde (ADA), a partially oxidized alginate, was used as a basic material to improve the physico-chemical properties of the hydrogel for cell immobilization. At first, the processing ability of the gel using a bioplotter and the compatibility of the process with MG-63 osteoblast like cells were investigated. The metabolic and mitochondrial activities increased at the beginning of the incubation period and they balanced at a relatively high level after 14-28 days of incubation. During this incubation period the release of vascular endothelial growth factor-A also increased. After 28 days of incubation the cell morphology showed a spreading morphology and cells were seen to move out of the scaffold struts covering the whole scaffold structure. The reproducible processing capability of alginate-gelatine (ADA-GEL) and the compatibility with MG-63 cells were proven, thus the ADA-GEL material is highlighted as a promising matrix for applications in biofabrication.

Evaluation of angiogenesis of bioactive glass in the arteriovenous loop model - Arkudas, Andreas; Balzer, Amelie; Bührer, Gregor; Arnold, Isabel; Hoppe, Alexander; Detsch, Rainer; Newby, Phillipa; Fey, Tobias; Greil, Peter; Horch, Raymund E.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Kneser, Ulrich (Tissue Engineering - Part C: Methods, 2013)
In this study, the angiogenetic effect of sintered 45S5 Bioglass (R) was quantitatively assessed for the first time in the arteriovenous loop (AVL) model. An AVL was created by interposition of a venous graft from the contralateral side between the femoral artery and vein in the medial thigh of eight rats. The loop was placed in a Teflon isolation chamber and was embedded in a sintered 45S5 Bioglass (R) granula matrix filled with fibrin gel. Specimens were investigated 3 weeks postoperatively by means of microcomputed tomography, histological, and morphometrical techniques. All animals tolerated the operations well. At 3 weeks, both microcomputed tomography and histology demonstrated a dense network of newly formed vessels originating from the AVL. All constructs were filled with cell-rich, highly vascularized connective tissue around the vascular axis. Analysis of vessel diameter revealed constant small vessel diameters, indicating immature new vessel sprouts. This study shows for the first time axial vascularization of a sintered 45S5 Bioglass (R) granula matrix. After 3 weeks, the newly generated vascular network already interfused most parts of the scaffolds and showed signs of immaturity. The intrinsic type of vascularization allows transplantation of the entire construct using the AVL pedicle.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2013.tech.IW.LM.evalua

Evaluation of antibacterial and cytotoxic effects of nano-sized bioactive glass/collagen composites releasing tetracycline hydrochloride - Rivadeneira, J.; Di Virgilio, A. L.; Audisio, M. C.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Gorustovich, A. A. (Journal of Applied Microbiology, 2014)
Aims: To evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of silicate bioactive glass nanoparticles/collagen composites functionalized with tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH). Methods and Results: Different concentrations of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) were incorporated on silicate bioactive glass nanoparticles/collagen composites by dipping these biomaterials for 48 h at 37°C in a solution of simulated body fluid (SBF) plus 0·05, 0·20 or 0·35 mg ml of the antibiotic. TCH release was assessed in double-distilled water at 37°C up to 72 h. The antibacterial activity of the samples has been evaluated in two ways: inhibition zone test and plate count method. The experiments were performed in vitro up to 48 h on four staphylococci strains (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC29213, ATCC25923, ATCC6538P and Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC12228). The new composites were also tested for cytotoxicity on MG-63 human osteosarcoma cells. The results showed that the incorporation and release of TCH was dependent on the initial concentration of TCH in SBF. The biomaterials also inhibited the Staph. aureus cell growth even though the efficacy was similar for all concentration. On the other hand, no cytotoxic effects were found on osteoblast-like cells, even at the highest concentration. Conclusions: Considering all results, it can be concluded that the new composite acts as a suitable bioactive carrier of TCH and could have potential in the prevention of biomaterial related infections. Significance and Impact of the Study: The results suggest a potential application as wound dressing. © 2014 The Society for Applied Microbiology.
Keywords: Antibacterial activity; Antibiotic; Bioactive glass; Collagen

Evaluation of cell inkjet printing technique for biofabrication - Detsch, Rainer; Blob, Sebastian; Zehnder, Tobias; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (BioNanoMaterials, 2016)
Keywords: biofabrication; cell printing; inkjet technique

Evaluation of electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone)/gelatin nanofiber mats containing clove essential oil for antibacterial wound dressing - Ünalan, Irem; Endlein, Stefan J.; Slavik, Benedikt; Büttner, Andrea; Goldmann, Wolfgang; Detsch, Rainer; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Pharmaceutics, 2019)
The objective of this study was to produce antibacterial poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)-gelatin (GEL) electrospun nanofiber mats containing clove essential oil (CLV) using glacial acetic acid (GAA) as a “benign” (non-toxic) solvent. The addition of CLV increased the fiber diameter from 241 ± 96 to 305 ± 82 nm. Aside from this, the wettability of PCL-GEL nanofiber mats was increased by the addition of CLV. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis confirmed the presence of CLV, and the actual content of CLV was determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Our investigations showed that CLV-loaded PCL-GEL nanofiber mats did not have cytotoxic effects on normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) cells. On the other hand, the fibers exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Consequently, PCL-GEL/CLV nanofiber mats are potential candidates for antibiotic-free wound healing applications.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2019-11-15
Keywords: Antibacterial; Biocompatibility; Clove essential oil; Electrospinning; Gelatin; PCL

Evaluation of fibroblasts adhesion and proliferation on alginate-gelatin crosslinked hydrogel - Sarker, Bapi; Singh, Raminder; Silva, Raquel; Roether, Judith; Kaschta, Joachim; Detsch, Rainer; Schubert, Dirk W.; Cicha, Iwona; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (PLoS ONE, 2014)
Due to the relatively poor cell-material interaction of alginate hydrogel, alginate-gelatin crosslinked (ADA-GEL) hydrogel was synthesized through covalent crosslinking of alginate di-aldehyde (ADA) with gelatin that supported cell attachment, spreading and proliferation. This study highlights the evaluation of the physico-chemical properties of synthesized ADA-GEL hydrogels of different compositions compared to alginate in the form of films. Moreover, in vitro cell-material interaction on ADA-GEL hydrogels of different compositions compared to alginate was investigated by using normal human dermal fibroblasts. Viability, attachment, spreading and proliferation of fibroblasts were significantly increased on ADA-GEL hydrogels compared to alginate. Moreover, in vitro cytocompatibility of ADA-GEL hydrogels was found to be increased with increasing gelatin content. These findings indicate that ADA-GEL hydrogel is a promising material for the biomedical applications in tissue-engineering and regeneration. Copyright:

Evaluation of hydrogel matrices for vessel bioplotting: Vascular cell growth and viability - Singh, Raminder; Sarker, Bapi; Silva, Raquel; Detsch, Rainer; Dietel, Barbara; Alexiou, Christoph; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Cicha, Iwona (Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 2015)
Developing matrices biocompatible with vascular cells is one of the most challenging tasks in tissue engineering. Here, we compared the growth of vascular cells on different hydrogels as potential materials for bioplotting of vascular tissue. Formulations containing alginate solution (Alg, 2%, w/v) blended with protein solutions (silk fibroin, gelatin, keratin, or elastin) at 1% w/v were prepared. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (ECs), smooth muscle cells (SMCs), and fibroblasts were cultivated on hydrogels for 7 days. Cell number and morphology was visualised using fluorescent staining at day 3 and 7. Cell metabolic activity was analysed using WST assay. Compared to pure Alg, Alg/keratin, Alg/gelatin and Alg/silk fibroin provided superb surfaces for ECs, supporting their attachment, growth, spreading and metabolic activity. SMCs showed best colonization and growth on Alg/silk fibroin and Alg/keratin hydrogels, whereas on elastin-containing hydrogels, cell clustering was observed. Fibroblasts growth was enhanced on Alg/elastin, and strongly improved on silk fibroin- and keratin-containing hydrogels. In contrast to the previous studies with alginate dialdehyde-gelatin crosslinked gels, Alg/gelatin blend hydrogels provided a less favourable scaffold for fibroblasts. Taken together, the most promising results were obtained with silk fibroin- and keratin-containing hydrogels, which supported the growth of all types of vascular cells.
Keywords: alginate-protein hydrogels; biocompatibility; fibroblasts; scaffold endothelialisation; smooth muscle cells

Evaluation of in vitro properties of 3D micro-macro porous zirconia scaffolds coated with 58S bioactive glass using MG-63 osteoblast-like cells - Mesquita-Guimaraes, J.; Ramos, L.; Detsch, Rainer; Henriques, B.; Fredel, M. C.; Silva, F. S.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2019)
A new family of bioceramic scaffolds consisting of zirconia foam-like structures with 58S bioactive glass (BG) coating was developed. Three open-cell structures fabricated by the foam replica method were coated via immersion in a sol-gel solution. The coating technique was optimised controlling the sol viscosity, condensation time, and the number of immersions in order to increase the coating thickness. The scaffolds chemical and structural characteristics were evaluated before in vitro tests, including the Ca/P ratio, crystalline phase composition, pH change, pore diameter and microporosity of the scaffolds struts. In vitro tests were performed by culturing MG-63 human osteoblast-like cells. An increase in cell proliferation of 100% was found with the decrease in pore size from 700 to 120 mu m. Also, with the presence of the 58S-BG coating, an increase of cell proliferation was reached, which indicates the positive effect of the BG coating on the otherwise bioinert ceramic scaffold.
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2019-04-16

Evaluation of mechanical properties, in vitro corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of Gum Metal in the context of implant applications - Golasiński, Karol Marek; Detsch, Rainer; Szklarska, Magdalena; Łosiewicz, Bożena; Zubko, Maciej; Mackiewicz, Sławomir; Pieczyska, Elżbieta Alicja; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 2021)
In recent decades, several novel Ti alloys have been developed in order to produce improved alternatives to the conventional alloys used in the biomedical industry such as commercially pure titanium or dual phase (alpha and beta) Ti alloys. Gum Metal with the non-toxic composition Ti–36Nb–2Ta–3Zr–0.3O (wt. %) is a relatively new alloy which belongs to the group of metastable beta Ti alloys. In this work, Gum Metal has been assessed in terms of its mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and cell culture response. The performance of Gum Metal was contrasted with that of Ti–6Al–4V ELI (extra-low interstitial) which is commonly used as a material for implants. The advantageous mechanical characteristics of Gum Metal, e.g. a relatively low Young's modulus (below 70 GPa), high strength (over 1000 MPa) and a large range of reversible deformation, that are important in the context of potential implant applications, were confirmed. Moreover, the results of short- and long-term electrochemical characterization of Gum Metal showed high corrosion resistance in Ringer's solution with varied pH. The corrosion resistance of Gum Metal was best in a weak acid environment. Potentiodynamic polarization studies revealed that Gum Metal is significantly less susceptible to pitting corrosion compared to Ti–6Al–4V ELI. The oxide layer on the Gum Metal surface was stable up to 8.5 V. Prior to cell culture, the surface conditions of the samples, such as nanohardness, roughness and chemical composition, were analyzed. Evaluation of the in vitro biocompatibility of the alloys was performed by cell attachment and spreading analysis after incubation for 48 h. Increased in vitro MC3T3-E1 osteoblast viability and proliferation on the Gum Metal samples was observed. Gum Metal presented excellent properties making it a suitable candidate for biomedical applications.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2021-01-29
Keywords: Gum Metal; Implant applications; In vitro biocompatibility; In vitro corrosion resistance; Mechanical behavior

Evaluation of silica-nanotubes and strontium hydroxyapatite nanorods as appropriate nanoadditives for poly(butylene succinate) biodegradable polyester for biomedical applications - Grigoriadou, I.; Nianias, N.; Hoppe, Alexander; Terzopoulou, Z.; Bikiaris, D.; Will, Julia; Hum, Jasmin; Roether, Judith; Detsch, Rainer; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Composites Part B-Engineering, 2014)
In the present study two series of poly(butylene succinate) (PBSu) nanocomposites containing 5 and 20 wt% of silica-nanotubes or strontium hydroxyapatite [Sr(PO)OH] nanorods were prepared by melt mixing at 130 C. From SEM images it was found that SiO nanotubes are well dispersed inside the PBSu matrix while Sr (PO)OH nanorods formed some aggregates. In both cases the mechanical properties of nanocomposites were slightly affected by the amount of nanoadditives. Enzymatic hydrolysis of PBSu and its nanocomposites was studied in aqueous solutions containing a mixture of R. delemar and Pseudomonas Cepacia lipases, at 50 C and pH = 7.2. It was found that all nanocomposites have higher hydrolysis rates than neat PBSu indicating that nanoparticles accelerate the hydrolysis degradation process. The hydrophilicity of nanofillers, the presence of hydroxyl groups and the effect of a ''gap" at the interface due to low adhesion of PBSu matrix and inorganic nanofillers, could increase the enzymatic hydrolysis rate of the polyester matrix. All prepared samples were tested in relevant cell culture using osteoblast-like cells (MG-63) to demonstrate their biocompatibility. It was found that SiO nanotubes support cell attachment, while Sr(PO )OH nanorods decrease cell activity. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: A. Discontinuous reinforcement; A. Nano-structures; B. Mechanical properties; B. Microstructures; B. Surface properties

Evaluation of the antibacterial effects of vancomycin hydrochloride released from agar-gelatin-bioactive glass composites - Rivadeneira, Josefina; Laura Di Virgilio, Ana; Carina Audisio, M.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Gorustovich, Alejandro A. (Biomedical Materials (Bristol), 2015)
The aim of this work was to evaluate the perfomance of agar-gelatin (AG) composites and AG-containing 45S5 bioactive glass (BG) microparticles (AGBG) in relation to their water uptake capacity, sustained release of a drug over time, and antibacterial effects. The composites were fabricated by the gel-casting method. To impart the local drug release capacity, vancomycin hydrochloride (VC) was loaded in the composites in concentrations of 0.5 and 1 mg ml. VC release was assessed in distilled water at 37 °C up to 72 h and quantified spectrophotometrically. The antibacterial activity of composites was evaluated by the inhibition zone test and the plate count method. The experiments were performed in vitro up to 48 h on three staphylococcus strains: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC29213, S. aureus ATCC6538 and Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC12228. The results showed that the addition of BG to AG composites did not affect the degree of water uptake. The release of VC was significantly affected by the presence of BG. VC release was higher from AGBGVC films than from AGVC ones over prolonged incubation times. Bacterial inhibition zones were found around the composites. The halos were larger when the cells were put in contact with AGVC composites than when they were put in contact with AGBGVC ones. Nevertheless, the viable count method demonstrated that the composites inhibited Staphylococcus cell growth with no statistical differences. In conclusion, the addition of BG did not reflect an improvement in the parameters studied. On the other hand, composites loaded with VC would have a role in prophylaxis against bacterial infection.
Keywords: bioactive glass; biopolymers; staphylococci; vancomycin hydrochloride

Exploiting Bisphosphonate–Bioactive-Glass Interactions for the Development of Self-Healing and Bioactive Composite Hydrogels - Diba, Mani; An, Jie; Schmidt, Stephan; Hembury, Mathew; Ossipov, Dmitri; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Leeuwenburgh, Sander C. G. (Macromolecular Rapid Communications, 2016)
Keywords: bioactive glasses; bisphosphonates; hydrogels; self-healing; tissue engineering

Expression of Concern - Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials Letters, 2019)
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2019-07-26

Extensive reuse of soda-lime waste glass in fly ash-based geopolymers - Toniolo, Nicoletta; Rincon, Acacio; Roether, Judith; Ercole, P.; Bernardo, E.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Construction and Building Materials, 2018)
Keywords: Geopolymers; Waste glass; Fly ash

Extracellular and intracellular effects of bioactive glass nanoparticles on osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and bone regeneration in zebrafish osteoporosis model - Meng, Li; Zhao, Panpan; Jiang, Yucheng; You, Jiawen; Xu, Zhiyan; Yu, Kui; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Ma, Junqing; Zheng, Kai (Acta Biomaterialia, 2024)
Bioactive glass nanoparticles (BGNs) are well-recognized multifunctional biomaterials for bone tissue regeneration due to their capability to stimulate various cellular processes through released biologically active ions. Understanding the correlation between BGN composition and cellular responses is key to developing clinically usable BGN-based medical devices. This study investigated the influence of CaO content of binary SiO2-CaO BGNs (CaO ranging from 0 to 10 mol%) on osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs) and in vivo bone regeneration in zebrafish osteoporosis model. The results showed that BGNs could promote osteogenic differentiation of rBMSCs by indirectly releasing active ions or directly interacting with rBMSCs by internalization. In both situations, BGNs of a higher CaO content could promote the osteogenic differentiation of rBMSCs to a greater extent. The internalized BGNs could activate the transcription factors RUNX2 and OSX, leading to the expression of osteogenesis-related genes. The results in the zebrafish osteoporosis model indicated that the presence of BGNs of higher CaO contents could enhance bone regeneration and rescue dexamethasone-induced osteoporosis to a greater extent. These findings demonstrate that BGNs can stimulate osteogenic differentiation of rBMSCs by releasing active ions or internalization. A higher CaO content facilitates osteogenesis and bone regeneration of zebrafish as well as relieving dexamethasone-induced osteoporosis. The zebrafish osteoporosis model can be a potent tool for evaluating the in vivo bone regeneration effects of bioactive materials. Statement of significance: Bioactive glass nanoparticles (BGNs) are increasingly used as fillers of nanocomposites or as delivery platforms of active ions to regenerate bone tissue. Various studies have shown that BGNs can enhance osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) by releasing active ions. However, the correlation between BGN composition and cellular responses and in vivo bone regeneration effect has still not been well investigated. Establishment of a suitable in vivo animal model for investigating this correlation is also challenging. The present study reports the influence of CaO content in binary SiO2-CaO BGNs on osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs extracellularly and intracellularly. This study also demonstrates the suitability of zebrafish osteoporosis model to investigate in vivo bone regeneration effect of BGNs.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2024-01-12
Keywords: Bioactive glass; Bone regeneration; Cellular uptake; Osteoporosis; Zebrafish model

Extracellular matrix collagen-I fibrillar networks in bone tissue engineering – analysis with SHG and multiphoton microscopy - Vielreicher, Martin; Detsch, Rainer; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Friedrich, Oliver (5th International Congress on Stem Cells and Tissue Formation (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Zytometrie, DGfZ), 2014)
Question: Bone Tissue Engineering: Do mesenchymal stem cells (MSC`s) form better and more collagen-I fibers in 3D vs 2D cell culture? Methods: MSC`s isolated from rat femur were tested in 2D (monolayers, biomaterial films) vs. 3D systems (pellet, hydrogel or scaffold cultures) and grown in normal or serum-reduced or in osteogenic medium (1% FBS). Bone tissue-relevant biomaterials were cross-linked alginate-gelatin, collagen-I, PCL and PCL-Bioglass. Cells were imaged with label-free and depthresolved multiphoton microscopy by their autofluorescence or nuclear/membrane stainings. Produced collagen-I fibers were detected using second harmonic generation (SHG) and, as control, immunofluorescence (IF). Parallel collagen-I detection occurred using Western Blotting (WB) after solubilization with pepsin at pH2. Results: WB and IF analysis showed that MSC`s formed collagen-I in both 2D and 3D systems in plain and biomaterial containing constructs. Fibrous collagen susceptible to SHG, however, was detected in monolayers (2D) only after stimulation with osteogenic medium. In contrast, clear and strong fiber networks appeared in cell pellets. Depending on culture media these networks differed largely in their morphology and resembled the appearance in native tissue (Fig. 1). Simultaneous SHG/AF imaging at 810nm enabled detailed imaging and 3D reconstructions of the artificial tissues (cells with surrounding collagen-I). Conclusions: MSC`s require a 3D surrounding and high initial cell density to effectively form thick and stable fibers and fiber networks. These are preferably imaged using SHG which preferably detects larger and highly assembled fibers rather than thin fibrils (Vielreicher et al. 2013. J R Soc Interface, 10(86):20130263). The differentiation state of MSC`s has a large effect on the morphology of the formed collagen networks. The collagen fibers formed in 2D cell culture are not comparably stable, putatively due to less and weaker focal adhesion contacts. Studying collagen fiber and ECM networks in general is of high interest in the engineering of artificial tissue

Fabrication and assessment of bifunctional electrospun poly(L-lactic acid) scaffolds with bioglass and zinc oxide nanoparticles for bone tissue engineering - Canales, Daniel A.; Piñones, Natalia; Saavedra, Marcela; Loyo, Carlos; Palza, Humberto; Peponi, Laura; Leonés, Adrián; Baier, Raúl Vallejos; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Grünewald, Alina; Zapata, Paula A. (International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2023)
Electrospun scaffolds based on poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) with bioglass (n-BG) and zinc oxide (n-ZnO), and mixture of both, were developed to design bifunctional biomaterials with enhanced bioactive and biocidal properties. The presence of n-BG increased the fiber diameter of the pure PLA from 1.5 ± 0.3 μm to 3.0 ± 0.8 μm for 20 wt%. ZnO and the mixed nanoparticles did not significantly affect the morphology. The mechanical properties decreased with the presence of nanoparticles. Scaffolds based on PLA/n-BG promoted hydroxyapatite (HA) formation in simulated body fluid (SBF) that was inhibited with the presence of ZnO. Notably, mixed particles produced bioactivity although at longer times. The incorporation of n-ZnO produced a biocidal capacity against S. aureus in the polymeric scaffold, reaching a viability reduction of 60 % after 6 h of exposure. When both types of nanoparticles were combined, the bacterial viability reduction was 30 %. Pure PLA scaffolds and the composites with n-BG showed good ST-2 bone marrow-derived cell line viability, scaffolds with n-BG (pure or mixture) presented lower viability. Results validated the use of both n-BG and n-ZnO fillers for the development of novel bifunctional PLA-based scaffolds with both bioactive and biocidal properties for bone tissue engineering applications.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2023-01-06
Keywords: Bioglass nanoparticle; Bone tissue engineering; Electrospun fibers; Functional scaffolds; Poly(lactic acid) based nanocomposites; Zinc oxide nanoparticle

Fabrication and characterization of Ag- and Ga-doped mesoporous glass-coated scaffolds based on natural marine sponges with improved mechanical properties - Ciraldo, Francesca; Arango-Ospina, Marcela; Goldmann, Wolfgang H.; Beltran, Ana M.; Detsch, Rainer; Gruenewald, Alina; Roether, Judith; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 2020)
Natural marine sponges were used as sacrificial template for the fabrication of bioactive glass-based scaffolds. After sintering at 1050°C, the resulting samples were additionally coated with a silicate solution containing biologically active ions (Ag and Ga), well-known for their antibacterial properties. The produced scaffolds were characterized by superior mechanical properties (maximum compressive strength of 4 MPa) and total porosity of 80% in comparison to standard scaffolds made by using PU foam templates. Direct cell culture tests performed on the uncoated and coated samples showed positive results in terms of adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. Moreover, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion from cells in contact with scaffold dissolution products was measured after 7 and 10 days of incubation, showing promising angiogenic results for bone tissue engineering applications. The antibacterial potential of the produced samples was assessed by performing agar diffusion tests against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2020-12-04
Keywords: antibacterial; bioactive glass; bone tissue engineering; ion delivery; scaffolds; VEGF

Fabrication and characterization of bioactive and antibacterial composites for dental applications - Chatzistavrou, Xanthippi; Fenno, J. Christopher; Faulk, Denver; Badylak, Stephen; Kasuga, Toshihiro; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Papagerakis, Petros (Acta Biomaterialia, 2014)
There is an increasing clinical need to design novel dental materials that combine regenerative and antibacterial properties. In this work the characterization of a recently developed sol-gel-derived bioactive glass ceramic containing silver ions (Ag-BG) is presented. The microstructural characteristics, ion release profile, zeta potential value and changes in weight loss and pH value as a function of the immersion time of Ag-BG in Tris buffer are evaluated. Ag-BG is also incorporated into natural extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogel to further enhance its regenerative properties. Then, the micro and macro architectures of these new composites (ECM/Ag-BG) are characterized. In addition, the antibacterial properties of these new composites are tested against Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis, a bacterium commonly implicated in the pathogenesis of dental pulp infections. Cell-material interaction is also monitored in a primary culture of dental pulp cells. Our study highlights the benefits of the successful incorporation of Ag in the bioactive glass, resulting in a stable antibacterial material with long-lasting bactericidal activity. Furthermore, this work presents for the first time the fabrication of new Ag-doped composite materials, with inductive pulp-cell proliferation and antibacterial properties (ECM/Ag-BG). This advanced composite made of Ag-BG incorporated into natural ECM possesses improved properties that may facilitate potential applications in tooth regeneration approaches. © 2014 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Antibacterial action; Bioactive glass; Composite; Natural extracellular matrix scaffold; Silver

Fabrication and Characterization of Bioactive Gelatin-Alginate-Bioactive Glass Composite Coatings on Porous Titanium Substrates - Begines, Belen; Arevalo, Cristina; Romero, Carlos; Hadzhieva, Zoya; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Torres, Yadir (ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 2022)
In this research work, the fabrication of biphasic composite implants has been investigated. Porous, commercially available pure Ti (50 vol % porosity and pore distributions of 100-200, 250-355, and 355-500 μm) has been used as a cortical bone replacement, while different composites based on a polymer blend (gelatin and alginate) and bioactive glass (BG) 45S5 have been applied as a soft layer for cartilage tissues. The microstructure, degradation rates, biofunctionality, and wear behavior of the different composites were analyzed to find the best possible coating. Experiments demonstrated the best micromechanical balance for the substrate containing 200-355 μm size range distribution. In addition, although the coating prepared from alginate presented a lower mass loss, the composite containing 50% alginate and 50% gelatin showed a higher elastic recovery, which entails that this type of coating could replicate the functions of the soft tissue in areas of the joints. Therefore, results revealed that the combinations of porous commercially pure Ti and composites prepared from alginate/gelatin/45S5 BG are candidates for the fabrication of biphasic implants not only for the treatment of osteochondral defects but also potentially for any other diseases affecting simultaneously hard and soft tissues.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-04-15
Keywords: bioactive coating; biopolymer composites; osteochondral defects; porous titanium; tribomechanical behavior

Fabrication and characterization of biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) composite containing bioglass - Boccaccini, Aldo R.; et al. (Biomacromolecules, 2007)
Bacterially derived poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P(3HB)) has been used to produce composite films by incorporating Bioglass particles (<5 μm) in 5 and 20 wt % concentrations. P(3HB) was produced using a large scale fermentation technique. The polymer was extracted using the Soxhlet technique and was found to have similar thermal and structural properties to the commercially available P(3HB). The effects of adding Bioglass on the microstructure surface and thermal and mechanical properties were examined using differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), X-ray diffraction, surface interferometry, electron microscopy, and nanoindentation. The addition of increasing concentrations of Bioglass in the polymer matrix reduced the degree of crystallinity of the polymer as well as caused an increase in the glass transition temperature as determined by DMA. The presence of Bioglass particulates reduced the Young's modulus of the composite. The storage modulus and the loss modulus, however, increased with the addition of 20 wt % Bioglass. A short period (28 days) in vitro bioactivity study in simulated body fluid confirmed the bioactivity of the composites, demonstrated by the formation of hydroxyapatite crystals on the composites surface. © 2007 American Chemical Society.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2007.tech.IW.LM.fabric

Fabrication and characterization of cinnamaldehyde-loaded mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles/phbv-based microspheres for preventing bacterial infection and promoting bone tissue regeneration - Chotchindakun, Kittipat; Pekkoh, Jeeraporn; Ruangsuriya, Jetsada; Zheng, Kai; Ünalan, Irem; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Polymers, 2021)
Polyhydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV) is considered a suitable polymer for drug delivery systems and bone tissue engineering due to its biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, the lack of bioactivity and antibacterial activity hinders its biomedical applications. In this study, mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGN) were incorporated into PHBV to enhance its bioactivity, while cinnamaldehyde (CIN) was loaded in MBGN to introduce antimicro-bial activity. The blank (PHBV/MBGN) and the CIN-loaded microspheres (PHBV/MBGN/CIN5, PHBV/MBGN/CIN10, and PHBV/MBGN/CIN20) were fabricated by emulsion solvent extrac-tion/evaporation method. The average particle size and zeta potential of all samples were in-vestigated, as well as the morphology of all samples evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. PHBV/MBGN/CIN5, PHBV/MBGN/CIN10, and PHBV/MBGN/CIN20 significantly exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in the first 3 h, while CIN releasing behavior was observed up to 7 d. Human osteosarcoma cell (MG-63) proliferation and attachment were noticed after 24 h cell culture, demonstrating no adverse effects due to the presence of microspheres. Additionally, the rapid formation of hydroxyapatite on the composite microspheres after immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) during 7 d revealed the bioactivity of the composite mi-crospheres. Our findings indicate that this system represents an alternative model for an antibacterial biomaterial for potential applications in bone tissue engineering.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2021-06-25
Keywords: Antibacterial activity; Bioactive glass nanoparticles; Bone tissue engineering; Cinnamon oil; Drug delivery systems; Emulsion solvent evaporation method; Polyhydroxyalkanoates

Fabrication and characterization of copper(II)-chitosan complexes as antibiotic-free antibacterial biomaterial - Gritsch, Lukas; Lovell, Christopher; Goldmann, Wolfgang; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Carbohydrate Polymers, 2018)
<span style="color: rgb(80, 80, 80); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Arial Unicode MS", sans-serif; font-size: medium;">We produced and characterized copper(II)-chitosan complexes fabricated via in-situ precipitation as antibiotic-free antibacterial biomaterials. Copper was bound to chitosan from a dilute acetic acid solution of chitosan and copper(II) chloride exploiting the ability of the polysaccharide to chelate metal ions. The influence of copper(II) ions on the morphology, structure and hydrophobicity of the complexes was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and static contact-angle measurements. To assess the biological response to the materials, cell viability and antibacterial assays were performed using mouse embryonic fibroblasts and both Gram-positive and −negative bacteria. Combined analysis of cell and bacterial studies identified a threshold concentration at which the material shows outstanding antibacterial properties without significantly affecting fibroblast viability. This key outcome sets copper(II)- chitosan as a promising biomaterial and encourages further investigation on similar systems toward the development of new antibiotic-free antibacterial technologies.
Keywords: ChitosanCopperChelationTherapeutic ionsAntimicrobial materialsAntibiotic-free

Fabrication and characterization of electrophoretically deposited chitosan-hydroxyapatite composite coatings on anodic titanium dioxide layers - Pawlik, Anna; Ur Rehman, Muhammad Atiq; Nawaz, Qaisar; Bastan, Fatih Erdem; Sulka, Grzegorz D.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Electrochimica Acta, 2019)
Anodic nanoporous titanium dioxide (ATO) layers were synthesized via a three-step anodization process in a solution based on ethylene glycol containing fluoride ions and water. The as-prepared samples were annealed at 400 degrees C in order to transform amorphous oxide into the anatase phase. The anatase samples were coated with a chitosan-hydroxyapatite composite by using electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technique. A design of experiments (DoE) approach with Taguchi methodology was used in order to optimize the EPD parameters (voltage, time, and concentration of hydroxyapatite). A model describing the relationship between the mass of chitosan-hydroxyapatite composite coating and EPD parameters was proposed. The suggested model allows to estimate the mass (yield) of the coating based on the applied voltage, deposition time, and concentration of hydroxyapatite. It was shown that the concentration of hydroxyapatite in the suspension has the most significant impact on the morphology of the deposited coating. The coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), contact angle and surface roughness measurements. The presence of chitosan-hydroxyapatite composite coatings increased the surface roughness of coated samples compared to the bare ATO layers. The morphology, compositional analysis, and crystalline phases of the EPD coatings confirmed that the anodic TiO2 samples were successfully coated with a chitosan-hydroxyapatite composite to achieve a more suitable bone-contacting surface. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2019-05-03

Fabrication and characterization of electrospun poly-DL-lactide (PDLLA) fibrous coatings on 45S5 Bioglass® substrates for bone tissue engineering applications - Yunos, D. M.; Ahmad, Z.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, 2010)
BACKGROUND: This work focuses on combining electrospun biodegradable poly-DL-lactide (PDLLA) fibres and 45S5 Bioglass® for tissue engineering applications. RESULTS: A variety of fibrous structures were produced upon application of an electric field to a flowing solution of PDLLA (5 wt/v%) in di-methyl carbonate (DMC). Electrospinning was achieved at an applied voltage of 8.5 kV for a fixed flow rate of 5 μ Lmin-1. Scanning electron microscopy images of PDLLA fibres deposited on 45S5 Bioglass® sintered pellets revealed that the fibres had diameters in the range 100-200 nm, leading to increased surface roughness, as assessed by white light interferometry. Bioactivity studies on PDLLA fibre coated Bioglass® substrates were carried out in simulated body fluid (SBF) for 7, 14 and 28 days. It was found that mineralization of PDLLA fibres on 45S5 Bioglass® substrate (formation of hydroxyapatite) occurred after 7 days of immersion in SBF and full coverage of PDLLA fibres with HA nanocrystals was achieved after 14 days in SBF. CONCLUSION: The approach investigated represents a convenient method to develop a controlled mineralized fibrous topography on bioactive glass substrates for improved cell attachment, which can be exploited in bone tissue engineering applications. ©2009 Society of Chemical Industry.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2010.tech.IW.LM.fabric_8
Keywords: Bioactive glass substrates; Bioactivity studies; Electrospinning; Light interferometry; PDLLA fibres; SBF; Tissue engineering

Fabrication and characterization of porous bioceramic composites based on hydroxyapatite and titania - Boccaccini, Aldo R.; et al. (Materials Chemistry and Physics, 2007)
Porous bioinert-bioactive composite ceramics were fabricated from hydroxyapatite and titania powder mixtures by using several techniques including involving the use of porogens such as carbon fibers, polyurethane (PU) foams or H2O2. The optimal titania content in the composite was 15 wt.%. Using H2O2 as pore creator, a porosity of 65 ± 4% was achieved. The pores were shown to be interconnected with dimensions in the range 100-1000 μm. Young's modulus, bending strength and compressive strength of the porous composite were: 1.7 ± 0.2 GPa, 2.1 ± 0.3 MPa and 7 ± 1 MPa, respectively. This porous material can find applications as scaffold in bone tissue regeneration strategies. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2007.tech.IW.LM.fabric_2
Keywords: Bioceramics; Ceramic composites; Hydroxyapatite; Porosity; Sintering; Titania

Fabrication and characterization of zein–bioactive glass scaffolds - Naseri, Shiva; Hum, Jasmin; Lepry, William Cole; Miri, Amir Kamal; Nazhat, Showan Najdat; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Bioinspired, Biomimetic and Nanobiomaterials, 2015)
Plant proteins show advantages over animal-based proteins for biomaterial applications attributable to their ease of availability and suitable biodegradability. In this study, composite foams based on zein and 45S5 bioactive glass (BG) particles were produced through salt leaching for potential applications in bone tissue engineering (BTE) applications. Different characterization techniques were used including scanning electron microscopy for morphological and microstructural analysis, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction for composition characterization and mechanical tests. Zein–BG composite scaffolds demonstrate enhanced bioactivity with a compressive modulus and strength around 5·7 MPa and 1·9 MPa, respectively. Zein–BG composite scaffolds constitute a new bioactive material with potential applications in BTE.
Keywords: Bioactive glass; Bioactivity; Composite materials; Scaffolds; Zein

Fabrication and cytotoxicity assessment of novel polysiloxane/bioactive glass films for biomedical applications - Francis, Adel; Detsch, Rainer; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Ceramics International, 2016)
Keywords: Bioactive glasses; Composite coatings; Cytotoxicity; FTIR; Polymer-derived ceramics; Polysiloxane; Silicon oxycarbide; Silicones

Fabrication of alginate-gelatin crosslinked hydrogel microcapsules and evaluation of the microstructure and physico-chemical properties - Sarker, Bapi; Papageorgiou, Dimitrios G.; Silva, Raquel; Zehnder, Tobias; Gul-E-Noor, Farhana; Bertmer, Marko; Kaschta, Joachim; Chrissafis, Konstantinos; Detsch, Rainer; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 2014)
Microencapsulation of cells by using biodegradable hydrogels offers numerous attractive features for a variety of biomedical applications including tissue engineering. This study highlights the fabrication of microcapsules from an alginate-gelatin crosslinked hydrogel (ADA-GEL) and presents the evaluation of the physico-chemical properties of the new microcapsules which are relevant for designing suitable microcapsules for tissue engineering. Alginate di-aldehyde (ADA) was synthesized by periodate oxidation of alginate which facilitates crosslinking with gelatin through Schiff's base formation between the free amino groups of gelatin and the available aldehyde groups of ADA. Formation of Schiff's base in ADA-GEL and aldehyde groups in ADA was confirmed by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy, respectively. Thermal degradation behavior of films and microcapsules fabricated from alginate, ADA and ADA-GEL was dependent on the hydrogel composition. The gelation time of ADA-GEL was found to decrease with increasing gelatin content. The swelling ratio of ADA-GEL microcapsules of all compositions was significantly decreased, whereas the degradability was found to increase with the increase of gelatin ratio. The surface morphology of the ADA-GEL microcapsules was totally different from that of alginate and ADA microcapsules, observed by SEM. Two different buffer solutions (with and without calcium salt) have an influence on the stability of microcapsules which had a significant effect on the gelatin release profile of ADA-GEL microcapsules in these two buffer solutions. © 2014 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Fabrication of Biocompatible Electrospun Poly(epsilon-caprolactone)/Gelatin Nanofibers Loaded with Pinus radiata Bark Extracts for Wound Healing Applications - Borges-Vilches, Jessica; Ünalan, Irem; Fernandez, Katherina; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Polymers, 2022)
In this study, poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL)/gelatin (GEL) electrospun nanofibers loaded with two different concentrations of Pinus radiata bark extracts (PEs) were fabricated via electrospinning for wound healing applications. The effects of incorporating PE into PCL/GEL electrospun nanofibers were investigated regarding their physicochemical properties and in vitro biocompatibility. All electrospun nanofibers showed smooth, uniform, and bead-free surfaces. Their functional groups were detected by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, and their total phenol content was measured by a Folin-Ciocalteu assay. With PE addition, the electrospun nanofibers exhibited an increase in their wettability and degradation rates over time and a decrease in their tensile stress values from 20 +/- 4 to 8 +/- 2 MPa for PCL/GEL and PCL/GEL/0.36%PE samples, respectively. PE was also released from the fibrous mats in a rather controlled fashion. The PCL/GEL/0.18%PE and PCL/GEL/0.36%PE electrospun nanofibers inhibited bacterial activity at around 6 +/- 0.1% and 23 +/- 0.3% against E. coli and 14 +/- 0.1% and 18 +/- 0.2% against S. aureus after 24 h incubation, respectively. In vitro cell studies showed that PE-loaded electrospun nanofibers enhanced HaCaT cell growth, attachment, and proliferation, favoring cell migration towards the scratch area in the wound healing assay and allowing a complete wound closure after 72 h treatment. These findings suggested that PE-loaded electrospun nanofibers are promising materials for antibiotic-free dressings for wound healing applications.
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2022-07-08

Fabrication of cell-loaded two-phase 3D constructs for tissue engineering - Zehnder, Tobias; Freund, Tim; Demir, Merve; Detsch, Rainer; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials, 2016)
Keywords: Alginate dialdehyde; Biofabrication; Gelatine; Hydrogels; Polycaprolactone; Sequential bioplotting; Tissue engineering

Fabrication of CNT-SiC/SiC composites by electrophoretic deposition - König, Katja; Novak, Sasa; Ivekovic, Aljaz; Rade, Katja; Meng, Decheng; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Kobe, Spomenka (Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2010)
Due to the outstanding mechanical and thermal properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), they are considered suitable reinforcement for structural materials. In this study, for the first time, electrophoretic deposition (EPD) was used to deposit (multi-walled) CNTs onto SiC fibres (SiCf) to form an effective CNT interphase layer for SiCf/SiC composites. This deposition was followed by electrophoretic infiltration of the CNT-coated SiC fibre mats with SiC powder to fabricate a new CNT-SiC-fibre-reinforced SiC-matrix (SiCf/SiC) composite for fusion applications. In these EPD experiments, a commercial aqueous suspension of negatively charged CNTs and an optimized aqueous suspension of negatively charged SiC particles were used. The CNT-coatings on the SiC fibres were firm and homogenous, and uniformly distributed nanotubes were observed on the fibre surfaces. In a following step of EPD, a thick SiC layer was formed on the fibre mat when the CNT-coated SiC fibres were in contact with the positive electrode of the EPD cell; however, spaces between the fibres were not fully filled with SiC. Conversely, when CNT-coated SiC fibres were isolated from the electrode, the SiC particles were able to gradually fill the fibre mat resulting in relatively high infiltration, which leads to dense composites. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2010.tech.IW.LM.fabric
Keywords: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs); Coatings; Electrophoretic deposition; Interphase; SiC

Fabrication of electrospun poly (3-hydroxybutyrate)/poly (ε-caprolactone)/silica hybrid fibermats with and without calcium addition - Ding, Yaping; Roether, Judith; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Schubert, Dirk W. (European Polymer Journal, 2014)
Poly (3-hydroxybutyrate)(PHB)/poly (ε-caprolactone)(PCL)/silica hybrid scaffolds with and without calcium were fabricated through the combination of electrospinning and sol-gel methods. In this paper, the effects of different amounts of silica sol on the morphology, mechanical and thermal properties of hybrid scaffolds were studied. The results indicated that as the silica content increased to 50 wt%, the ultimate tensile strength and modulus were enhanced to 191% and 614%, respectively. In addition, the presence of silica decreased the elongation at break significantly. Calcium addition changed the morphology of the hybrid scaffolds from relatively dense fibermats to highly fluffy porous structures, which may be due to the ionization of Ca in the polymer solution. Chemical interactions between the different components and the thermal properties were also based on FTIR, DSC and TGA measurements. The addition of inorganic components significantly decreased the crystallinity of PHB and PCL, which was also confirmed by XRD analysis. Due to the intrinsic performance of the biopolymer and inorganic components, the scaffolds in the present study have great potential for tissue engineering applications. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Electrospinning; Hybrid scaffolds; Poly (3-hydroxybutyrate); Poly (ε-caprolactone); Sol-gel

Fabrication of functional zirconia surfaces using a two-beam interference setup employing a picosecond laser system with 532-nm wavelength: Morphology, microstructure, and wettability - Henriques, Bruno; Fabris, Douglas; Voisiat, Bogdan; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Lasagni, Andrés Fabián (Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 2023)
The aim of this work was to evaluate the feasibility of the fabrication of microtextures in zirconia using the direct laser interference patterning (DLIP) technique. A green ultra-short pulsed laser (532 nm, 10 ps) with a two-beam interference setup was used to produce line-like structures with a spatial period of 3 µm. For a fixed set of fluence and pulse-to-pulse overlap values (6.2 J/cm2, 81%), periodic structures were successfully created for different hatch distances. The average depth of the features ranged from 0.37 µm for a hatch distance of 14.4 µm up to 0.84 µm for a hatch distance of 12.4 µm. However, a further decrease in hatch distance did not result in an increase in depth since the region of the ridges is also ablated. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed pores formation on the laser grooves, but no sign of micro-cracking could be observed. Wettability tests showed an increase in hydrophobicity after DLIP. These results bring exciting perspectives on the fabrication of micro-textures with DLIP on zirconia surface.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2023-08-18
Keywords: direct laser interference patterning; surface structuring; ultra-short pulsed laser; zirconia

Fabrication of Gelatin Methacrylate (GelMA) Scaffolds with Nano- and Micro-Topographical and Morphological Features. - Aldana, Ana Agustina; Malatto, Laura; Ur Rehman, Muhammad Atiq; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Abraham, Gustavo Abel (Nanomaterials, 2019)
The design of biomimetic biomaterials for cell culture has become a great tool to study and understand cell behavior, tissue degradation, and lesion. Topographical and morphological features play an important role in modulating cell behavior. In this study, a dual methodology was evaluated to generate novel gelatin methacrylate (GelMA)-based scaffolds with nano and micro topographical and morphological features. First, electrospinning parameters and crosslinking processes were optimized to obtain electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds. GelMA mats were characterized by SEM, FTIR, DSC, TGA, contact angle, and water uptake. Various nanofibrous GelMA mats with defect-free fibers and stability in aqueous media were obtained. Then, micropatterned molds produced by photolithography were used as collectors in the electrospinning process. Thus, biocompatible GelMA nanofibrous scaffolds with micro-patterns that mimic extracellular matrix were obtained successfully by combining two micro/nanofabrication techniques, electrospinning, and micromolding. Taking into account the cell viability results, the methodology used in this study could be considered a valuable tool to develop patterned GelMA based nanofibrous scaffolds for cell culture and tissue engineering.

Fabrication of gold-nanoshell/polycaprolactonecomposite films with high electrical conductivity - Naseri, Shiva; Diba, Mani; Golkar, Saeedeh; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Klupp Taylor, Robin (Materials Letters, 2014)
Gold nanoshells on 1.1 μm diameter silica cores were produced via a seeded growth approach and their quality evaluated using optical measurements. The particles were combined with polycaprolactone to produce a flexible biocompatible composite film with high conductivity (1.51 S cm-1) and relatively low effective gold loading (16.86 wt%) in comparison with other reports in the literature. The morphology of the composite was shown to comprise nanoshell-filled pores percolating a polymer-rich matrix. The obtained films have potential for biomedical applications such as in patches for cardiac tissue engineering, combining biocompatibility, flexibility and electrical conductivity. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.
Keywords: Conductivity; Metal nanoshells; Nanocomposite; Plasmon resonance; Polycaprolactone

Fabrication of Hydrogel-Based Composite Fibers and Computer Simulation of the Filler Dynamics in the Composite Flow - Gruhn, Thomas; Monsalve, Camilo Ortiz; Müller, Claudia; Heid, Susanne; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Salehi, Sahar (Bioengineering, 2023)
Fibrous structures with anisotropic fillers as composites have found increasing interest in the field of biofabrication since they can mimic the extracellular matrix of anisotropic tissues such as skeletal muscle or nerve tissue. In the present work, the inclusion of anisotropic fillers in hydrogel-based filaments with an interpenetrating polymeric network (IPN) was evaluated and the dynamics of such fillers in the composite flow were analyzed using computational simulations. In the experimental part, microfabricated rods (200 and 400 μm length, 50 μm width) were used as anisotropic fillers in extrusion of composite filaments using two techniques of wet spinning and 3D printing. Hydrogels such as oxidized alginate (ADA) and methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) were used as matrices. In the computational simulation, a combination of computational fluid dynamics and coarse-grained molecular dynamics was used to study the dynamics of rod-like fillers in the flow field of a syringe. It showed that, during the extrusion process, microrods are far from being well aligned. Instead, many of them tumble on their way through the needle leading to a random orientation in the fiber which was confirmed experimentally.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2023-05-12
Keywords: anisotropy; composite filaments; computational simulation; microrods; wet spinning

Fabrication of Quasi-2D Shape-Tailored Microparticles using Wettability Contrast-Based Platforms - Neto, Mafalda D.; Stoppa, Aukha; Neto, Miguel A.; Oliveira, Filipe J.; Gomes, Maria C.; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Levkin, Pavel A.; Oliveira, Mariana B.; Mano, Joao F. (Advanced Materials, 2021)
The ability to fabricate materials with ultrathin architectures enables the breakthrough of low-dimensional structures with high surface area that showcase distinctive properties from their bulk counterparts. They are exploited in a wide range of fields, including energy harvesting, catalysis, and biomedicine. Despite such versatility, the fine tuning of the lateral dimensions and geometry of these structures remains challenging. Prepatterned platforms gain significant attention as enabling technologies to process materials with highly controlled shapes and dimensions. Herein, different nanometer-thick particles of various lateral sizes and geometries (e.g., squares, circles, triangles, hexagons) are processed with high precision and definition, taking advantage of the wettability contrast of oleophilic-oleophobic patterned surfaces. Quasi-2D polymeric microparticles with high shape- and size-fidelity can be retrieved as freestanding objects in a single step. These structures show cell-mediated pliability, and their integration in gravity-enforced human adipose-derived stem cell spheroids leads to an enhanced metabolic activity and a modulated secretion of proangiogenic factors.
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2021-03-12

Facile preparation of multifunctional superparamagnetic PHBV microspheres containing SPIONs for biomedical applications - Li, Wei; Zaloga, Jan; Ding, Yaping; Liu, Yufang; Janko, Christina; Pischetsrieder, Monika; Alexiou, Christoph; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Scientific Reports, 2016)
The promising potential of magnetic polymer microspheres in various biomedical applications has been frequently reported. However, the surface hydrophilicity of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) usually leads to poor or even failed encapsulation of SPIONs in hydrophobic polymer microspheres using the emulsion method. In this study, the stability of SPIONs in poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) solution was significantly increased after surface modification with lauric acid. As a result, magnetic PHBV microspheres with high encapsulation efficiencies (71.0-87.4%) were prepared using emulsion-solvent extraction/evaporation method. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed significant contrast for the magnetic PHBV microspheres. The toxicity of these magnetic PHBV microspheres towards human T-lymphoma suspension cells and adherent colon carcinoma HT-29 cells was investigated using flow cytometry, and they were shown to be non-toxic in a broad concentration range. A model drug, tetracycline hydrochloride, was used to demonstrate the drug delivery capability and to investigate the drug release behavior of the magnetic PHBV microspheres. The drug was successfully loaded into the microspheres using lauric acid-coated SPIONs as drug carrier, and was released from the microspheres in a diffusion controlled manner. The developed magnetic PHBV microspheres are promising candidates for biomedical applications such as targeted drug delivery and MRI.

Facile preparative access to bioactive silicon oxycarbides with tunable porosity - Xie, Fangtong; Ionescu, Emanuel; Arango Ospina, Marcela; Riedel, Ralf; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Gonzalo-Juan, Isabel (Materials, 2019)
In the present work, Ca-containing silicon oxycarbides (SiCaOC) with varying Ca content have been synthesized via sol-gel processing and thermal treatment in inert gas atmosphere (pyrolysis). It has been shown that the as-prepared SiCaOC materials with low Ca loadings (Ca/Si molar ratios = 0.05 or 0.12) were X-ray amorphous; their glassy network contains Q3 sites, indicating the presence of Ca2+ at non-bridging-oxygen sites. SiCaOC with high Ca content (i.e., Ca/Si molar ratio = 0.50) exhibits the presence of crystalline calcium silicate (mainly pseudowollastonite). Furthermore, it has been shown that the incorporation of Ca into the SiOC glassy network has a significant effect on its porosity and specific surface area. Thus, the as-prepared Ca-free SiOC material is shown to be non-porous and having a specific surface area (SSA) of 22.5 m2/g; whereas SiCaOC with Ca/Si molar ratio of 0.05 exhibits mesoporosity and a SSA value of 123.4 m2/g. The further increase of Ca content leads to a decrease of the SSA and the generation of macroporosity in SiCaOC; thus, SiCaOC with Ca/Si molar ratio of 0.12 is macroporous and exhibits a SSA value of 39.5 m2/g. Bioactivity assessment in simulated body fluid (SBF) confirms the hydroxyapatite formation on all SiCaOC samples after seven days soaking, unlike the relatively inert ternary silicon oxycarbide reference. In particular, SiCaOC with a Ca/Si molar ratio of 0.05 shows an increased apatite forming ability compared to that of SiCaOC with Ca/Si molar ratio of 0.12; this difference is considered to be a direct consequence of the significantly higher SSA of the sample with the Ca/Si ratio of 0.05. The present work indicates two effects of Ca incorporation into the silicon oxycarbide glassy network on its bioactivity: Firstly, Ca2+ is shown to contribute to the slight depolymerization of the network, which clearly triggers the hydroxyapatite formation (compare the bioactive behavior of SiOC to that of SiCaOC with Ca/Si molar ratio 0.12 upon SBF exposure); secondly, the Ca2+ incorporation seems to strongly affect the porosity and SSA in the prepared SiCaOC materials. There is an optimum of Ca loading into the silicon oxycarbide glassy network (at a Ca/Si molar ration of 0.05), which provides mesoporosity and reaches maximum SSA, both highly beneficial for the bioactive behavior of the materials. An increase of the Ca loading leads, in addition to the crystallization of calcium silicates, to a coarsening of the pores (i.e., macroporosity) and a significant decrease of the SSA, both negatively affecting the bioactivity.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2019-12-10
Keywords: Apatite forming ability; Bioactivity; Mesoporosity; Silicon oxycarbide; Sol-gel; Specific surface area

Facile production of porous bioactive glass scaffolds by the foam replica technique combined with sol-gel/electrophoretic deposition - Cabanas Polo, Sandra; Philippart, Anahi; Boccardi, Elena; Hazur, J.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Ceramics International, 2016)
Keywords: Bioactive glass; Electrophoretic deposition; Foam replication technique; Scaffolds; Sol-gel

Facile Synthesis of Gallium (III)-Chitosan Complexes as Antibacterial Biomaterial - Akhtar, Muhammad Asim; Hadzhieva, Zoya; Ilyas, Kanwal; Ali, Muhammad Saad; Peukert, Wolfgang; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Pharmaceutics, 2021)
Even though antibiotic treatment remains one of the most common tools to handle bacterial infections, the excessive antibiotic concentration at the target site may lead to undesired effects. Aiming at the fabrication of antibiotic-free biomaterials for antibacterial applications, in this work, we propose the synthesis of gallium (III)-chitosan (Ga (III)-CS) complexes with six different gallium concentrations via an in situ precipitation method. Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy indicated the chelation of chitosan with Ga (III) by peak shifts and changes in the relative absorbance of key spectral bands, while energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy indicated the homogenous distribution of the metal ions within the polymer matrix. Additionally, similar to CS, all Ga (III)-CS complexes showed hydrophobic behavior during static contact-angle measurements. The antibacterial property of the complexes against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria was positively correlated with the Ga (III) concentration. Moreover, cell studies confirmed the nontoxic behavior of the complexes against the human osteosarcoma cell line (MG-63 cells) and mouse embryonic fibroblasts cell line (MEFs). Based on the results of this study, new antibiotic-free antibacterial biomaterials based on Ga (III)-CS can be developed, expanding the scope of CS applications in the biomedical field.

Favorable angiogenic properties of the borosilicate bioactive glass 0106-B1 result in enhanced: In vivo osteoid formation compared to 45S5 Bioglass - Westhauser, F.; Widholz, B.; Nawaz, Qaisar; Tsitlakidis, S.; Hagmann, S.; Moghaddam, A.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Biomaterials Science, 2019)
The 45S5-bioactive glass (BG) composition is the most commonly investigated amongst BG-based bone substitutes. By changing BG compositions and by addition of therapeutically active ions such as boron, the biological features of BGs can be tailored towards specific needs and possible drawbacks can be overcome. The borosilicate glass 0106-B1 (composition in wt%: 37.5 SiO2, 22.6 CaO, 5.9 Na2O, 4.0 P2O5, 12.0 K2O, 5.5 MgO, 12.5 B2O3) has demonstrated pro-angiogenic properties. However, the osteogenic performance of the 0106-B1-BG and its influence on cell viability and proliferation in vitro as well as its osteogenic and angiogenic properties in vivo have not been investigated. Therefore, in this study, the impact of 0106-B1-BG and 45S5-BG on osteogenic differentiation, viability and proliferation on human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) was assessed in vitro. Furthermore, MSC-seeded scaffolds made from both BG types were implanted subcutaneously in immunodeficient mice for 10 weeks. Osteoid formation was quantified by histomorphometry, vascularization was visualized by immunohistological staining. Additionally, the in vivo expression patterns of genes correlating with osteogenesis and angiogenesis were analyzed. In vitro, the impact of 45S5-BG and 0106-B1-BG on the proliferation, viability and osteogenic differentiation of MSCs was comparable. In vivo, scaffolds made from 0106-B1-BG significantly outperformed the 45S5-BG-based scaffolds regarding the amount and maturation of the osteoid. Furthermore, 0106-B1-BG-based scaffolds showed significantly increased angiogenic gene expression patterns. In conclusion, the beneficial angiogenic properties of 0106-B1-BG result in improved osteogenic properties in vivo, making the 0106-B1-BG a promising candidate for further investigation, e.g. in a bone defect model.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2019-11-29

Ferrochrome Slag Feasibility as a Raw Material in Refractories: Evaluation of Thermo-physical and High Temperature Mechanical Properties - Karhu, Marjaana; Talling, Bob; Piotrowska, Patrycja; Matas Adams, Alba; Sengottuvelan, Abirami; Huttunen-Saarivirta, Elina; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Lintunen, Pertti (Waste and Biomass Valorization, 2020)
This paper reports the characteristics of ferrochrome slag and its feasibility as aggregate in refractories aiming to substitute virgin refractory raw materials. Refractory castable specimens were formulated with ferrochrome slag as an aggregate and commercial calcium aluminate cement as a binder. Objective was to prepare refractory specimens with a maximum slag utilization but simultaneously to sustain good properties, comparable to those of virgin raw material refractory products. Mechanical and thermo-physical properties of the cured, dried and sintered specimens were characterized. Cold crushing strengths of best performing ferrochrome slag containing specimens were higher than 90 MPa and compressive strength values measured at 1200 °C were over 9 MPa. Thermal insulation properties were even better than those of commercial refractory reference, showing thermal conductivity values as low as λRT−1000 °C = 1.3 − 0.9 W/m K. The liquid phase formation above 1200 °C limits the ferrochrome slag use for refractory applications. Results suggest ferrochrome slag’s feasibility as an aggregate raw material for refractory materials up to temperatures of 1200 °C in air and up to temperatures of 700 °C in acidic gaseous atmosphere. Possible applications for this kind of novel refractory materials are, e.g., insulating secondary layers or bottom zones in metallurgical processes to substitute virgin refractories. A direct contact to molten metal must be avoided, but they are applicable as, e.g. floorings when exposed only to occasional melt droplets. Graphic Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2020-06-02
Keywords: Electric arc furnace slag; Ferrochrome slag; Refractory ceramics; Slag valorisation

Fertility Preservation: Optimization of Follicle Extraction before Cultivation in the Artificial Ovary - Keckstein, P.; Fattahi, Amir; Liverani, Liliana; Dittrich, Ralf; Hoffmann, I; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Beckmann, Matthias; Bleisinger, Nathalie (GEBURTSHILFE UND FRAUENHEILKUNDE, 2020)
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2020-10-30

Fibronectin Functionalized Electrospun Fibers by Using Benign Solvents: Best Way to Achieve Effective Functionalization - Liverani, Liliana; Killian, Manuela; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2019)
The aim of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility of different functionalization methods for electrospun fibers developed using benign solvents. In particular three different approaches were investigated to achieve the functionalization of poly(epsilon caprolactone) (PCL) electrospun fibers with fibronectin. Protein surface entrapment, chemical functionalization and coaxial electrospinning were performed and compared. Moreover, bilayered scaffolds, with a top patterned and functionalized layer with fibronectin and a randomly oriented not functionalized layer were fabricated, demonstrating the versatility of the use of benign solvents for electrospinning also for the fabrication of complex graded structures. Besides the characterization of the morphology of the obtained scaffolds, ATR-FTIR and ToF-SIMS were used for the surface characterization of the functionalized fibers. Cell adhesion and proliferation were also investigated by using ST-2 cells. Positive results were obtained from all functionalized scaffolds and the most promising results were obtained with bilayered scaffolds, in terms of cells infiltration inside the fibrous structure.
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2019-04-16

Fibrous protein-based biomaterials (silk, keratin, elastin, and resilin proteins) for tissue regeneration and repair - Costa, F.; Marques da Silva Lourenco, Raquel de Jesus; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Peptides and Proteins as Biomaterials for Tissue Regeneration and Repair, 2018)
Tissue scaffolds are essential in tissue engineering approaches as they provide a tissue-mimicking environment for cells, with the aim to promote cell proliferation, cell differentiation, and tissue regeneration. To mimic better the microenvironment of native tissues, numerous techniques, and biomaterials have emerged in recent years. Among them, hydrogels formed from self-assembled biopolymer networks are particularly interesting. This chapter reviews the fabrication and use of fibrous protein-based hydrogels, with an emphasis on silk, keratin, elastin, and resilin proteins. Hydrogels formed by these proteins show structural, chemical, and mechanical similarities with the extracellular matrix of human tissues, typically exhibiting biological compatibility, and they can trigger specific cellular responses. In addition, these hydrogels can be degraded in the body by proteolytic enzymes. For these reasons, fibrous protein hydrogels are versatile materials for tissue engineering.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-08-05
Keywords: Biomaterials; Cell-encapsulation; Fibrous-proteins; Hydrogels

Fibrous protein-based hydrogels for cell encapsulation - Silva, Raquel; Fabry, Ben; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Biomaterials, 2014)
Tissue scaffolds play a vital role in tissue engineering by providing a native tissue-mimicking environment for cells, with the aim to promote cell proliferation, proper cell differentiation, and regeneration. To better mimic the microenvironment of native tissues, novel techniques and materials have emerged in recent years. Among them, hydrogels formed from self-assembled biopolymer networks are particularly interesting. This paper reviews the fabrication and use of fibrous protein-based hydrogels, with an emphasis on silk, keratin elastin and resilin proteins. Hydrogels formed by these proteins show close structural, chemical and mechanical similarities with the extracellular matrix, typically good biological compatibility, and they can trigger specific cellular responses. In addition, these hydrogels can be degraded in the body by proteolytic enzymes. For these reasons, fibrous protein hydrogels are one of the most versatile materials for tissue engineering. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.
Keywords: Biomaterials; Cell-encapsulation; Fibrous-proteins; Hydrogels

Fish scale containing alginate dialdehyde-gelatin bioink for bone tissue engineering - Kara Özenler, Aylin; Distler, Thomas; Tihminlioglu, Funda; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Biofabrication, 2023)
The development of biomaterial inks suitable for biofabrication and mimicking the physicochemical properties of the extracellular matrix is essential for the application of bioprinting technology in tissue engineering (TE). The use of animal-derived proteinous materials, such as jellyfish collagen, or fish scale (FS) gelatin (GEL), has become an important pillar in biomaterial ink design to increase the bioactivity of hydrogels. However, besides the extraction of proteinous structures, the use of structurally intact FS as an additive could increase biocompatibility and bioactivity of hydrogels due to its organic (collagen) and inorganic (hydroxyapatite) contents, while simultaneously enhancing mechanical strength in three-dimensional (3D) printing applications. To test this hypothesis, we present here a composite biomaterial ink composed of FS and alginate dialdehyde (ADA)-GEL for 3D bioprinting applications. We fabricate 3D cell-laden hydrogels using mouse pre-osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells. We evaluate the physicochemical and mechanical properties of FS incorporated ADA-GEL biomaterial inks as well as the bioactivity and cytocompatibility of cell-laden hydrogels. Due to the distinctive collagen orientation of the FS, the compressive strength of the hydrogels significantly increased with increasing FS particle content. Addition of FS also provided a tool to tune hydrogel stiffness. FS particles were homogeneously incorporated into the hydrogels. Particle-matrix integration was confirmed via scanning electron microscopy. FS incorporation in the ADA-GEL matrix increased the osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells in comparison to pristine ADA-GEL, as FS incorporation led to increased ALP activity and osteocalcin secretion of MC3T3-E1 cells. Due to the significantly increased stiffness and supported osteoinductivity of the hydrogels, FS structure as a natural collagen and hydroxyapatite source contributed to the biomaterial ink properties for bone engineering applications. Our findings indicate that ADA-GEL/FS represents a new biomaterial ink formulation with great potential for 3D bioprinting, and FS is confirmed as a promising additive for bone TE applications.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2023-03-03
Keywords: alginates; bioink; bone tissue engineering; fish scale; gelatin

Flexural strength of biopolymer coated bioactive glass (45S5) sintered struts for bone tissue engineering applications - Nawaz, Qaisar; Fiedler, Thomas; Biggemann, Jonas; Fey, Tobias; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Materials Letters, 2023)
Owing to its bioactivity and proven biological performance, 45S5 bioactive glass (BG) is considered a convenient choice to fabricate scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications. However, the brittleness of the material in conjunction with microstructural imperfections can cause catastrophic fracture and thus unreliable mechanical performance. This experimental study probes the fabrication of 45S5 BG struts using mold casting technique and sintering followed by the coating of the fabricated struts with gelatine and polycaprolactone (PCL) to improve the mechanical properties. The mechanical properties of struts were measured using a four-point bending test. The results indicate an improvement in flexural strength of the struts after coating with PCL. The uncoated and gelatin-coated samples exhibited flexural strength of around 20 MPa, which was increased to 55 MPa and 70 MPa after coating with PCL of 14 k and 80 k molecular weight, respectively. Careful evaluation of the test results permits quantifying the flexural strength of struts.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2023-03-10
Keywords: Bioactive glasses; Flexural strength; Polymer coating; Scaffold; Sintering

Fly ash-based geopolymers containing added silicate waste. A review - Toniolo, Nicoletta; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Ceramics International, 2017)
<span style="color: rgb(80, 80, 80); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Arial Unicode MS", sans-serif; font-size: medium;">This review summarizes different types of industrial wastes such as biomass ash, red mud, recycled glass and heavy metals waste, in their application for geopolymer production. These wastes, which are currently abundant and urgent to dispose of, cannot be used alone in the geopolymer process because they do not provide a suitable SiO<span style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; top: 0.4em; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(80, 80, 80); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Arial Unicode MS", sans-serif;">2<span style="color: rgb(80, 80, 80); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Arial Unicode MS", sans-serif; font-size: medium;">/Al<span style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; top: 0.4em; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(80, 80, 80); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Arial Unicode MS", sans-serif;">2<span style="color: rgb(80, 80, 80); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Arial Unicode MS", sans-serif; font-size: medium;">O<span style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; top: 0.4em; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(80, 80, 80); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Arial Unicode MS", sans-serif;">3<span style="color: rgb(80, 80, 80); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Arial Unicode MS", sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> molar ratio for this technology. For this reason, these by-products are commonly used in addition to other aluminosilicate sources such as fly ash or metakaolin. Important parameters which affect the properties and performance of fly ash based geopolymers with addition of a variety of wastes are discussed based on a comprehensive literature review.
Keywords: Geopolymers; Fly ash

Fly-ash-based geopolymers: How the addition of recycled glass or red mud waste influences the structural and mechanical properties - Toniolo, Nicoletta; Taveri, Gianmarco; Hurle, Katrin; Roether, Judith; Ercole, P; Dlouhy⁠, Ivo; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Ceramic Science and Technology, 2017)
Keywords: Fly ash; Geopolymers; Red mud; Waste glass

Formation and in vitro biocompatibility of biomimetic hydroxyapatite coatings on chemically treated carbon substrates - Hoppe, Alexander; Will, Julia; Detsch, Rainer; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Greil, Peter (Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 2013)
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2013.tech.IW.LM.format

Formation of Zein/Bioactive Glass Layers Using Electrophoretic Deposition Technique - Ramos Rivera, Laura; Dippel, Jannik; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (ECS Transactions, 2018)
Coatings of zein and zein/bioactive glass composites were produced on 316L stainless steel using anodic electrophoretic deposition (EPD). Zein and 45S5 bioactive glass were dispersed in a binary water/ethanol solution. The effects of the zein and bioactive glass concentrations as well as different water/ethanol ratios on the coating characteristics were investigated. Also, the influence of applied voltage and deposition time were analyzed. Prior to EPD, the zeta potential of zein, bioactive glass and zein/bioactive glass suspensions were measured as a function of the pH. The coatings were investigated by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Coatings with pure zein are homogeneous when using an electrical field strength below or equal to 0.05 V/m. Higher voltages led to a discoloration of the solution which could result from a conformational change of zein. The co-deposition of zein/bioactive glass is very sensitive to the applied voltage and the concentration of zein. High concentrations of zein (10 g/L) increase the viscosity of the solution and reduce the electrophoretic mobility of the bioactive glass. Equal concentration of zein and bioactive glass at a pH of 7.5 with a low electric field strength were found to be the optimum condition

Functional behavior of chitosan/gelatin/silica-gentamicin coatings by electrophoretic deposition on surgical grade stainless steel - Aydemir, Tuba; Liverani, Liliana; Pastore, Juan I.; Ceré, Silvia M.; Goldmann, Wolfgang; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Ballarre, Josefina (Materials Science and Engineering C, 2020)
Metals are used in several orthopedic applications as fixation elements for the stabilization of fractures or as prostheses. One of the most common orthopedic biomaterials in many developing countries is surgical grade stainless steel (SS). However, its use as permanent implant in orthopedic surgery is conditioned due to its limited corrosion resistance in physiological media, lack of osseointegration, and absence of antibacterial effect. The aim of this work is to generate a degradable coating with antibacterial properties for stainless steel to be used in implants/medical devices. The coating is composed of a biopolymer/silica-gentamicin nanoparticles composite obtained by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) on surgical grade stainless steel plates. The coating surface was characterized by microscopic examination, and in vitro performance was evaluated after immersion in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution, simulated body fluid (SBF), and cell culture medium, to analyze coating degradation, antibiotics release, cell attachment (ST-2 stromal cells), and antibacterial (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) properties. EPD coatings were uniform and covered homogeneously the surface of the SS substrate. Also the distribution of silica-gentamicin nanoparticles was homogeneous on the coated area. The degradation of the chitosan-gelatin coatings was evident after 7 days of immersion. The gentamicin release led to excellent antibacterial behavior at 24 h, meanwhile the cell proliferation (at 7 days culture) was not inhibited. The results show that the coating system exhibits promising behavior which could contribute to prevent hospital infections at early implantation times.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2020-06-02
Keywords: Chitosan; Electrophoretic deposition; Gelatin; Prevention of infections; Silica-gentamicin nanoparticles; Stainless steel implants

Functionalization of steel surfaces with organic acids: Influence on wetting and corrosion behavior - Alonso Frank, Micael; Meltzer, Christian; Braunschweig, Björn; Peukert, Wolfgang; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Virtanen, Sannakaisa (Applied Surface Science, 2017)
Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have been used to tailor surface properties of different metal surfaces. Typically SAMs can be bound to surface hydroxyls of a thin oxide layer that forms on the surface of a less noble metal and dominates its properties. The effects of SAMs with different anchoring groups and chain lengths regarding wettability, corrosion resistance and homogeneity of the layer were studied in detail. Alkyl carbonic and phosphonic acids were selected to create a hydrophobic layer on the surface of stainless steel ASIS 316L and on carbon steel N80. SAMs were formed by dip-coating of the samples in an organic acid ethanolic solution. Sum frequency generation (SFG) analysis together with contact angle and electrochemical measurements were carried out to explore correlations between tailored wettability, corrosion resistance, and layer homogeneity on one side, and the chain length, anchor group, concentration and immersion time on the other side. The homogeneity of the layers as well as the resulting surface hydrophobicity increased with an increase of the immersion time, the contact angle reached a maximum (ca. 120°) for an immersion time of approximately 2 days.
Keywords: Carbon steel N80; Hydrophobicity; Myristic acid; Octadecylphosphonic acid (ODPA); Stainless steel 316 L; Stearic acid; Sum frequency generation; Surface functionalization

Functionalized nanofibers as drug-delivery systems for osteochondral regeneration - Amler, Evzen; Filova, Eva; Buzgo, Matej; Prosecka, Eva; Rampichova, Michala; Necas, Alois; Nooeaid, Patcharakamon; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Nanomedicine, 2014)
A wide range of drug-delivery systems are currently attracting the attention of researchers. Nanofibers are very interesting carriers for drug delivery. This is because nanofibers are versatile, flexible, nanobiomimetic and similar to extracellular matrix components, possible to be functionalized both on their surface as well as in their core, and also because they can be produced easily and cost effectively. There have been increasing attempts to use nanofibers in the construction of a range of tissues, including cartilage and bone. Nanofibers have also been favorably engaged as a drug-delivery system in cell-free scaffolds. This short overview is devoted to current applications and to further perspectives of nanofibers as drug-delivery devices in the field of cartilage and bone regeneration, and also in osteochondral reconstruction. © 2014 Future Medicine Ltd.
Keywords: bone; cartilage; drug delivery; electrospinning; liposome; nanofiber

Functional properties of glass-ceramic composites containing industrial inorganic waste and evaluation of their biological compatibility - Rozenstrauha, I.; Lodins, E.; Krage, L.; Drille, M.; Balode, M.; Putna, I.; Filipenkov, V.; Chinnam, Rama Krishna Satish; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Ceramics International, 2013)
A study has been carried out on the feasibility of using Latvian industrial waste (peat cool ash, fly ash, aluminium scrap metal processing waste, metallurgical slag and waste cullet glass) and raw mineral materials (limeless clay) to produce dense, frost resistant, chemically durable glass-ceramic materials by powder technology. Highly crystalline and dense products (density: 2.50-2.94 g/cm3, water uptake: 1.3-4.3%) were fabricated from different mixtures by sintering at temperatures in the range of 1060-1160° C. Glass-ceramics were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and four point bending strength test. Chemical durability, soluble salt crystallization as well as biological tests were carried out in order to evaluate the environmental stability and possible toxicity of the materials. The novel glass-ceramics developed here can find applications as building materials, such as wall tiles and for manufacturing industrial floors. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2013.tech.IW.LM.functi
Keywords: Chemical durability; D. Glass-ceramic; Industrial waste; Toxicity

Futures of BME: Sustainable medical materials 2023 - Ramakrishna, Seeram; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Zare, Mina (Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering, 2023)
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2023-11-10

Ga and Ce ion-doped phosphate glass fibres with antibacterial properties and their composite for wound healing applications - Lapa, Agata; Cresswell, Mark; Campbell, Ian; Jackson, Phil; Goldmann, Wolfgang; Detsch, Rainer; Parsons, Andrew; Ahmed, Ifty; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 2019)
Novel gallium/cerium-doped phosphate glass fibres (PGF) were successfully manufactured by the melt-quenching and melt-spinning process. The amorphous character of the materials produced was confirmed using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and the elemental composition was investigated with X-ray fluorescence confirming the presence of 2 mol% of Ga2O3 or CeO2. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the presence of Q1 and Q2 structural phosphate species. Mechanical properties of the PGFs revealed tensile strength values of 428 ± 94 MPa and 379 ± 80 MPa, with elastic modulus values of 45 ± 4 GPa and 54 ± 9 GPa for Ce-PGF (diameter 25 μm) and Ga-PGF (diameter 18 μm), respectively. The influence of both dopants on the glass degradation properties was evaluated by tests in deionised water, which revealed a decreased dissolution rate for gallium-doped PGF in comparison to cerium-doped PGF. Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) measurements were used to explore ion release in cell culture medium, while ICP-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to measure ion release in deionised water. These techniques showed controlled release of therapeutic and antibacterial ions from the PGF. Antibacterial properties of Ce-PGF and Ga-PGF, based on turbidity measurements, were confirmed against Gram-positive bacteria. Moreover, Ce-doped phosphate glass fibres did not disturb the proliferation of human epidermal keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells or the mobility of mice embryonic fibroblasts (MEF). Applying an in vitro scratch assay showed full wound closure after 24 h of indirect incubation with Ga-PGF. Due to their superior processability as compared with Ga-PGFs, a fully degradable mesh based on Ce-PGF was designed and found to achieve high water uptake (up to 800%), suggesting its suitability for wound healing applications.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2019-11-22

Gallium- and Cerium-Doped Phosphate Glasses with Antibacterial Properties for Medical Applications - Lapa, Agata; Cresswell, Mark; Campbell, Ian; Jackson, Phil; Goldmann, Wolfgang H.; Detsch, Rainer; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Advanced Engineering Materials, 2020)
Novel cerium- (Ce) and gallium (Ga)-doped phosphate glasses (PGs) are successfully obtained by the peroxidation method. The new glasses are characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), and pH measurements. A strong correlation between glass properties and their composition is found. The incorporation of Ga/Ce in the glass structure is confirmed by peak shifts in Raman and FTIR spectra. Degradation tests conducted in water confirm the soluble character of the PGs and reveal the influence of Ga and Ce on the degradation rate. Ga-doped glasses are found to be less soluble than Ce-doped ones (43%, 33%, 21%, and 16% of dry mass remained after 7 weeks for 7Ga, 5Ga, 5Ce, and 7Ce, respectively). Biological evaluation using ST-2 cells shows adequate cell response with a cell viability of 80% measured using the indirect contact method depending on the composition. The cell viability decreases with an increase in Ga content and increases with Ce content. The antibacterial character of Ga/Ce-doped PGs is confirmed by turbidity measurements against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus carnosus. The novel Ce/Ga-doped PGs exhibiting antibacterial properties and biocompatibility reported here are interesting for tissue engineering and wound healing applications.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2020-03-17
Keywords: antibacterial properties; cerium; gallium; ion release; medical applications; phosphate glasses

Gallium containing bioactive materials: A review of anticancer, antibacterial, and osteogenic properties - Kurtuldu, Fatih; Mutlu, Nurshen; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Galusek, Dušan (Bioactive Materials, 2022)
The incorporation of gallium into bioactive materials has been reported to enhance osteogenesis, to influence blood clotting, and to induce anti-cancer and anti-bacterial activity. Gallium-doped biomaterials prepared by various techniques include melt-derived and sol-gel-derived bioactive glasses, calcium phosphate bioceramics, metals and coatings. In this review, we summarize the recently reported developments in antibacterial, anticancer, osteogenesis, and hemostasis properties of Ga-doped biomaterials and briefly outline the mechanisms leading to Ga biological effects. The key finding is that gallium addition to biomaterials has great potential for treating bone-related diseases since it can be efficiently transferred to the desired region at a controllable rate. Besides, it can be used as a potential substitute for antibiotics for the inhibition of infections during the initial and advanced phases of the wound healing process. Ga is also used as an anticancer agent due to the increased concentration of gallium around excessive cell proliferation (tumor) sites. Moreover, we highlight the possibility to design different therapeutic approaches aimed at increasing the efficiency of the use of gallium containing bioactive materials for multifunctional applications.
CRIS-Team Scopus Importer:2022-01-21
Keywords: Antibacterial; Bioactive materials; Cancer treatment; Hemostasis; Osteogenesis

Gelatin coated 45S5 Bioglass®-derived scaffolds for bone tissue engineering - Metze, Anke-Lisa; Grimm, Alexandra; Nooeaid, Patcharakamon; Roether, Judith; Hum, Jasmin; Newby, Phillipa; Schubert, Dirk W.; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Key Engineering Materials, 2013)
Highly porous 45S5 Bioglass® scaffolds were fabricated by the foam replica method and successfully coated with a well attached gelatin layer by dipping and pipetting methods. Depending on macropore size of the scaffold and gelatin concentration, mechanically enhanced scaffolds with improved compressive strength in comparison to uncoated scaffolds could be obtained while preserving the high and interconnected porosity that is required for bone in-growth. Moreover, the scaffolds bioactivity by immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) was investigated showing that gelatin coating preserves the intrinsic bioactivity of the Bioglass® scaffold. It was also shown that the gelatin layer can be loaded with tetracycline hydrochloride for developing scaffolds with drug delivery capability.
UnivIS-Import:2015-03-09:Pub.2013.tech.IW.LM.gelati
Keywords: 45S5 Bioglass®; Gelatin; Scaffold; Tetracycline Hydrochloride

Gelatin coating increases in vivo bone formation capacity of three-dimensional 45S5 bioactive glass-based crystalline scaffolds - Westhauser, Fabian; Senger, Anne-Sophie; Obert, David; Ciraldo, Francesca; Schuhladen, Katharina; Schmidmaier, Gerhard; Moghaddam, Arash; Boccaccini, Aldo R. (Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 2019)
Recent studies have demonstrated that surface characteristics, porosity, and mechanical strength of three-dimensional 45S5-type bioactive glass (BG)-based scaffolds are directly correlated with osteogenic properties. Three-dimensional BG-based scaffolds obtained from maritime natural sponges (MNSs) as sacrificial templates exhibit the required morphological properties; however, no in vivo data about the osteogenic features are available. In this study, uncoated (Group A) and gelatin-coated (Group B) crystalline MNS-obtained BG-based scaffolds were evaluated mechanically and seeded with human mesenchymal stem cells prior to subcutaneous implantation in immunodeficient mice. Before implantation and after explantation, micro-computed tomography scans were conducted, and scaffolds were finally subjected to histomorphometry. Scaffolds of both groups showed bone formation. However, Group B scaffolds performed distinctly better as indicated by a significant increase in scaffold volume (8.95%, p = 0.039) over the implantation period compared with a nonsignificant increase of 5.26% in Group A scaffolds in micro-computed tomography analysis. Furthermore, percentage bone area was 10.33% (+/- 1.18%) in the Group B scaffolds, which was significantly (p = 0.007) higher compared with the 8.53% (+/- 0.77%) in the Group A scaffolds in histomorphometry. Compressive strength was enhanced significantly by gelatin coating (9 +/- 2 vs. 4 +/- 1 MPa; p = 0.029). The presence of gelatin on the remnant parts was verified by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray spectroscopy, demonstrating the coatings' resilience. MNS-obtained BG-based scaffolds were thus confirmed to exhibit osteogenic properties in vivo that can significantly be enhanced by gelatin coating.
CRIS-Team WoS Importer:2019-03-15

Generation of composites for bone tissue-engineering applications consisting of gellan gum hydrogels mineralized with calcium and magnesium phosphate phases by enzymatic means - Douglas, Timothy E L; Krawczyk, Grzegorz; Pamula, Elzbieta; Declercq, Heidi A.; Schaubroeck, David; Bucko, Miroslaw M.; Balcaen, Lieve; Van Der Voort, Pascal; Bliznuk, Vitaliy; van den Vreken, Natasja M F; Dash, Mamoni; Detsch, Rainer; et al. (Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 2014)
Mineralization of hydrogels, desirable for bone regeneration applications, may be achieved enzymatically by incorporation of alkaline phosphatase (ALP). ALP-loaded gellan gum (GG) hydrogels were mineralized by incubation in mineralization media containing calcium and/or magnesium glycerophosphate (CaGP, MgGP). Mineralization media with CaGP:MgGP concentrations 0.1:0, 0.075:0.025, 0.05:0.05, 0.025:0.075 and 0:0.1 (all values mol/dm, denoted A, B, C, D and E, respectively) were compared. Mineral formation was confirmed by IR and Raman, SEM, ICP-OES, XRD, TEM, SAED, TGA and increases in the the mass fraction of the hydrogel not consisting of water. Ca was incorporated into mineral to a greater extent than Mg in samples mineralized in media A-D. Mg content and amorphicity of mineral formed increased in the order A<b<c<d. mineral="" formed="" in="" media="" a="" and="" b="" was="" calcium-deficient="" hydroxyapatite="" (cdha).="" medium="" c="" combination="" of="" cdha="" an="" amorphous="" phase.="" d="" e="" crystalline="" mgp.="" young's="" moduli="" storage="" decreased="" dependence="" mineralization="" the="" order="">B>C>D, but were significantly higher for samples mineralized in medium E. The attachment and vitality of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells were higher on samples mineralized in media B-E (containing Mg) than in those mineralized in medium A (not containing Mg). All samples underwent degradation and supported the adhesion of RAW 264.7 monocytic cells, and samples mineralized in media A and B supported osteoclast-like cell formation. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Keywords: Calcium phosphate; Composite; Cytocompatibility; Enzyme; Gellan gum; Hydrogel; Magnesium phosphate; Osteoblast