Anastassia Nikolaitchouk

Master student

Phytotherapeutic organic-inorganic melt electrowriting scaffolds for biomedical applications

 

Supervisors: Dr. Irem Unalan, Prof. Aldo R. Boccaccini

Clove oil, a natural essential oil known for its antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties [1], offers great potential in biomedical applications when integrated with advanced scaffold technologies. Polycaprolactone (PCL), a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer, serves as an ideal material for scaffold fabrication due to its mechanical stability and ease of processing [2]. Melt electrowriting (MEW), an advanced additive manufacturing technique, enables the creation of highly controlled, porous microstructures that mimic the extracellular matrix, enhancing cellular adhesion and nutrient transport [3]. This project explores the development of clove oil-loaded mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs) coatings on PCL scaffolds fabricated via MEW. By addressing challenges such as bacterial infections and oxidative stress, the study aims to enhance scaffold performance in wound healing. Comprehensive physical, mechanical, chemical, and biological analyses will evaluate the potential of these organic-inorganic phytotherapeutic MEW scaffolds to advance bioengineered solutions for tissue regeneration and other biomedical uses.

[1] A.-I. Damian-Buda, I. Unalan, and A. R. Boccaccini, ‘Combining Mesoporous Bioactive Glass Nanoparticles (MBGNs) with Essential Oils to Tackle Bacterial Infection and Oxidative Stress for Bone Regeneration Applications’, ACS Biomater Sci Eng, vol. 10, no. 11, pp. 6860–6873, Nov. 2024, doi: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.4c00218.

[2] I. Unalan, B. Slavik, A. Buettner, and A. R. Boccaccini, ‘Phytotherapeutic Hierarchical PCL-Based Scaffolds as a Multifunctional Wound Dressing: Combining 3D Printing and Electrospinning’, Macromol Biosci, vol. 24, no. 11, p. 2400253, Nov. 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/mabi.202400253.

[3] I. Unalan, I. Occhipinti, M. Miola, E. Vernè, and A. R. Boccaccini, ‘Development of Super-Paramagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticle-Coated Melt Electrowritten Scaffolds for Biomedical Applications’, Macromol Biosci, vol. 24, no. 3, Mar. 2024, doi: 10.1002/mabi.202300397.