Clarissa Mönch

Master student

Fabrication and Characterization of Phytotherapeutic Melt Electrowritten Scaffolds for Wound Healing Applications

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

Melt electrowriting (MEW) is a novel technique that utilizes the electrohydrodynamic (EHD) effect to achieve very high resolutions in extrusion-based additive manufacturing [1,2]. Polycaprolactone (PCL) is well-suited for MEW and tissue engineering (TE) applications, due to its biocompatibility, ease of processability, and favourable mechanical properties [1]. However, PCL lacks bioactive cues and bioactivity [1]. This limitation can be addressed by coatings or surface functionalization to improve properties such as anti-inflammatory or antibacterial behaviour, which are crucial for effective wound healing. Essential oils (EOs) are known to enhance antibacterial properties and support wound healing [3].

Loaded into drug carriers and coated onto PCL scaffolds, these phytotherapeutic agents can locally promote wound healing. Mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs) have been investigated as such drug delivery systems for EOs and show promising results [4]. In this master thesis, melt electrowritten PCL scaffolds coated with biopolymer solution incorporating MBGNs loaded with a phytotherapeutic essential oil will be produced and characterized as a potential approach for wound healing applications.

[1] Juliane C. Kade and Paul D. Dalton. “Polymers for Melt Electrowriting”. Advanced Healthcare Materials 10.1 (2021), e2001232. doi: 10.1002/adhm.202001232

[2] Irem Unalan, Ilenia Occhipinti, Marta Miola, Enrica Vernè and Aldo R. Boccaccini. “Development of Super‐Paramagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticle‐Coated Melt Electrowritten Scaffolds for Biomedical Applications“. Macromolecular Bioscience, 24(3), 2300397 (2024). doi: 10.1002/mabi.202300397

[3] Irem Unalan and Aldo R. Boccaccini. ”Essential oils in biomedical applications: Recent progress and future opportunities”. Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering 17.100261 (2021). doi.org/10.1016/j.cobme.2021.100261

[4] Andrada-Ioana Damian-Buda, Irem Unalan, and Aldo R. Boccaccini. ”Combining Mesoporous Bioactive Glass Nanoparticles (MBGNs) with Essential Oils to Tackle Bacterial Infection and Oxidative Stress for Bone Regeneration Applications”. ACS Biomaterials, Sci. Eng. (2024). doi.org/10.1021/acsbiomaterials.4c00218