Esther de Mercurio

Berlin Institute of Health at Charité

Architectured scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration

 

Supervisors: Prof. Ansgar Petersen (Berlin Institute of Health at Charité), Prof. Aldo R. Boccaccini (FAU)

This project focuses on developing biomaterial scaffolds with curvature-driven architectures to enhance bone tissue regeneration by guiding cellular differentiation. We explore two scaffold approaches—injectable and implantable—leveraging architecture and environmental cues. The injectable scaffolds are fabricated from synthetic, biocompatible materials using two-photon polymerization (2PP), a high-precision technique that enables the creation of complex microscale architectures. By implementing specific curvatures within these structures, we can guide cell migration and promote osteogenesis, making these scaffolds ideal for minimally invasive applications. For implantable scaffolds, we are developing a custom 3D cryo-inkjet printer to enable high freedom of design using extracellular matrix (ECM) based proteins. This advanced printing approach allows us to create scaffolds with high resolutions and complex macro-architectures, which influence cell behavior. Together, the micro-scaffolds and the cryo-printer represent versatile, architecture-driven strategies to support and promote tissue regeneration.