Hyewon Kim

Master Studentin

3D printing of hydrogel-bioactive glasses composites for biomedical applications

Betreuer:Dr.-Ing. Kai Zheng, Dr. Guoxin Tan, Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Aldo R. Boccaccini

 

Bioactive glass nanoparticles (BGs) are suitable materials for bone regeneration applications [1]. Hydrogels can mimic some of the physiochemical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM) because of their structural similarity to tissues which make them suitable materials for tissue engineering. A combination of BGs and hydrogels is thus expected to induce an advanced composite hydrogel for tissue regeneration [2, 3]. The purpose of this project is to implement 3D printed BGs-containing gelatin-based hydrogels that can be applied not only in bone regeneration but also in wound healing. We will find the appropriate ratio between BGs and hydrogels for printing. The physical, chemical, and biocompatibility of the printed composites will also be evaluated.

[1] K. Zheng, A. R. Boccaccini, Sol-gel processing of bioactive glass nanoparticles: a review. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science 249 (2017) 363-373.

[2] S. Utech, A. R. Boccaccini, A review of hydrogel-based composites for biomedical applications: enhancement of hydrogel properties by addition of rigid inorganic fillers. J. Mater Sci. 51 (2016) 271–310.

[3] A. J. Leite, et al., Bioplotting of a bioactive alginate dialdehyde-gelatin composite hydrogel containing bioactive glass nanoparticles, Biofabrication 8 (2016) 035005.