Maria Merino Gómez

Visiting PhD student (Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Spain)

Using therapeutic ions doped bioactive glass nanoparticles to improve the mechanical and biological properties of hydrogels

 

Supervisors (in Erlangen):  Zhiyan Xu, Faina Bider, Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Aldo R.Boccaccini

Bioactive glass nanoparticles (BGNs) are emerging biomaterials for a variety of biomedical applications, including soft tissue regeneration [1]. BGNs are used in combination with different polymers to improve the mechanical strength and stability of polymers. The aim of this research project is to enhance the mechanical strength and biological properties of natural hydrogels. BGNs will be incorporated into the hydrogel solution aiming at improving achieving specific interactions between both systems to result in better mechanical properties. BGNs can be used for the incorporation of therapeutics ions such as strontium (Sr) and Lithium (Li) in order to enhance the biological properties of the hydrogel [2,3].

[1] Roopavath, U. K et al. 3D Printable SiO2 Nanoparticle Ink for Patient Specific Bone Regeneration. RSC Advances 2019, 9 (41), 23832–23842.

[2] Kapp M, et al. Protein Adsorption on SiO2-CaO Bioactive Glass Nanoparticles with Controllable Ca Content. Nanomaterials (Basel). 2021 Feb 24;11(3):561.

[3] Monavari M, et al. 3D printing of alginate dialdehyde-gelatin (ADA-GEL) hydrogels incorporating phytotherapeutic icariin loaded mesoporous SiO2-CaO nanoparticles for bone tissue engineering. Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl. 2021 Dec;131:112470.