Nayarit Mata

Visiting PhD student (Universidad Miguel Hernández, Elche, Spain)

3D multilayer porous ceramic scaffolds for tissue engineering applications

 

Supervisor in Erlangen: Prof. Dr. -Ing. habil. Aldo R. Boccaccini

Supervisor in Spain: Prof. Dr. Piedad N. De Aza

Ceramic materials, in particular calcium phosphates, are an excellent alternative in the development of biomaterials for bone replacement due to their similarity to the mineral phase of bone [1]. The present research proposes the synthesis of three-dimensional porous scaffolds formed by layers of different chemical compositions within the P2O5-CaO-SiO2 ternary diagram, using the sol-gel and polymer sponge replica technique. The multilayer scaffold allows different characteristics to be unified in a single structure, which would be difficult to achieve using a single chemical composition [2]. In addition, different ions such as magnesium, strontium, etc. are incorporated into the outer layers of the scaffold in order to benefit cellular processes during bone regeneration. The scaffolds will be characterized and their interactions with cells will be studied. These studies have been financed by a scholarship from the SANTIAGO GRISOLIA program of the Government of Generalitat Valenciana, Spain.

[1] N. Eliaz, N. Metoki. “Calcium Phosphate Bioceramics: A Review of Their History, Structure, Properties, Coating Technologies and Biomedical Applications”, Materials, 10, (2017), 334.

[2] N.A. Mata, et al., “Synthesis and characterization of 3D multilayer porous Si–Ca–P scaffolds doped with Sr ions to modulate in vitro bioactivity”, Ceram. Int., 46, (2020), 968-977.