Sadaf Batool

Visiting Researcher (National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan)

Synthesis of Novel Calcium Phosphate based composites for bone tissue regeneration

 

Supervisor in Erlangen: Prof. Dr. Aldo R. Boccaccini
Supervisor in Pakistan: Prof. Dr. Zakir Hussain

This project focuses on the fabrication of composite biomaterials incorporating biological whitlockite (WH) for bone tissue regeneration applications. Whitlockite is the second most abundant calcium phosphate in bone. It has magnesium, as an integral component, that plays a critical role during earlier stages of bone development. WH has good mechanical properties, is stable in an acidic physiological environment, has a negative surface charge, and is biodegradable. WH could be an ideal material for bone tissue regeneration, but its synthesis has remained a challenge due to its poor thermodynamic stability over a narrow pH and temperature range. Our research goal is to comprehensively study the effect of different experimental parameters on WH phase stability to develop facile methods for its synthesis. Further, we aim to evaluate the biological potential of WH-based scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration by fabricating 3D scaffolds and coatings incorporating WH.