Serena Miglietta

 

Zeitraum: 2017 Master Studentin, Polytechnic of Turin, Italy

Thema / Repräsentative Veröffentlichung:

Novel polymer coatings for bioactive glass scaffolds

Betreuer (FAU): Katharina Schuhladen, Dr. Jasmin Hum, Prof. Aldo R. Boccaccini

This work aims at the design of osteconductive and biodegradable scaffolds based on the bioactive-glass 45S5 Bioglass® [1] with improved mechanical performance. In detail, the mechanical properties of 45S5 Bioglass®-based scaffolds will be enhanced by coating them with synthetic polymers, an approach which has been already explored, as reported in the literature [2]. The novelty of this project lies in the selection of custom-made polyurethanes (developed at the sending Institute at Polytechnic of Turin, supervisor: Prof. Gianluca Ciardelli differing in the composition of their soft phase to be used as scaffold coating: a poly(ester urethane) with acronym KHC2000 based on poly(ε-caprolactone), and a poly(ester ether urethane) with acronym KHC2000E2000 synthesized from poly(ε-caprolactone) diol and polyethylene glycol (70:30 weight ratio). Coating will be performed by dipping the scaffolds in a polymer solution with optimized concentration to minimize porosity occlusion. Coated and uncoated scaffolds will be characterized in terms of their mechanical properties, morphology, bioactivity and degradation kinetics. The bonding at the interface between the polyurethane and 45S5 Bioglass® will be also investigated.

[1] Q. Z. Chen, I. D. Thompson, A. R. Boccaccini, 45S5 Bioglass®-derived glass–ceramic scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. Biomaterials 27 (2006) 2414-2425.

[2] D. M. Yunos, O. Bretcanu, A. R. Boccaccini, Polymer-bioceramic composites for tissue engineering scaffolds, J. Mater. Sci. 43 (2008) 4433.