Dr. Pier Francesco Ferrari

Visiting Researcher, Dept. of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Genoa, Italy

Fabrication and characterization of electroconductive fibrous composite/hydrogel scaffolds for engineered cardiac tissues

 

Supervisors: Prof. Aldo R. Boccaccini and Prof. Felix B. Engel (University Hospital Erlangen)

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a significant global health concern, leading to disability, mortality, and substantial economic costs. Among CVDs, heart attacks and strokes account for the highest percentage of fatalities. Cardiac tissue engineering has emerged as a promising research field to treat infarcted myocardium. The research activity aims to design, fabricate, and characterize an innovative material, combining electrospinning technique and hydrogel fabrication, to have the the required mechanical support, interfacial adhesion, suitable 3D microenvironment for cells in a functional scaffold. This project is a collaboration between the FAU Institute of Biomaterials and the Professorship for Experimental Renal and Cardiovascular Research, University Hospital Erlangen (Head: Prof. Felix Engel). These activities are supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).