Lucia Servello

Gaststudentin, Polytechnikum Turin, Italien

Polyurethane Coated Bioactive Glass Scaffolds

Betreuer: Marcela Arango Ospina, Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil Aldo R. Boccaccini

Bioactive glasses (BGs) have gained importance in bone tissue engineering (TE) applications due to their chemical similarity to the inorganic phase of bone and their excellent bioactivity [1]. This class of biomaterials not only provides a biocompatible and osteoconductive surface but also can lead to enhanced bone growth and osteoinductivity. However, the relatively low mechanical properties, low resistance to fracture under load and high brittleness limit the application of BG based scaffolds in bone TE approaches, which require robust mechanical structure [2]. The aim of this work is to produce 45S5 Bioglass®-based scaffolds by the foam replica technique [3] and to investigate the enhancement of the scaffold mechanical properties by tailor-made polyurethane coatings. Two types of poly(?-caprolactone)-based polyurethanes were synthesized at the Polytechnic of Turin, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Italy, under the supervision of Prof. Ciardelli and Dott. Boffito. The scaffolds will be characterized in terms of morphology, chemical composition and mechanical stability. Moreover degradation and cytotoxicity studies will be performed.

[1] L. L. Hench, “Opening paper 2015- Some comments on Bioglass: Four Eras of Discovery and Development”, Biomed. Glassess 1 (2015) 1-11.

[2] Hum, J.; Luczynski, K.; Nooeaid, P.; Newby, P.; Lahayne, O.; Hellmich, C.; Boccaccini, A. “Stiffness improvement of 45S5 Bioglass®-based scaffolds through natural and synthetic biopolymer coatings: An ultrasonic study”, Strain 2013, 49, 431–439.

[3] Chen QZ, Thompson ID, Boccaccini AR. “45S5 Bioglass®-derived glass-ceramic scaffolds for bone tissue engineering”, Biomaterials 2006;27:2414–25.