Preparation and biocompatibility of bioactive glass containing electrospun composite materials for skin repair and wound healing

 

Investigator: Fei Lin (PhD Student)Fei Lin

phone: +49 9131 85-69612

e-mail: fei.lin@fau.de

 

Supervisors: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Aldo R. Boccaccini


Skin is the largest organ of the human body and acts as a protective barrier against microbial invasion, dehydration, and thermal, mechanical and chemical insults [1]. Skin defects such as burns, soft tissue traumas and diseases leading to skin necrosis can cause significant disability or even death in some instances [1]. Bioactive glasses (BGs) are being incresingly investigated in soft tissue repair [2] and for achieving vascularisation in tissue engineering [3]. This research will focus on the distinctive features of bioactive glasses in the wound healing process which should lead to the development of new multifunctional, antibacterial and angiogenic dressings. We will explore the feasibility of electrospinning of a variety of biopolymer/BG composites [4] to build mechanically competent nanostructured dressings with extracellular matrix nanofibrous network structure. Secondly, addition of BG nanoparticles incorporating biologically active ions [5] will be explored to add antibacterial activity, vascularization and hemostatic potential. A comprehensive characterisation of the new biomaterials, comprising physical, chemical, and biocompatibility properties, will be carried out.

[1] E. Vatankhah, et al. Development of nanofibrous cellulose acetate/gelatin skin substitutes for variety wound treatment applications. Journal of Biomaterials Applications 28 (2014) 909.

[2] V. Miguez-Pacheco, et al., Bioactive glasses beyond bone and teeth: Emerging applications in contact with soft tissues, Acta Biomat.13 (2015) 1-15.

[3] P. Balasubramanian, et al., Induction of VEGF secretion from bone marrow stromal cell line (ST-2) by the dissolution products of mesoporous silica glass particles containing CuO and SrO, J. Non-Cryst. Solids 500 (2018) 217-224.

[4] L. Liverani, et al., Incorporation of bioactive glass nanoparticles in electrospun PCL/chitosan fibers by using benign solvents, Bioact. Mater. 3 (2018) 55-63.

[5] K. Zheng, A. R. Boccaccini, Sol-gel processing of bioactive glass nanoparticles: a review. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science 249 (2017) 363-373.