Ashkan Bigham

Visiting researcher (Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials – National Research Council, Naples, Italy)

ADVANCED SILICATE-BASED THERAGENERATIVE PLATFORMS FOR SIMULTANEOUS CANCER THERAPY AND TISSUE REGENERATION

Supervisors (in Naples): Dr. Maria Grazia Raucci, Prof. Luigi Ambrosio

Supervisor (in Erlangen): Prof. Aldo R. Boccaccini

Tissue damage from disease or treatment demands multifunctional platforms that combine therapy and regeneration— termed “theragenerative’’ [1]. These platforms can respond to stimuli (e.g., light, magnetism) or act intrinsically to kill cancer cells while promoting tissue healing. Silicate-based ceramics, with excellent bioactivity and ion release even after high-temperature sintering, support bone and skin regeneration [2]. Meanwhile, 2D materials like black phosphorus offer high photothermal conversion, making them ideal for cancer therapy [3]. This project develops theragenerative platforms using silicate-based and 2D nanomaterials, followed by physicochemical characterization and in vitro studies to evaluate therapeutic and regenerative performance.

[1]    A. Bigham, L. Ambrosio, M. G. Raucci, Bioact. Mater. 2024, 35, 99.

[2]    A. Bigham, M. G. Raucci, K. Zheng, A. R. Boccaccini, L. Ambrosio, Adv. Mater. 2023, 2302858.

[3]    A. Bigham, L. Ambrosio, M. G. Raucci, Chem. Soc. Rev. 2025, 54, 827-897.