Dr. Priscila Toninatto Alves de Toledo

Postdoctoral Visiting Researcher (Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Brazil)

Electospun membranes based on fish skin-derived methacrylated collagen and polymers for tissue regeneration

Supervisor in Brazil: Prof. Dr. Diana Gabriela Soares dos Passos

Supervisor in Erlangen: Prof. Dr. Aldo R. Boccaccini

This project aims to develop and characterize electrospun nanofibrous membranes composed of methacrylated collagen derived from tilapia skin (ColMA), reinforced with synthetic or natural polymers with and without the addition of bioactive glass particles. The membranes will be fabricated under controlled electrospinning conditions and optimized for polymer and particle concentrations. Their physicochemical and mechanical properties will be evaluated, and biological performance will be assessed using dental pulp cells, human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), in collaboration with the Dental School at FAU (Clinic for Dentistry and Parodontology, Prof. Kerstin Galler), and MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts, focusing on cell viability, adhesion, differentiation, and mineralization. A key objective is to correlate scaffold composition and structure with cellular responses. This study supports the development of multifunctional and sustainable biomaterials for bone and dental pulp regeneration. Dr. Toledo is the recipient of a FAPESP (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo) postdoctoral fellowship, Brazil.