Ike Elliott

(visiting student, Keele University, UK)

Development and characterisation of hydrogel-inorganic nanoparticle composites

Supervisors: Luiza Mirt, Prof. Aldo R. Boccaccini

Hydrogels incorporating silica-based materials and bioactive glass have gained increasing attention in regenerative medicine. Inorganic components release therapeutic ions such as calcium, magnesium, and silicate, which can promote cell proliferation, support mineralization, and stimulate tissue repair processes [1, 2]. When embedded in gelatin-based hydrogels, the structural stability and bioactivity of the composite are improved while maintaining a supportive environment for cell growth [3]. These composite materials are designed to enhance bioactivity and mechanical strength, making them suitable for tissue engineering. Their versatility has enabled applications in a range of tissue engineering strategies, including injectable systems and scaffold-based approaches. This project focuses on the development of hydrogels containing mesoporous particles synthesized via sol-gel methods. Alginate based hydrogels will be considered as matrices. These composites are evaluated through in vitro degradation and swelling studies [4], utilizing changes in weight (quantified via mass-loss analysis in DMEM at 37°C) and mechanical testing.

[1] Wu, C., & Chang, J. (2014). Multifunctional mesoporous bioactive glasses for effective delivery of therapeutic ions and drug/growth factors. Journal of Controlled Release, 158(1), 81-94.

[2] Zhu, H., et al., (2022). 3D Bioprinting of Multifunctional Dynamic Nanocomposite Bioinks Incorporating Cu-Doped Mesoporous Bioactive Glass Nanoparticles for Bone Tissue Engineering. Small 18, 2104996.

[3] Jones, J. R. (2013). Review of bioactive glass: From Hench to hybrids. Acta Biomaterialia, 9(1), 4457-4486.

[4] Bider, F., Gunnella, C., Reh, J. T., Clejanu, C. E., Kuth, S., Beltrán, A. M., & Boccaccini, A. R. (2024). Enhancing alginate dialdehyde-gelatin (ADA-GEL) based hydrogels for biofabrication by addition of phytotherapeutics and mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs). Journal of biomaterials applications, 39(6), 524–556.