Irem Ünalan - Lehrstuhl Biomaterialien

Irem Ünalan

ehemalige Doktorandin

Bioactive Scaffolds Containing Essential Oils for Tissue Engineering Applications

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

Herbal medicines based on plant extracts such as rosemary, peppermint, lavender, lemongrass, cinnamon, thyme and grape seed have been used to accelerate the wound healing process since ancient times due to their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties [1]. This research project aims to investigate new strategies for design, development and characterization of essential oil-based biodegradable polymeric scaffolds for wound healing process. The combination of essential oil with polymers to improve antibacterial potential of the scaffolds will be examined. The obtained materials will be characterized in terms of surface and mechanical properties, antibacterial activity, and biological compatibility in order to assess their suitability for enhancing the wound healing process.

[1]Bakkali, F., et al., Biological effects of essential oils–a review. Food and chemical toxicology, 2008. 46(2): p. 446-475.

2025

Buldain D., Diaz F., Ünalan I., Mestorino N., Boccaccini AR., Ballarre J.:
Regional Chitosan and Melaleuca armillaris Essential Oil with Mesoporous Glass Particles for Enhancing Bioactive and Antibacterial Behaviour of Ti6Al4V Implants
In: Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering 50 (2025), S. 6417-6427
ISSN: 2193-567X
DOI: 10.1007/s13369-024-09414-7
Moghaddam Z., Nery ET., Ünalan I., Hoxha A., Felipe-Sotelo M., Zhao H., Pinna A., Abrahams I., Smales GJ., Boccaccini AR., Carta D.:
Electrospun porous phosphate-based glass fibres containing gallium and clove oil: Cytotoxicity and antioxidant properties
In: Ceramics International (2025)
ISSN: 0272-8842
DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2025.03.017
Rodrigues KF., de Oliveira TC., do Amaral Montanheiro TL., Kito LT., Schatkoski VM., dos Santos AS., Pereira RM., Boccaccini AR., Thim GP., Ünalan I.:
Effects of Carbon-Based and Organic Nanoparticles in Advanced Dressings for Skin Regeneration: A Review
In: International Wound Journal 22 (2025), Art.Nr.: e70711
ISSN: 1742-4801
DOI: 10.1111/iwj.70711

2024

Damian-Buda AI., Ünalan I., Boccaccini AR.:
Combining Mesoporous Bioactive Glass Nanoparticles (MBGNs) with Essential Oils to Tackle Bacterial Infection and Oxidative Stress for Bone Regeneration Applications
In: ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering (2024)
ISSN: 2373-9878
DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.4c00218
Di Berardino C., Peserico A., Camerano Spelta Rapini C., Liverani L., Capacchietti G., Russo V., Berardinelli P., Ünalan I., Damian-Buda AI., Boccaccini AR., Barboni B.:
Bioengineered 3D ovarian model for long-term multiple development of preantral follicle: bridging the gap for poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)-based scaffold reproductive applications
In: Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 22 (2024), Art.Nr.: 95
ISSN: 1477-7827
DOI: 10.1186/s12958-024-01266-y
Gil-Cantero S., Iorio F., Ünalan I., Kurtuldu F., Künig S., Wenhardt C., Pinnaro′ V., Aigner-Radakovics K., Steinberger P., Boccaccini AR., Stöckl J.:
Impact of morphological features and chemical composition of tendon biomimetic scaffolds on immune recognition via Toll-like receptors
In: Biomaterials Science (2024)
ISSN: 2047-4830
DOI: 10.1039/d4bm00147h
Pantulap U., Ünalan I., Zheng K., Boccaccini AR.:
Hydroxycarbonate apatite formation, cytotoxicity, and antibacterial properties of rubidium-doped mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles
In: Journal of Porous Materials (2024)
ISSN: 1380-2224
DOI: 10.1007/s10934-023-01546-9
Ünalan I., Rimoli IH., Mutlu N., Michálek M., Abraham GA., Liverani L., Boccaccini AR.:
Cotton wool-like ion-doped bioactive glass nanofibers: investigation of Zn and Cu combined effect
In: Biomedical Materials (Bristol) 19 (2024), Art.Nr.: 065001
ISSN: 1748-605X
DOI: 10.1088/1748-605X/ad7084
Ünalan I., Slavik B., Büttner A., Boccaccini AR.:
Phytotherapeutic Hierarchical PCL-Based Scaffolds as a Multifunctional Wound Dressing: Combining 3D Printing and Electrospinning
In: Macromolecular Bioscience (2024)
ISSN: 1616-5187
DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202400253

2023

Ballarre J., Buldain D., Ünalan I., Pastore JI., Mestorino N., Boccaccini AR.:
Melaleuca armillaris Essential Oil as an Antibacterial Agent: The Use of Mesoporous Bioactive Glass Nanoparticles as Drug Carrier
In: Nanomaterials 13 (2023), Art.Nr.: 34
ISSN: 2079-4991
DOI: 10.3390/nano13010034
Borges-Vilches J., Ünalan I., Aguayo CR., Fernández K., Boccaccini AR.:
Multifunctional Chitosan Scaffold Platforms Loaded with Natural Polyphenolic Extracts for Wound Dressing Applications
In: Biomacromolecules 24 (2023), S. 5183-5193
ISSN: 1525-7797
DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00727
Damian-Buda AI., Nawaz Q., Ünalan I., Beltrán AM., Boccaccini AR.:
Quaternary and pentanar mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles as novel nanocarriers for gallic acid: Characterisation, drug release and antibacterial activity
In: Ceramics International (2023)
ISSN: 0272-8842
DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2023.06.250
Ünalan I., Occhipinti I., Miola M., Vernè E., Boccaccini AR.:
Development of Super-Paramagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticle-Coated Melt Electrowritten Scaffolds for Biomedical Applications
In: Macromolecular Bioscience (2023)
ISSN: 1616-5187
DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202300397
Ünalan I., Schrüfer S., Schubert DW., Boccaccini AR.:
3D-Printed Multifunctional Hydrogels with Phytotherapeutic Properties: Development of Essential Oil-Incorporated ALG-XAN Hydrogels for Wound Healing Applications
In: ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering (2023)
ISSN: 2373-9878
DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c00406

2022

Borges-Vilches J., Ünalan I., Fernandez K., Boccaccini AR.:
Fabrication of Biocompatible Electrospun Poly(epsilon-caprolactone)/Gelatin Nanofibers Loaded with Pinus radiata Bark Extracts for Wound Healing Applications
In: Polymers 14 (2022)
ISSN: 2073-4360
DOI: 10.3390/polym14122331
Mutlu N., Kurtuldu F., Ünalan I., Neščáková Z., Kaňková H., Galusková D., Michálek M., Liverani L., Galusek D., Boccaccini AR.:
Effect of Zn and Ga doping on bioactivity, degradation, and antibacterial properties of borate 1393-B3 bioactive glass
In: Ceramics International (2022)
ISSN: 0272-8842
DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2022.02.192
Novak S., Orives JR., Nalin M., Ünalan I., Boccaccini AR., de Camargo ER.:
Quaternary bioactive glass-derived powders presenting submicrometric particles and antimicrobial activity
In: Ceramics International (2022)
ISSN: 0272-8842
DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2022.06.266
Watroba M., Bednarczyk W., Szewczyk PK., Kawalko J., Mech K., Grünewald A., Ünalan I., Taccardi N., Boelter G., Banzhaf M., Hain C., Bala P., Boccaccini AR.:
In vitro cytocompatibility and antibacterial studies on biodegradable Zn alloys supplemented by a critical assessment of direct contact cytotoxicity assay
In: Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials (2022)
ISSN: 1552-4973
DOI: 10.1002/jbm.b.35147

2021

Chotchindakun K., Pekkoh J., Ruangsuriya J., Zheng K., Ünalan I., Boccaccini AR.:
Fabrication and characterization of cinnamaldehyde-loaded mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles/phbv-based microspheres for preventing bacterial infection and promoting bone tissue regeneration
In: Polymers 13 (2021), Art.Nr.: 1794
ISSN: 2073-4360
DOI: 10.3390/polym13111794
Coelho SAR., Almeida JC., Ünalan I., Detsch R., Miranda Salvado IM., Boccaccini AR., Fernandes MHV.:
Cellular Response to Sol-Gel Hybrid Materials Releasing Boron and Calcium Ions
In: ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering (2021)
ISSN: 2373-9878
DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c01546
Ünalan I., Boccaccini AR.:
Essential oils in biomedical applications: Recent progress and future opportunities
In: Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering 17 (2021), Art.Nr.: 100261
ISSN: 2468-4511
DOI: 10.1016/j.cobme.2021.100261
Ünalan I., Fuggerer T., Slavik B., Büttner A., Boccaccini AR.:
Antibacterial and antioxidant activity of cinnamon essential oil-laden 45S5 bioactive glass/soy protein composite scaffolds for the treatment of bone infections and oxidative stress
In: Materials Science and Engineering C 128 (2021), Art.Nr.: 112320
ISSN: 0928-4931
DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2021.112320

2019

Dittler ML., Ünalan I., Grünewald A., Beltrán AM., Grillo CA., Detsch R., Gonzalez MC., Boccaccini AR.:
Bioactive glass (45S5)-based 3D scaffolds coated with magnesium and zinc-loaded hydroxyapatite nanoparticles for tissue engineering applications
In: Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces 182 (2019), Art.Nr.: 110346
ISSN: 0927-7765
DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2019.110346
Erol-Taygun M., Ünalan I., Idris MIB., Mano JF., Boccaccini AR.:
Bioactıve Glass-Polymer Nanocomposites for Bone Tıssue Regeneration Applicatıons: A Revıew
In: Advanced Engineering Materials (2019), Art.Nr.: 1900287
ISSN: 1438-1656
DOI: 10.1002/adem.201900287
Ünalan I., Endlein SJ., Slavik B., Büttner A., Goldmann W., Detsch R., Boccaccini AR.:
Evaluation of electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone)/gelatin nanofiber mats containing clove essential oil for antibacterial wound dressing
In: Pharmaceutics 11 (2019), Art.Nr.: 570
ISSN: 1999-4923
DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics11110570
Ünalan I., Slavik B., Büttner A., Goldmann W., Frank G., Boccaccini AR.:
Physical and Antibacterial Properties of Peppermint Essential Oil Loaded Poly (epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) Electrospun Fiber Mats for Wound Healing
In: Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 7 (2019), Art.Nr.: 346
ISSN: 2296-4185
DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2019.00346