Maria Eduarda Xavier da Silva

Ph.D. Student in Cotutelle (Federal University of Santa Catarina – Florianópolis, Brazil)

3D-Printed Bioactive Glass/Natural Polymers Scaffolds for Drug Delivery of Phytotherapeutic Agents in Tissue Engineering

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. -Ing. Dachamir Hotza (UFSC); Prof. Dr. -Ing. habil. Dr. h.c. Aldo R. Boccaccini (FAU)

This research project focuses on the fabrication of 3D printed bioactive glass/natural polymer scaffolds, aiming to deliver Brazillian phytotherapeutic agents for enhanced tissue regeneration. Mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs) are known for their ion release, which support cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation, making them ideal candidates for soft tissue engineering [1]. Incorporating these glasses with biodegradable natural polymers, such as gelatin, provides an additional advantage of biocompatibility by mimicking the extracellular matrix of soft tissues. Phytotherapeutics, which can be extracted from a wide range of different herbal plants, are believed to have a broad spectrum of therapeutic effects and less negative side effects than synthetic drugs. In recent years, interest in honey as a phytotherapeutic agent has grown significantly, focusing on its bioactive components and health-enhancing properties, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, and antimicrobial effects [2]. Bracatinga honeydew honey (Mimosa scabrella Bentham) has been shown to contain high levels of bioactive compounds and exhibits strong reducing and scavenging activities, indicating promising biological and antimicrobial properties. [3] [4] [5]. The integration of Bracatinga Honeydew honey into 3D printed scaffolds is a novel approach that highlights the potential of using natural and sustainable materials in advanced drug delivery systems, developing more efficient solutions in tissue engineering applications, as well as exploring the use of Brazilian medicinal products in regenerative medicine, combining the properties of bioactive glass with the therapeutic benefits of natural agents. The project is carried out in the framework of the PROBRAL program, a collaboration of the FAU Institute of Biomaterials and UFSC thought CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel).

[1] S. Pourshahrestani, et al., The effect of mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles incorporating various metallic ions (Cu, Zn, Mn, Te) on wound healing. Mater. Adv., 5, 6630-6647 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00392F

[2] S.K.T. Seraglio, B. Silva, G. Bergamo, P. Brugnerotto, L.V. Gonzaga, R. Fett, A.C.O. Costa, An overview of physicochemical characteristics and health-promoting properties of honeydew honey, Food Research International 119 (2019) 44–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2019.01.028.

[3] G. Bergamo, S.K.T. Seraglio, L.V. Gonzaga, R. Fett, A.C.O. Costa, Physicochemical characteristics of bracatinga honeydew honey and blossom honey produced in the state of Santa Catarina: An approach to honey differentiation, Food Research International 116 (2019) 745–754. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2018.09.007.

[4] S.K.T. Seraglio, A.C. Valese, H. Daguer, G. Bergamo, M.S. Azevedo, P. Nehring, L.V. Gonzaga, R. Fett, A.C.O. Costa, Effect of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on the bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds, minerals, and antioxidant capacity of Mimosa scabrella Bentham honeydew honeys, Food Research International 99 (2017) 670–678. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2017.06.024.

[5] G. Bergamo, S.K. Tischer Seraglio, L.V. Gonzaga, R. Fett, A.C.O. Costa, Mineral profile as a potential parameter for verifying the authenticity of bracatinga honeydew honeys, LWT 97 (2018) 390–395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2018.07.028.