Pascual Ezequiel Agliano

Visiting PhD student, INTEMA, Mar del Plata, Argentina

Processing and characterization of GelMA based scaffolds incorporating phytotherapeutic laden bioactive glass nanoparticles

Supervisor in Erlangen: Prof. Aldo R. Boccaccini

Supervisors in Mar del Plata: Prof. Silvestre Bongiovanni Abel, Prof. Gustavo Abraham

This project investigates the development of multifunctional bioprinted scaffolds for skin wound healing, combining gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) bioinks with phytotherapeutic-loaded mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs+FT) as antimicrobial and antioxidant additives. Building on the demonstrated antibacterial efficacy and cytocompatibility of such nanoparticles [1], keratinocyte-laden constructs are fabricated via extrusion-based bioprinting and characterized in terms of psychochemical properties, printability, antibacterial activity, and post-printing cell viability. This work aims to combine the structural versatility of GelMA-based bioprinting with the phytotherapeutic potential of (MBGNs + FT), contributing to the development of next-generation wound dressings capable of simultaneously supporting tissue regeneration and combating bacterial infection. This visit to the FAU Institute of Biomaterials is being carried out with the support of the DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst).

[1]Damian-Buda, A.-I., Unalan, I., & Boccaccini, A. R. (2024). Combining Mesoporous Bioactive Glass Nanoparticles (MBGNs) with Essential Oils to Tackle Bacterial Infection and Oxidative Stress for Bone Regeneration Applications. ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering, 10, 6860–6873. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsbiomaterials.4c00218