OB CERPOL SCAFFOLDS · Polymer coated macroporous ceramic scaffolds for tissue engineering
FP6 — Marie Curie Actions (Human Resources and Mobility)
- Duration
- 2006-01-01 → 2007-12-31
- EU contribution
- €159,046
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- EIF
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Results in brief
Final Activity Report Summary - OB CERPOL SCAFFOLDS (Polymer coated macroporous ceramic scaffolds for tissue engineering)
The main objectives of this project were: * Synthesis of composite scaffolds made of a glass-ceramic material and a biodegradable polymer * Study of the structural, chemical and mechanical properties of these composite scaffolds * Study of the biological behaviour of the composite scaffolds All these three main objectives were accomplished during the Marie Curie fellowship. In these two years, the fellow effectively synthesised, characterised and optimised highly porous composite bioactive scaffolds with interconnected porosity for bone tissue engineering. Since January 2007 our scaffolds are exhibited in the Challenge of Materials Gallery, section "Bioengineering Materials", of the Science Museum of London. During these two years, the fellow acquired specific knowledge and abilities for developing new synthesis processes for the production of engineered ceramic/polymer composite scaffolds, she improved her knowledge and skills in a range of materials characterisation techniques and she accomplished new experiences in basic cell culture techniques for biological characterisation of biomaterials. Moreover, the fellow improved proficiency in the English language and enhanced her oral and written communication ability and acquired new knowledge in project management, decision making, negotiation skills and ability to make effective presentations. She had an active participation in different national and international conferences, symposiums and workshops, improving her exposure in the biomaterials field and developing new collaborations with different universities and research centres. Some of the main results of the research activity were published in peer reviewed international journals and conference proceedings. Two papers are still in preparation.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Bone tissue engineering is a new research area with clinical applications in the replacement of diseased or damaged bone tissues. The challenge of tissue engineering is to develop a suitable bone scaffold with sufficient porosity and mechanical strength to allow for cell adhesion, migration, growth, and proliferation, resulting in a good integration with the surrounding tissues. The aim of this project is the development and the characterisation of novel macroporous scaffolds made of ceramic/polymer composites, with controlled biodegradability, to be used for drug delivery systems in tissue engineering applications.Our purpose is to prepare, by using different techniques, composite scaffolds made of a macroporous bioactive ceramic and a biodegradable polymer coating, which will be loaded with relevant macromolecules or growth factors. By combining biodegradability and bioactivity, optimised scaffolds for tissue engineering can be produced. Moreover, the biodegradable scaffold can be used as a controlled delivery system; in this application, the porosity controls the amount of drugs (antibiotics, antimicrobials, and growth factors) that can be incorporated.Optimisation of the scaffold structure is essential to achieve both adequate mechanical and biological response of the composite for applications in tissue engineering. To enhance the composite - tissue biological interaction is important to obtain an interconnected porous structure of the scaffold. We will investigate the macro and microstructure of the porous composites. Moreover, we will study the mechanical, biological, and clinical response of the novel ceramic - polymer composite after contact with simulated body fluid and relevant cells. Cell culturing experiments will be carried out to assess the biological behaviour of the composites. Finally, we will investigate the dependence of the drug delivery profiles on the scaffold biodegradation.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE · LONDONCoordinatorUnited Kingdom
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union