A promising alternative to current treatment options for degenerative conditions of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is cartilage tissue engineering, using 3D printed scaffolds and mesenchymal stem cells. Gelatin, with its inherent biocompatibility and printability has been proposed as a scaffold biomaterial, but because of its thermoreversible properties, rapid degradation and inadequate strength it must be crosslinked to be stable in physiological conditions. The aim of this study was to identify non-toxic and effective crosslinking methods intended to improve the physical properties of 3D printed gelatin scaffolds for cartilage regeneration. Dehydrothermal (DHT), ribose glycation and dual crosslinking with both DHT and…
The design and fabrication of advanced biocompatible and bioresorbable materials able to mimic the natural tissues present in the human body constitutes an important challenge in regenerative medicine. The size-dependent properties that materials exhibit at the nanoscale as a consequence of their higher surface-to-volume ratio have opened a wide range of opportunities for applications in almost every imaginable field. In this regard, the incorporation of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) into biocompatible scaffold formulations provides final materials with additional multifunctionality and reinforced mechanical properties for bone tissue engineering applications. In addition to the biological implications due to their magnetic character (i.e., magnetic…
Over the past years, polymer-based materials have attracted research interest in the field of tissue repair and regeneration. As reported in literature, different injectable systems have been proposed, trying to reduce surgical invasiveness. In a first step of the current research, the rheological and functional features of injecatble hydrogel-based materials for central nervous system applications or soft tissue regeneration (collagen/PEG semi-IPNs) as well as for hard tissue engineering (alginate/iron-doped hydroxyapatite) were evaluated. Then, the study was also devoted to the development of 3D nanocomposite poly(ɛ- caprolactone)/iron-doped hydroxyapatite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering, providing a preliminary approach to assess magnetic attraction…