Use of electroactive ceramic scaffolds and application of low intensity electric current in bone repair

• Grant number: 18/21167-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2019
• End date: May 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Biomedical Engineering - Medical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Guilherme Ferreira Caetano
• Grantee: Guilherme Ferreira Caetano
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa. Centro Universitário Hermínio Ometto (UNIARARAS). Fundação Hermínio Ometto (FHO). Araras , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Andréa Aparecida de Aro ; Marcelo Augusto Marretto Esquisatto ; Milton Santamaria Júnior ; Paulo Jorge da Silva Bártolo
• Associated scholarship(s): 20/03050-2 - Implementation and conduction of RT-qPCR., BP.TT; 19/18593-4 - Implementation and conduction of RT-qPCR, BP.TT

Abstract

Bone defects represent an important health problem and one of the major clinical challenges in the field of reconstructive bone surgery, especially when there is associated pathology. With increasing population longevity, fractures and critical defects assume importance in the increasing prevalence of chronic health conditions. Conventional treatments require extremely invasive transplants and approaches and, most of the time, do not meet expectations. The development of new treatments and therapies seek the reduction of failures. A promising proposal is the use of scaffolds to support cell adhesion and cell growth (osteoconduction), especially the differentiation of multipotent mesenchymal stem cells and appropriate neovascularization. Polycaprolactone-based scaffolds (PCL) have been employed in several areas of regenerative medicine because of good mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and absence of cytotoxicity. However, they are hydrophobic and there is no bioactivity. Inorganic ceramic components such as hydroxyapatite (HA) and tri-calcium phosphate (TCP), similar to natural bone, may be associated with PCL. The addition of HA may favor osteoconduction, whereas TCP to osteoinduction, making them important to be studied for clinical applicability. In preliminary studies, they did not show cytotoxicity in cell culture and promoted better cell adhesion and proliferation. Since the bone tissue responds favorably to the application of the low-intensity electric current (microcurrent), promoting the synthesis of structural proteins, cytokines and growth factors, it is expected that the use of this therapy associated with bioactive scaffolds with piezoelectric properties may provide benefits for its use in the field of regenerative medicine. In the search for an effective endogenous stimulation in the bone repair with substitutes that have electroconductive properties, the objective of this proposal is to investigate the application of electroactive ceramic scaffolds produced by additive manufacturing submitted to the application of microcurrent in bone repair (experimental osteogenesis). It is relevant in this proposal also to study in vitro model the effects of the microcurrent on osteoblasts and on the differentiation of multipotent mesenchymal stem cells. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

HELAEHIL, JULIA VENTURINI; LOURENCO, CARINA BASQUEIRA; HUANG, BOYANG; HELAEHIL, LUIZA VENTURINI; DE CAMARGO, ISAQUE XAVIER; CHIAROTTO, GABRIELA BORTOLANCA; SANTAMARIA-JR, MILTON; BARTOLO, PAULO; CAETANO, GUILHERME FERREIRA. In Vivo Investigation of Polymer-Ceramic PCL/HA and PCL/beta-TCP 3D Composite Scaffolds and Electrical Stimulation for Bone Regeneration. POLYMERS, v. 14, n. 1, JAN 2022. (18/21167-4)

HELAEHIL, JULIA VENTURINI; HELAEHIL, LUIZA VENTURINI; ALVES, LARYSSA FERNANDA; HUANG, BOYANG; SANTAMARIA, MILTON; BARTOLO, PAULO; CAETANO, GUILHERME FERREIRA. Electrical Stimulation Therapy and HA/TCP Composite Scaffolds Modulate the Wnt Pathways in Bone Regeneration of Critical-Sized Defects. BIOENGINEERING-BASEL, v. 10, n. 1, p. 15-pg., 2023-01-01. (18/21167-4, 16/23237-4)

NALESSO, PAULO ROBERTO LOPES; VEDOVATTO, MATHEUS; GREGORIO, JULIA EDUARDA SCHNEIDER; HUANG, BOYANG; VYAS, CIAN; SANTAMARIA-JR, MILTON; BARTOLO, PAULO; CAETANO, GUILHERME FERREIRA. Early In Vivo Osteogenic and Inflammatory Response of 3D Printed Polycaprolactone/Carbon Nanotube/Hydroxyapatite/Tricalcium Phosphate Composite Scaffolds. POLYMERS, v. 15, n. 13, p. 14-pg., 2023-07-01. (18/21167-4)