Study of functional and photoreticulable hydrogels derived from biopolymers for application in 3D printing

• Grant number: 21/00490-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Effective date (Start): October 01, 2021
• Effective date (End): September 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Henrique Catalani
• Grantee: Amanda Araujo Domingues
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/13492-2 - Synthetic and natural scaffolds applied to regenerative medicine, AP.TEM

Abstract

Polymeric biomaterials for applications in tissue and organ regeneration, using 3D printing of the DLP type must be biocompatible, biodegradable, bioreabsorbable, bioactive, crosslinkable by UV light, and mechanically robust. In addition, they must present porous 3D architectures allowing the transport of nutrients, aiding cell growth, and differentiation. Hydrogels, highly hydrophilic polymer networks, are among the most promising classes of materials for printing porous scaffolds since they have the potential to mimic the structure and function of the extracellular matrix. This project challenges the development of new materials for tissue engineering based on Chondroitin Sulfate (SC), a biocompatible polysaccharide, which will be modified by signaling peptides that favor differentiation and cell adhesion events. The objective is to obtain hydrogels with bioactivity and proteolytically degradable bonds in the polymeric network. The SC must also be functionalized by (meth) acrylation to add photocrosslinking capacity. The formation of a hydrogel is projected by mixing at least two functionalized polysaccharides, through the formation of a Semi-Interpenetrating Network (SIPN). Additionally, nano/micro chitosan particles will be added to the system with the objective of structural reinforcement for the formation of the SIPN hydrogel. The bioactivity will be evaluated through in vitro tests of cell adhesion, cell growth, and angiogenic and/or osteogenic differentiation. (AU)