Development of osteoconductive/osteoinductive bone scaffolds using additive manufacturing techniques

• Grant number: 21/11291-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): February 10, 2022
• Effective date (End): February 09, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Biomedical Engineering - Bioengineering
• Principal Investigator: Willian Fernando Zambuzzi
• Grantee: João Paulo Ruiz Lucio de Lima Parra
• Supervisor: Anthony Atala
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Research place: Wake Forest School of Medicine, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 19/09735-0 - BONEInk: synthesis and characterization of chitosan crosslinked with carbon nanotubes modified with RGD peptides and HA crystals for potential application of bioimpression of bone tissue, BP.DR

Abstract

The increase in life expectancy, as well as the concentrations of urban populations, have brought serious consequences in terms of the increase in recovery time from accidents involving bone tissue. The quality of life of these patients is directly affected and the growing government and private expenditure on innovative alternatives for healing injuries are extremely necessary. Thus, new efforts in the development of methodologies and tools capable of contributing to this scenario and that have a close relationship with tissue bioengineering come together with important ingredients, which our group has been working on to understand cellular responses to different biomaterials. The 3D bioprinting techniques associated with the design of biomaterials (PCL conjugated with ²-TCP decorated with BMP) bring state-of-the-art technology to promote the creation of synthetic tissues and organs. Facial bone injuries are an example of those that most affect people's self-esteem and new strategies are even more necessary to accurately recover the original anatomy and its functionalities. Here we celebrate the collaboration between Brazil and the United States of America, represented by the IBB/UNESP and Wake Forest Institute of Regenerative Medicine, with the renowned Professor Anthony Atala, the world pioneer in 3D bioprinting and tissue bioengineering techniques. This partnership will create new perspectives around the scientific network and provide the necessary knowledge acquisition to our group in Brazil to develop a specific training schedule in 3D bioprinting techniques to apply these on the main project in Brazil. Also, this project is an opportunity for scientific career improvement of the doctoral student João Paulo, one of the commitments promoted by FAPESP that seek the development of new frontiers in bone bioengineering and biotechnology research areas. (AU)