Development of chitosan-calcium carbonate scaffolds with microfluidic channels: architectural characterization and cell migration potential

• Grant number: 23/04831-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2023
• End date: May 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Dental Materials
• Principal Investigator: Diana Gabriela Soares dos Passos
• Grantee: Karina Foresto de Lima
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru (FOB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The development of bioactive composition and an architectural pattern capable of favoring the infiltration and interaction of precursor cells, along with angiogenesis, are crucial into tissue engineering field. Thus, this project has a proposal to associate simple and cost-effective technologies to develop chitosan scaffolds containing an bioactive mineral phase (calcium carbonate), and presenting a macro-architecture composed by an interconnected network of pore and channels. In the first phase, chitosan scaffolds in association with calcium hydroxide and calcium carbonate, will be formulated by bubbling effect technique, in order to stablish compositions with an organized and interconnected macro-porous network. The scaffolds will be assessed by morphological analysis (SEM/EDS, microCT). In Phase 2, negative molds will be made through three-dimensional (3D) printing to obtain scaffolds with macro-channels of different diameters and distribution, creating thus infiltration paths inside the materials, which will be interconnected to the macro-pore created by bubbling effect. The morphological, analysis will be performed. Finally, in phase 3, scaffolds will be immersed in a 3D culture of endothelial cells to evaluate cell migration inside the scaffolds through micro-channels, by means of fluorescence assay. Data will be subjected to statistical analysis.