Development and characterization of a novel printed chitosan scaffold coated with silver vanadate

• Grant number: 24/20245-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: October 18, 2025
• End date: October 17, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Dental Materials
• Principal Investigator: Andréa Cândido dos Reis
• Grantee: Juliana Dias Corpa Tardelli
• Supervisor: Dario Puppi
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto (FORP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Università di Pisa, Italy
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/16401-3 - Synthesis, characterization, and verification of the antibacterial and osteoblastic activity of an unpublished coating of ²-AgVO3 and chitosan on titanium surfaces, BP.DR

Abstract

Bone tissue grafting is the second most performed in the world, however, the literature still presents gaps attributed to the comorbidity of autografts, the possibility of infection, rejection, and transmission of diseases of allo- and xenografts, and the granular form of commercial grafts does not adequately fill critical bone defects, thus the development of a biodegradable three-dimensional structure without genetic material that stimulates bone regeneration and prevents infection becomes essential. Thus, this project proposes three outcomes: (1) to develop a novel chitosan scaffold (CS) associated with ¿-tricalcium phosphate (¿-TCP) coated with nanostructured silver beta vanadate decorated with silver nanoparticles (¿-AgVO3) by computer-aided wet spinning. The chemical composition with CS, a natural polymer that presents intrinsic antibacterial and pro-osteoblastic activity, ¿-TCP, a bioceramic that stimulates osteogenesis and will act as a loading agent to improve mechanical properties, and ¿-AgVO3, a nanomaterial whose chemical elements silver (Ag) and vanadium (V) are antimicrobial and V induces bone mineralization, was strategically chosen to promote the expected bioactivity. (2) Physical, chemical, and mechanical characterization, and (3) verification of antibacterial and osteoblastic activity. After creating the scaffold by 3D printing and determining the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium found in dental and biomedical implants infected sites, four groups will be studied: G1 = CS + ¿-TCP, G2 = CS + ¿-TCP + ¿-AgVO3 MBC, G3 = CS + ¿-TCP + ¿-AgVO3 5 MBC, and G4 = CS + ¿-TCP + ¿-AgVO3 10 MBC. The secondary outcome will be evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, contact angle, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, swelling degree, compression, and tensile tests. The tertiary outcome through halo inhibition zone test and colony forming units against S. aureus and cell viability (WST-1 assay), differentiation (ALP assay), and morphology by SEM for MC3T3-E1 cell line. The results will be subjected to parametric or non-parametric tests according to the data distribution (¿=0.05).