GelMA-PCL osteointegrative construct with N-acetyl-seryl- -aspartyl-lysyl-proline release (Ac-SDKP) for prevention of post-laminectomy epidural fibrosis.

• Grant number: 25/01093-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: February 28, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Alexandre Leite Rodrigues de Oliveira
• Grantee: Maria Fernanda Vannucci Balzani
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Laminectomy is a widely used procedure in surgeries to expose and decompress the spinal cord and nerve roots. However, there are limitations such as the loss of bone support, excessive fibrous tissue formation, adhesions, and secondary compression of nervous tissue. To create a barrier between soft and mineralized tissues and provide greater mechanical support to the spinal cord, artificial laminas with biomimetic characteristics can be employed. Biofabrication and the use of scaffolds that act as protective and pro-regenerative barriers may have translational potential in bone defect repair and prevention of postoperative adhesions following surgeries. Therefore, this project aims to develop bioactive hybrid GelMA-PCL 3D membranes with macroporous and interconnectedpatterns, aiming to prevent epidural fibrosis through the encapsulation of Ac-SDKP within the GelMA-PCL biomembrane system. In the first phase of the study, the scaffolds will beproduced and evaluated with a focus on their biomechanical properties and biocompatibility. Subsequently, in vivo analyses will be conducted, focusing on the histological and inflammatory profiles of the newly formed tissue, using immunohistochemistry, histological observations, and qRT-PCR. (AU)