Multifunctional Hydrogels for 3D Bioprinting: Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Laden Bioinks for Anisotropic Cartilage Tissue Engineering

• Grant number: 25/10427-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: November 03, 2025
• End date: November 02, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Angela Maria Moraes
• Grantee: Rodolpho Fagundes Correa
• Supervisor: Prashant Kumar Sharma
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Química (FEQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Netherlands
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/05735-3 - Multifunctional Hydrogels for Intra-articular Injection and 3D Bioprinting of Scaffolds Applied in the Tissue Engineering of Hyaline Cartilage, BP.DR

Abstract

The elderly population faces significant healthcare challenges, particularly concerning degenerative diseases, such as osteoarthritis (OA). OA is a chronic condition marked by the degeneration of the articular cartilage, most commonly in the knees, due to age-related factors. Current treatments for OA exhibit limited efficacy, highlighting a critical research area for novel therapeutic approaches. In this context, this research proposes to apply tissue engineering concepts to develop innovative, efficient and personalized treatments for knee OA using advanced biomaterials. In this double degree PhD project among UNICAMP and UMCG, we aim at developing multifunctional hydrogels based on methylcellulose (MC), combined with alginate (AG) and gelatine (GE), applicable as injectable materials and as bioinks for 3D bioprinting. To achieve the set of goals, this project will be divided into two working plans. The first will be held at UNICAMP and will focus to develop the hydrogels and incorporate bioactive agents, such as curcumin extract, for intra-articular injection for local and sustained release. This strategy will be proposed for early-stage knee OA, where a complete tissue replacement is not required, focusing on small lesions. The second working plan will be enrolled at UMCG and will focus on incorporating mesenchymal stromal cells to the hydrogels to act as bioinks for 3D bioprinting of scaffolds. This strategy will be applied for advanced-stage knee OA as implantable biomaterials to promote tissue regeneration of larger cartilage defects. The scaffolds will be engineered to mimic the histoarchitecture and anisotropic structure of the native cartilage by creating cell concentration and porosity gradients. Thus, our approach aims to address both small and large cartilage tissue defects using different strategies, while employing the same hydrogel formulation. The findings from this research may contribute to the development of more effective and personalized treatments for knee OA, for improved patient outcomes.