Development and characterization of a new advanced material based on beeswax with impact on bone regeneration in an inflammatory context

• Grant number: 25/05616-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: November 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Chemistry of Macromolecules
• Principal Investigator: Willian Fernando Zambuzzi
• Grantee: Giovanna Siqueira Todero
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Bone regeneration is a complex process that can be compromised under chronic inflammatory conditions, making it essential to develop innovative biomaterials to aid tissue recovery. This project proposes the synthesis and characterization of a bioactive hydrogel composed of sodium alginate (SA) and beeswax (BW), aiming to evaluate its biocompatibility, physicochemical properties, and potential in modulating the inflammatory response and osteoblast proliferation in an inflammatory environment. SA is widely used in tissue engineering due to its biocompatibility, while BW presents structural properties and anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, which are still underexplored in bone regeneration. The biomaterial will be characterized using FTIR, SEM, rheology, TGA, and DTA, along with swelling and degradation tests to assess its stability in a physiological environment. Biocompatibility will be evaluated through MTT, PrestoBlue, and SEM assays using MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts. The hydrogel's impact on inflammation modulation will be analyzed by exposing cells to conditioned media from adipocytes (3T3-L1), endothelial cells (HUVECs), and LPS, with quantification of IL-1¿, IL-6, TNF-¿, NF-¿B expression via RT-qPCR and Western Blotting, as well as MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity through zymography. The biomaterial's potential for bone regeneration will be assessed using the wound healing assay, and its antimicrobial activity will be tested against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The expected outcomes include a hydrogel capable of enhancing bone regeneration and modulating inflammatory responses, representing a promising and sustainable alternative for tissue engineering applications.