PhD Candidate
GEORGIA IOANNA KONTOGIANNI
Georgianna29@materials.uoc.gr
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Title
Development of Biomaterials for Bone Regeneration
Supervisor
CHATZINIKOLAIDOU MARIA, Associate Professor, Materials Science & Technology Dept. - UOC
Committee Members
VAMVAKAKI MARIA, Professor, Materials Science & Technology Dept. - UOC
VITALE-BROVARONE CHIARA, Professor, Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Italy
Abstract
The idea behind this PhD dissertation arises from the profound need for personalized therapies for the musculoskeletal system, in the frame of an aging population, which experiences a drop in quality of life. The challenge is to develop and adopt a new, synergistic and specific attitude to treat bone defects in order to promote well-being and independent life at any age. An integrated approach combining smart biomaterials, active molecules, functionalization and cutting edge 3D manufacturing technologies will be implemented to develop new, personalized solutions to treat the different types of bone defects. The developed devices will share smart biomaterials able to release chemical and biological cues to stimulate bone regeneration while reducing bone loss. The main objective of this PhD thesis is to evaluate innovative functional biomaterials scaffolds that will be tested for their osteogenic and osteoclastogenic potential, under mechanical stimulation mimicking the physiological in vivo conditions of bone, suitable for the treatment of bone repair and regeneration. To this end, natural and synthetic biomaterials together with osteoconductive species will be employed and processed by means of cutting-edge technologies such 3D printing. These innovative biomaterial scaffolds with a spatial architecture are expected to enhance the osteogenic capacity, and thus serve as implants to face degenerative osseous pathologies through a dedicated, precise and personalized approach.