E-Locus - Institutional Repository of the University of Crete

Home Collections School/Department School of Sciences and Engineering Department of Biology Post-graduate theses

Post-graduate theses

Current Record: 4 of 800

[Add to Basket]

Identifier

000463264

Title

Synthesis, characterisation and 3D-printing of responsive biodegradable polymers for regenerative medicine applications

Alternative Title

Σύνθεση, χαρακτηρισμός και τριδιάστατη εκτύπωση αποκρίσιμων βιοδιασπώμενων πολυμερών με εφαρμογές στην αναγεννητική ιατρική

Author

Βρέντζου, Μυρτώ Ε.

Thesis advisor

Βαμβακάκη, Μαρία

Reviewer

Χατζηνικολαΐδου, Μαρία
Μητράκη, Μαρία

Abstract

Aliphatic polyesters comprise a group of richly diverse polymers with applications in many medical fields and tools, such as sutures, bone screws, drug delivery carrier systems and tissue engineering. These materials bear useful characteristics, such as enhanced biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, they are generally inert, without specific functionalities that would provide them with extra biological and responsive characteristics. Thus, this thesis project focuses on the preparation of multifunctional pH-responsive biodegradable polyesters for tissue engineering applications. In particular, polyesters with carboxylic acid and alkene side groups were developed and studied. The carboxylic acid side groups provide pH-responsive properties and will enhance the hydrophilicity of the polyester, while the alkene side groups can be further used to covalently bind bioactive molecules and aid the formation of stable hydrogels. The soft and rubbery texture of these polymer networks closely resembles that of a tissue’s natural extracellular matrix. This makes them excellent candidates to be used as surrogate matrices for cell growth that more faithfully recapitulate the native, three-dimensional microenvironment of a cell, as opposed to the alterations in cell development driven by stiff, two-dimensional cell culture materials. Therefore, the biodegradable, biocompatible, functional polyesters that were synthesised in this thesis project were tested and used as a bio-ink for the fabrication of cell-friendly, tissue engineering scaffolds. Extrusion-based additive manufacturing methods were employed for hydrogel printing, with the occasional addition of a nano-silicate clay (laponite) as rheology modifiers to improve texture and printability. The resulting scaffolds of different shapes and sizes were studied to determine swelling and porosity properties. Finally, the hydrogels were subjected to cell development and viability assays in a closely monitored cell culture environment.

Language

English

Subject

Bone

Characterization

Polyester

Regenerative medicine

Tissue engineering

Αποκρίσιμα πολυμερή

Οστά

Πολυεστέρες

Πολυμερές