Bioactive reinforcing bioink for hybrid bioprinting of implantable bone

Descrizione del progetto

Far progredire la biostampa per gli impianti ossei

La creazione di tessuti impiantabili presenta sfide significative, in particolare in relazione alla necessità di replicare la resistenza meccanica e la complessità biologica dei tessuti naturali. Numerosi metodi impiegati al giorno d’oggi non riescono a produrre efficacemente materiali in grado di resistere alle sollecitazioni corporee e di agevolare al contempo le funzioni cellulari, il che costituisce una lacuna particolarmente critica nelle applicazioni che coinvolgono strutture durevoli, come le ossa. Alla luce di tali premesse, il progetto BioForceInk, finanziato dal CER, si prefigge di risolvere questi problemi introducendo un nuovo bioinchiostro bioattivo rinforzante progettato per la biostampa diretta, un materiale innovativo che combina un’impalcatura rigida e porosa con idrogel carichi di cellule, consentendo la creazione di impianti ossei vascolarizzati che favoriscono la guarigione e si integrano in modo ottimale nel corpo.

Obiettivo

3D bioprinting is an emerging technique that offers promise for fabricating implantable tissues. Despite significant advancements, the field struggles to replicate the mechanical robustness and biological complexity of native tissues, particularly in applications requiring high mechanical strength such as bone. This proposal introduces 'BioForceInk,' a bioactive reinforcing bioink designed for direct bioprinting alongside a cell-laden hydrogel within a cell-conductive environment. The microparticle-based bioink is printable at room temperature and solidifies at 37°C, forming a stiff, porous scaffold within the construct. Our preliminary studies demonstrated its excellent printability, mechanical properties, and osteoconductive capabilities in a hybrid bioprinting context. To enhance vascularized bone differentiation in vitro and support bioprinted implant integration and bone recovery in vivo, the bioink will be enriched with osteogenic and vasculogenic factors.
Throughout this project, we aim to develop the growth factor-loaded BioForceInk and utilize it for creating vascularized bone implants by hybrid bioprinting in tandem with cell-laden soft bioink. We will then evaluate the regenerative potential of the bioprinted vascularized bone implants in a critical-size bone loss model. Additionally, we plan to test the technology with industrial partners and prepare it for commercialization by the end of the project.
BioForceInk offers a unique combination of mechanical support and biological activity that facilitates the single-step fabrication of physiologically relevant bone implants. This innovation has the potential to significantly narrow the gap between bioprinting technology and clinical application, contributing to the development of personalized, mechanically robust, and biologically functional bone implants. With its tunable properties, BioForceInk could be further adapted for bioprinting of various tissues, reflecting its broad potential across the field.