MISiS: Filler of bone 3D-scaffolds (polymer scaffolds) with antibacterial properties

The main articles are:

• Polymers in medicine
• Bone implantation

2023: Announcement of filler with improved antibacterial properties for polymeric bone "3D-scaffolds"

An international team of scientists with the participation of researchers at NUST MISIS has proposed an alternative filler of bone "3D-scaffolds" based on calcium silicate. The material prevents the formation of a biofilm of bacteria on the surface of the framework and in the future can be used for implants of low-load bones, for example, a skull. The study was supported by an RSF grant. The results of the work are published in the scientific journal Polymer. This was announced on January 25, 2023 by representatives of NUST MISIS.

Scientists have proposed a filler with improved antibacterial properties for polymeric bone "3D-scaffolds"

As reported, as of January 2023, biopolymers are widely used in medicine. Of particular interest to scientists and doctors working in the field of reconstructive surgery is the development and production of polymer scaffolds - "scaffolds" that serve as the basis for bone repair. For better engraftment, such scaffolds are usually populated with patient cells.

Materials for scaffolds should be not only biologically compatible with the human body, but also contribute to the process of tissue regeneration and have antibacterial activity - to prevent the spread of bacteria on the surface of scaffolds. Therefore, one of the main tasks of tissue engineering is to study and create materials for printing scaffolds. A group of scientists led by Fyodor Senatov and Rajan Choudhary, Director of the Scientific and Educational Center for Biomedical Engineering at MISIS University, from Riga Technical University, made two types of bone scaffolds using 3D printing technology based on composite materials of polylactide and wollastonite (PLA/Wol) and polylactide, and hydroxyapatite (PLA/HAp).

Further, materials scientists investigated the mechanical characteristics, the possibility of settling printed scaffolds with multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MMSCs, cells close to bone cells) and the antibacterial activity of scaffolds in a physiological environment - conditions comparable to those in the body.

The results of the study showed that the chemical composition of scaffolds significantly affects adhesion - the attachment of microbial cells to the surface.

PLA/Wol-based scaffolds showed lower mechanical performance compared to PLA/HAp scaffold. At the same time, wollastonite prevented the formation of a biofilm of E. coli bacteria, and MMSCs were colonized on the surface. This observation confirms that wollastonite has both bactericidal and cytocompatible properties and is an alternative filler in polymer-based composite materials for the manufacture of scaffolds using 3D printing technology. told Vladislav Lvov, co-author of the work, employee of the scientific and educational center of biomedical engineering NUST MISIS

In the future, such scaffolds may find their use in surgery as implants of low-load bones, for example, skull bones. The scientific team's immediate plans include multiple preliminary studies and trials.