Speaker
Description
Cartilage injuries remain a major clinical challenge due to the tissue’s limited self-healing capacity. Standard treatments, such as microfracture or autologous chondrocyte implantation, are often insufficient in restoring full function and structure of damaged cartilage. In this study, we present the SmartPiezo scaffold - a novel 3D printed, bio-based, and biodegradable construct designed specifically for cartilage regeneration, with integrated piezoelectric functionality to promote mechanotransduction and tissue remodeling.
The primary goal of this work is to assess the feasibility of using bio-based polymeric materials in a scaffold fabricated via additive manufacturing, capable of delivering not only a suitable structural environment for chondrocyte growth but also a mechanical stimulus mimicking natural cartilage loading. SmartPiezo scaffolds were printed using GelMA with additives to enhance mechanical and piezoelectric properties.
Preliminary results indicate that the SmartPiezo scaffold exhibits promising morphology illustrated by SEM for application in cartilage tissue engineering, combining biocompatibility with mechanical resilience and piezoelectric responsiveness.
The research was support by the M-ERA.NET 3 2024 call, financed by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 958174, through the National Science Centre no.2024/06/Y/ST11/00225
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