This research investigated someone of the main problems connected to the application of Tissue
Engineering in the prosthetic field, in particular about the characterization of the scaffolding
materials and biomimetic strategies adopted in order to promote the implant integration.
The spectroscopic and thermal analysis techniques were usefully applied to characterize the
chemico-physical properties of the materials such as
– crystallinity;
– relative composition in case of composite materials;
– Structure and conformation of polymeric and peptidic chains;
– mechanism and degradation rate;
– Intramolecular and intermolecular interactions (hydrogen bonds, aliphatic interactions).
This kind of information are of great importance in the comprehension of the interactions that
scaffold undergoes when it is in contact with biological tissues; this information are fundamental to
predict biodegradation mechanisms and to understand how chemico-physical properties change
during the degradation process. In order to fully characterize biomaterials, this findings must be
integrated by information relative to mechanical aspects and in vitro and in vivo behavior thanks to
collaborations with biomedical engineers and biologists.
This study was focussed on three different systems that correspond to three different strategies
adopted in Tissue Engineering: biomimetic replica of fibrous 3-D structure of extracellular matrix
(PCL-PLLA), incorporation of an apatitic phase similar to bone inorganic phase to promote
biomineralization (PCL-HA), surface modification with synthetic oligopeptides that elicit the
interaction with osteoblasts.
The characterization of the PCL-PLLA composite underlined that the degradation started along
PLLA fibres, which are more hydrophylic, and they serve as a guide for tissue regeneration.
Moreover it was found that some cellular lines are more active in the colonization of the scaffold.
In the PCL-HA composite, the weight ratio between the polymeric and the inorganic phase plays an
essential role both in the degradation process and in the biomineralization of the material.
The study of self-assembling peptides allowed to clarify the influence of primary structure on
intermolecular and intermolecular interactions, that lead to the formation of the secondary structure
and it was possible to find a new class of oligopeptides useful to functionalize materials surface.
Among the analytical techniques used in this study, Raman vibrational spectroscopy played a major
role, being non-destructive and non-invasive, two properties that make it suitable to degradation
studies and to morphological characterization. Also micro-IR spectroscopy was useful in the
comprehension of peptide structure on oxidized titanium: up to date this study was one of the first
to employ this relatively new technique in the biomedical field.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:unibo.it/oai:amsdottorato.cib.unibo.it:703 |
| Date | 15 May 2008 |
| Creators | Di Foggia, Michele <1980> |
| Contributors | Fagnano, Concezio |
| Publisher | Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna |
| Source Sets | Università di Bologna |
| Language | Italian |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Doctoral Thesis, PeerReviewed |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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