Large bone defects remain a greate challenge to reconstructive surgery. Typically these defects are treated by autologous bone grafts. However, the limited availability of these bone grafts, along with donor site morbidity after harvesting, continue to drive research on engineered bone scaffolds. Current strategies pursue bone scaffolds made of polymer-ceramic composites that have similar mechanical, structural properties and mineral composition to bone. This project follows a holistic bottom up approach. Nanoparticles made from different materials are synthesized, characterized and selected as fillers for such polymer scaffolds to mimic bone properties beyond mechanical properties and mineral composition. The bone scaffolds are produced by an improved solvent casting particle leaching method. Their efficacy towards bone growth is tested by time-lapsed micro computed tomography (micro-CT) in static and dynamic bioreactor cultures using human bone marrow stem cells.
Large bone defects remain a greate challenge to reconstructive surgery. Typically these defects are treated by autologous bone grafts. However, the limited availability of these bone grafts, along with donor site morbidity after harvesting, continue to drive research on engineered bone scaffolds. Current strategies pursue bone scaffolds made of polymer-ceramic composites that have similar mechanical, structural properties and mineral composition to bone. This project follows a holistic bottom up approach. Nanoparticles made from different materials are synthesized, characterized and selected as fillers for such polymer scaffolds to mimic bone properties beyond mechanical properties and mineral composition. The bone scaffolds are produced by an improved solvent casting particle leaching method. Their efficacy towards bone growth is tested by time-lapsed micro computed tomography (micro-CT) in static and dynamic bioreactor cultures using human bone marrow stem cells.
Projects (BSc, Internship, Semester, MSc Thesis) are available. The specific tasks and goals are defined after a one to one meeting with the prospective student and depend on the student’s interest, knowledge and project requirements. Students from any background are welcome with a strong interest in biomaterials, tissue engineering, micro-CT imaging and analysis.
Projects (BSc, Internship, Semester, MSc Thesis) are available. The specific tasks and goals are defined after a one to one meeting with the prospective student and depend on the student’s interest, knowledge and project requirements. Students from any background are welcome with a strong interest in biomaterials, tissue engineering, micro-CT imaging and analysis.
Gian Nutal Schädli giannutal.schaedli@hest.ethz.ch
Gian Nutal Schädli giannutal.schaedli@hest.ethz.ch