Funding Success: Project VV-MVP-24-0409 (BONEGEL) has been Approved by the Slovak Research and Development Agency

We are delighted to share that our Biomaterials Department has been awarded funding under the VV MVP 2024 public call by the Slovak Research and Development Agency, which aims to support young scientists in groundbreaking research. The project will be led by Dr.-Ing. Fatih Kurtuldu from the Biomaterials Department at FunGlass as the principal investigator.

This project is conducted in collaboration with the Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava (FNS CU), where Mgr. Nikoleta Alchus Laiferová, PhD will manage the project from the FNS CU side.

Project Title: Next-Generation Biofabrication: Mesoporous Bioactive Glass Nanoparticles and Extracellular Vesicles Containing 3D Printed Scaffolds (BONEGEL)

 Project Overview:

With an aging population, the demand for advanced biomaterials for bone tissue regeneration is increasing. Current solutions often struggle to integrate seamlessly with surrounding tissues, highlighting the need for innovative approaches in bone tissue engineering.

This research focuses on 3D-printed scaffolds designed to mimic natural bone microstructures using heterogeneous inorganic/organic materials. A key component of this approach is mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs), known for their osteoconductive and osteoinductive properties. MBGNs offer a high surface area and functional versatility, allowing for the controlled release of therapeutic ions, influencing extracellular vesicle (EV) secretion. EVs, being immune-privileged and easy to store, address cell therapy challenges.

By integrating MBGNs and EVs into a bioink, this project aims to develop patient-specific 3D-printed bone scaffolds with enhanced therapeutic potential, biocompatibility, and structural integrity. The research will focus on:

  • Improving bioink printability while maintaining cell viability
  • Enhancing osteogenic and angiogenic properties for better bone regeneration
  • Optimizing rheological properties for high-precision 3D printing
  • Conducting in-vitro cell studies to evaluate the scaffold’s performance

This work will contribute to the advancement of next-generation biomaterials, offering a promising alternative to traditional bone grafts.

We extend our congratulations to the project team and wish them great success with this innovative project!