Research Projects

Bone defects caused by conditions like trauma, tumours, congenital disorders, and osteoarthritis significantly affect quality of life. Bone grafting remains a primary solution for addressing these issues. In recent years, bioceramic-based bone grafts specifically Calcium phosphates (CaP) have attracted significant attention for their chemical similarity to natural bone, their ability to be resorbed, superior biocompatibility and effectiveness in regenerating damaged bone. However, under normal physiological conditions, CaP ceramics can transform into hydroxyapatite with low solubility, which necessitate an extended time for its resorption under in vivo conditions. Besides that, the mechanical properties of calcium phosphate-based materials also raise concern regarding providing sufficient support to the newly generated bone during tissue healing time. To meet the growing demand for synthetic bioceramics, current situation necessitates to explore innovative degradable bioceramics with more controlled degradation rates, superior mechanical strength, and improved bioactivity. Recently, magnesium-based bioceramics have been investigated as an alternative to CaPs for temporary bone replacement materials due to their outstanding biocompatibility, sufficient strength and superior resorption kinetics compared to calcium phosphate (CaP) ceramics. This project proposes magnesium silicate (MgS) as a promising bioceramic material for bone scaffolds. The primary goal is to match the degradation rate of MgS scaffolds to the natural bone regeneration rate, enhancing bone healing. Degradation of MgS can be modulated by incorporating essential ions—such as zinc (Zn), strontium (Sr), and iron (Fe)—which are naturally present in bone and play significant roles in bone metabolism. Prior studies demonstrated that Zn/Sr-doped MgS enhances degradation and supports cell viability, suggesting it may stimulate bone formation in vivo. However, research on doping MgS remains limited. This project will explore the effects of such dopants to identify an optimal composition. The selected MgS composition will then be combined with tricalcium phosphate (TCP) to create a composite material having optimum biocompatibility, strength and degradation rate. Additionally, the influence of scaffold porosity on performance, as well as the mechanical properties and degradation rate of MgS-TCP composites, will be evaluated to achieve optimal outcomes. In the final phase of the project the 3D printability of the optimized scaffold composite will be assessed to ensure feasibility for clinical applications. The success of this project will lead to the development of an innovative MgS-based bioceramic scaffold with tailored degradation rates, improved mechanical strength, and enhanced bioactivity, paving the way for advanced and personalized solutions in bone regeneration.