Research Projects

The aim of the proposed research is to create multifunctional borate-based bioactive glass nano powders doped with therapeutic ions substituted to biopolymer (collagen/PCL) based nano biocomposite fibers through the electrospinning technique. To overcome current limitations of available nanofiber BG-Polymer composites, such as poor mechanical strength, polydispersity, and biocompatibility, appropriate engineering strategies will be implemented. The introduction of lithium oxide and additional therapeutic metal ions (TM) and biopolymers to the basic glass composition (B2O3-CaO-Li2O-P2O5) is expected to enhance or create novel biological activities and functionalities, such as antibacterial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, osteoinductive, or photocatalytic properties. The development of such nano biocomposite fibers will involve designing an appropriate material composition, developing a suitable synthesis technique (e.g., sol-gel method, electrospinning, and optimization), characterizing the physico-chemical properties of the nano composite fibers, standardizing the nano composite fibers, and applying the multifunctional nano composite fibers in various medical applications, such as drug delivery, implants for bone and dental restoration or regeneration, wound healing, heart valve regeneration, and bioactive coatings for metallic implants in tissue engineering.