Modification of PEG-based polymeric scaffolds by incorporation of carbon dots and nanohydroxyapatite for bone tissue regeneration applications.

Bone failures represent a major problem in engineering and medicine due to the clinical complexities and the mechanical and biological needs of the tissue to be regenerated. Bone grafts are currently the most widely implemented solution, however, they present a series of limitations in the treatment of large bone defects. For this reason, the search for new and more effective technologies for treatment has been promoted, such as the use of three-dimensional porous structures, called scaffolds, with physical and chemical properties similar to natural tissue, which represent a reliable alternative for the regenerative treatment of bone. Through their porous structure, scaffolds allow nutrient exchange, vascularization and cell migration, which facilitates their use as a guide to improve osteoconduction and osteoinduction of the tissue.

Hydroxyapatite is a material that is naturally found in the mineral component of bone, facilitating bioactivity and therefore the incorporation of the material into the organism. On the other hand, advances in the use of nanotechnology and nanomaterials in the medical field, such as nanoscale materials like carbon dots, have gained strength in their implementation as promoters of the improvement of biological and mechanical properties thanks to their excellent properties of biocompatibility, luminescence, colloidal stability and their functional groups that improve the mechanical strength of the structure.

The objective of this project is to improve the biological and mechanical properties of polymeric scaffolds of polyethylene glycol with carbon dots embedded in nanohydroxyapatite, in order to evaluate the viability of these structures in bone tissue regeneration applications. The methodology to be implemented is divided into two parts, the synthesis of the foam and nanoparticles, and the preliminary characterization of their morphological, biological and mechanical properties, with the objective of determining the effectiveness of the structure at the defect site. It is expected that the use of these two materials together will increase the biological interactions of the structure and optimize the mechanical load-bearing properties, favoring the functionality of the foam.

Nanohydroxyapatite
Carbon dots
Scaffolds
Bone tissue regeneration