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Biodegradable functionalized materials for applications in tissue engineering

Research leaders

Assoc. Prof. Daniela Pappalardo

Assoc. Prof. Anna Finne Wistrand

Jenny Fagerland (PhD-student)

Project information

The aim is the synthesis of novel degradable functionalized polymeric materials with properly suited architecture and tailored properties, functioning as temporary support for cell growth and regeneration of damaged tissues. The project involves interdisciplinary competences, and from a chemist perspective it strives to provide novel synthetic path to tune the performance of the materials trough molecular design and processing techniques. The properties of the materials will be adjusted to the requirement of the final application, by tailoring the polymeric chains, in term of composition, molecular weight, polydispersity, microstructure and architecture, and moreover by adding well designed functional groups and biological cues. The control of these features will in turn allow the control of the final materials properties, i.e. crystallinity, thermal and mechanical properties and degradation rates. The strategy includes also approaches to induce direct or indirect biological responses. The final goal is the development of a product that meets the requirements of current and future applications in cellular therapy and regenerative medicine.

This project, founded by VINNOVA Mobility for Growth (Grant Number 2013-04323) and by the Marie Curie Actions FP7-PEOPLE-2011-COFUND (GROWTH 291795), allowing the mobility of Daniela Pappalardo from Italy (Universita´ del Sannio) to Sweden, is aiming also to establish a long term collaboration between the two milieus in a leading research field.  

Publications from this project

  • T. Fuoco, A. Finne-Wistrand, D. Pappalardo, “A route to aliphatic poly(ester)s with thiol pendant groups: from monomer design to editable porous scaffolds”, Biomacromolecules, 2016, 17 (4), 1383–1394, DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.6b00005
  • J. Fagerland, A. Finne-Wistrand, D. Pappalardo, “Modulating the thermal properties of poly(hydroxybutyrate) by copolymerization of rac-β-butyrolactone with lactide”, New J. Chem., 2016, 40, 7671-7679, DOI: 10.1039/c6nj00298f

Communications to Conferences

  • J. Fagerland, A. Finne Wistrand, D. Pappalardo, “Synthesis of cooligopeptides and functionalized aliphatic polyesters by chemo-enzymatic synthesis” Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol. Conference Abstract: 10th World Biomaterials Congress. 2016 DOI: 10.3389/conf.FBIOE.2016.01.00427
  • D. Pappalardo, T. Fuoco A. Finne-Wistrand, “A straightforward route to aliphatic poly(esters) with pendant RGD groups: from monomer design to porous scaffolds”. Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol. Conference Abstract: 10th World Biomaterials Congress. 2016 DOI: 10.3389/conf.FBIOE.2016.01.01156
  • T. Fuoco, A. Finne-Wistrand, D. Pappalardo, “Biodegradable and Thiol Functionalized Aliphatic Copolyesters” National Young Researchers’ Forum on Materials Science and Technology, XIII AIMAT National Congress, National Biomaterial Congress - SIB, July 2016, Ischia, Italy. J. Appl. Biomater. Funct. Mater. 2016; 14(3): e314 - e393 (e324). DOI:10.5301/jabfm.5000321