Biodegradable photopolymers biofunctionalized with a novel bioactive peptide to be used as advanced 3D printed self-degradable implants

• Applicant: Yuliya Khrunyk, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Biomaterials ; Biochemistry ; Cell Biology
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 565636783

The design and development of novel biodegradable scaffolds has an enormous potential to improve the quality of life and treat diseases, e.g. personalized 3D printed implants, vascular stents, dental problems, cancer. Indeed, in contrast to conventional metallic implants, mainly made from titanium and its alloys, a permanent insertion of which might cause long-term complications, a huge advantage in biodegradable scaffolds lies in their disappearance with time: initially they provide mechanical support similar to the function of metallic implants, but without the long-term disadvantages of a «fixed cage». Their biocompatibility can be significantly enhanced by bioactive coatings which are based on natural biomolecules or function-encoding peptides. This research project is focused on the development of novel biodegradable materials functionalized by bioactive peptides with cell adhesion, anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant functions to be used as resorbable bone implants and vascular stents. Two novel bioactive peptides, MP-AAA-2 and MP-AAA-4 carrying three motifs, i.e. collagen derived DGEA, fibronectin derived RGDS, and bone sialoprotein derived heparin binding FHRRIKA, attached to mussel peptide sequence as two or four bioactive moieties, respectively, will be synthesized and tested on new biodegradable photopolymers. The obtained data will contribute to the streamlining of resorbable implants characterized by bioactive surfaces and controlled biodegradation, paving the way for more effective and accessible solutions in the field of implantology.

• DFG Programme: WBP Position