A BIOMIMETIC AND BIOMECHANICAL APPROACH FOR TISSUE ENGINEERING Hybrid Nanomaterials and a Piezoelectric Tunable Bending Apparatus for Mechanically Stimulated Osteoblast Cells Growth

The research develops and tests new hybrid biomimetic materials that work as mechanically stimulating "scaffolds" to promote early regeneration in implanted bone healing phases. A biomometic nanostructured osteoconductive material coated apparatus is presented. Bioinspired approaches to materials and templated growth of hybrid networks using self-assembled hybrid organic-inorganic interfaces is finalized to extend the use of hybrids in the medical field. Combined in vivo, in vitro and computer-aided simulations have been carried out. Such multidisciplinary approach allowed us to explore many novel ideas in modelling, design and fabrication of new nanostructured biomaterials and scaffolds with enhanced functionality and improved interaction with OB cells. In vivo tests of Titanium screw implanted in rabbit tibiae have shown that mechanical stimulation was induced by the presence of bioactive hybrid perimplantar scaffold resulting in a differentiation and development of mesenchymal tissues. In order to investigate the relationship between bone growth and applied mechanical loading (strain), a piezoelectically driven cantilever and a computer-controlled apparatus for "in vitro" tests has been developed and presented.