Stimuli-responsive gyroid Scaffolds: hierarchical architecture and electric stimulation promote bone regeneration

• Stimuli-responsive gyroid scaffolds were created via sacrificial templating. • Corona discharge poling enhanced electric field intensity via charge trapping. • Electric field responsiveness to mechanical stimuli enhances cytoskeletal alignment. • Ultrasound stimulation boosts metabolic activity, gene expression, and mineralization. • Ultrasound and porosity synergized, enhancing calcium deposition and cell alignment. Osteoporotic fractures in older adults place a significant burden on healthcare systems due to prolonged healing times and escalating costs. Innovative approaches closely mimicking the human bone microenvironment are paramount for advancing bone tissue regeneration. This study leverages a sacrificial template methodology to develop hierarchical 3D porous gelatin-NaNbO 3 @PDMS scaffolds with gyroid structures mimicking cancellous bone architecture, tailored for enhanced stimuli-responsive biological performance. Modulating porosity levels (∼0%, 18 %, and 63 %) enables macro-to-micro pore transitions, highlighting how porosity and zero-curvature surfaces impact critical properties for bioactive scaffold applications. Under simulated physical activity pressures, lower scaffold porosity enhances structural integrity, mechanical stability, and damping capacity, driven by reduced thickness plastic deformation. Corona discharge poling generates electrically charged stimuli-responsive scaffolds, enhancing electric field intensity through charge trapping. Combined with ultrasound stimulation (50 and 250 mW·cm −2 ), it boosts metabolic activity, gene expression, and mineralization, increasing calcium deposition by up to 1200 % compared to unstimulated controls. Finite element analysis reveals that the 63 % porosity scaffolds generate a sixfold stronger electric field than its 18 % counterpart, enhancing stimuli-responsive cell alignment, with ultrasound stimulation boosting it by ∼10 %. These discoveries in zero-curvature geometries and stimuli-responsive systems redefine bone regeneration strategies by mimicking bone anisotropy through electric field stimulation, offering transformative insights for advanced biomaterials in implants and physiotherapy.

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Publication Details

Journal
Materials Today
Published
2025-06-17
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mattod.2025.06.013
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Bone Tissue Engineering Materials
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.67
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article

Stimuli-responsive gyroid Scaffolds: hierarchical architecture and electric stimulation promote bone regeneration

João R. Inácio, Caio G. Otoni, Rafael Resende Assis Silva, Eduardo Henrique Backes et al.
1 citations
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article

Stimuli-responsive gyroid Scaffolds: hierarchical architecture and electric stimulation promote bone regeneration

João R. Inácio, Caio G. Otoni, Rafael Resende Assis Silva, Eduardo Henrique Backes, Rui Igreja, Henrique Almeida, José António Belo, Frederico Barbosa, L. H. C. Mattoso, João C. Silva, Guilherme Ferreira, Rodrigo Martins, Elvira Fortunato, Carlos Ureña
article en
1 citations

Abstract

• Stimuli-responsive gyroid scaffolds were created via sacrificial templating. • Corona discharge poling enhanced electric field intensity via charge trapping. • Electric field responsiveness to mechanical stimuli enhances cytoskeletal alignment. • Ultrasound stimulation boosts metabolic activity, gene expression, and mineralization. • Ultrasound and porosity synergized, enhancing calcium deposition and cell alignment. Osteoporotic fractures in older adults place a significant burden on healthcare systems due to prolonged healing times and escalating costs. Innovative approaches closely mimicking the human bone microenvironment are paramount for advancing bone tissue regeneration. This study leverages a sacrificial template methodology to develop hierarchical 3D porous gelatin-NaNbO 3 @PDMS scaffolds with gyroid structures mimicking cancellous bone architecture, tailored for enhanced stimuli-responsive biological performance. Modulating porosity levels (∼0%, 18 %, and 63 %) enables macro-to-micro pore transitions, highlighting how porosity and zero-curvature surfaces impact critical properties for bioactive scaffold applications. Under simulated physical activity pressures, lower scaffold porosity enhances structural integrity, mechanical stability, and damping capacity, driven by reduced thickness plastic deformation. Corona discharge poling generates electrically charged stimuli-responsive scaffolds, enhancing electric field intensity through charge trapping. Combined with ultrasound stimulation (50 and 250 mW·cm −2 ), it boosts metabolic activity, gene expression, and mineralization, increasing calcium deposition by up to 1200 % compared to unstimulated controls. Finite element analysis reveals that the 63 % porosity scaffolds generate a sixfold stronger electric field than its 18 % counterpart, enhancing stimuli-responsive cell alignment, with ultrasound stimulation boosting it by ∼10 %. These discoveries in zero-curvature geometries and stimuli-responsive systems redefine bone regeneration strategies by mimicking bone anisotropy through electric field stimulation, offering transformative insights for advanced biomaterials in implants and physiotherapy.

Materials TodayVol. 88
University of Lisbon (PT), Politecnico di Torino (IT), Universidade Federal de São Carlos (BR), Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP) (BR), Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (BR), Nova Medical (United States) (US), Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering (PT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (PT)
Zero hunger
Openalex Percentile: Top 30%
Bone Tissue Engineering Materials
0.67
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