Mona Sari begins her 5-month secondment in Barcelona

Bio-Tune Early Stage Researcher Mona Sari (UGM, Indonesia) has just began her 5-month secondment at the Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering Research Group (UPC, Spain), under the supervision of Dr. Carles Mas-Moruno.

Direct Ink Writing (DIW) or robocasting, a 3D printing ceramic material method, offers the ability to rapidly fabricate 3D complex structures from a variety of bioceramic materials at a relatively low cost. It is one of the most innovative technologies used in additive manufacturing (AM), applied to produce Calcium Phosphate (CaP) scaffolds, because it can precisely control 3D porous structures. Nevertheless, the major limitation for DIW is the availability of bio-ink formulations, including their rheological behavior to obtain the best printability and to target bio-printed objects. Combined Hydrogels using CaP and biopolymers are good candidates for bio-ink formulations. Hydroxyapatite (HA), one kind of CaP, is the primary mineral that creates bones and teeth. Also, it demonstrates excellent biocompatibility with tissues. The addition of the gelatin biopolymer for HA/gelatine hydrogel matric has shown significant benefits, including increased injection capability of the HA and improved mechanical properties.

During her secondment in UPC, Mona will learn all about the parameters for DIW to master the technology and to be applied in Indonesia after her return to UGM. She will also characterize nano-HA based on Indonesia’s biogenic resource and commercial nano-HAs. Then, this HA will be combined with the gelatin biopolymer to get HA/gelatin hydrogel and do the rheological behavior characterization before it is used for printing. Also, the HA/gelatin hydrogel will be printed and carried out with physicochemical and mechanical characterization.

Student Mona Sari will stay at the BBT-UPC laboratories from June 17th to November 17th, 2022, both included.