A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Novel 3D-Printed Biophotonic Scaffold Displaying Luminescence under Near-Infrared Light for Photopharmacological Activation and Biological Signaling Compound Release
Authors: Ghanavati, Sonya; Opar, Ekin; Gobbo, Virginia Alessandra; Matera, Carlo; Riefolo, Fabio; Castagna, Rossella; Colombelli, Julien; Draganski, Andrew; Baggott, Joshua; Lastusaari, Mika; Gorostiza, Pau; Petit, Laeticia; Massera, Jonathan
Publisher: WILEY
Publishing place: HOBOKEN
Publication year: 2025
Journal: Advanced Healthcare Materials
Journal name in source: ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
Journal acronym: ADV HEALTHC MATER
Article number: e02163
Number of pages: 14
ISSN: 2192-2640
eISSN: 2192-2659
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202502163
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202502163
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/499669336
Despite significant efforts in developing novel biomaterials to regenerate tissue, only a few of them have successfully reached clinical use. It has become clear that the next generation of biomaterials must be multifunctional. Smart biomaterials can respond to environmental or external stimuli, interact in a spatial-temporal manner, and trigger specific tissue/organism responses. In this study, how to fabricate the fabrication of novel 3D-printed and bioresorbable scaffolds, with embedded crystals that can convert near-infrared (NIR) light into visible light, is presented. It is demonstrated that these biophotonic scaffolds are not only bioactive and bioresorbable, but can also be promising as a platform for the controlled release or activation of photoactivated drugs locally and on demand, under illumination. The scaffolds are analyzed based on their up-conversion spectroscopic properties and their chemical stability in simulated body fluid. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the up-conversion properties of the scaffolds are sufficient to release the signaling molecule nitric oxide (NO) and to photoisomerize the muscarinic ligand Phthalimide-Azo-Iperoxo (PAI), in a controlled manner, upon NIR light stimulus. Finally, to assess their biocompatibility for potential implantation, a preliminary study is conducted with human adipose stem cells cultured in contact with scaffolds. Live/dead assays, morphological analysis, CyQUANT analysis, and ion release measurements confirm that, despite some release of the upconverter crystals, the dissolution of the biophotonic materia and its dissolution by-products, are biocompatible. These findings highlight the potential of these bioresorbable biophotonic scaffolds for localized drug release in response to NIR light stimuli.
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Funding information in the publication:
This research has received funding from the Research Council of Finland for the financial support of J.M., L.P., and S.G. (MAXHEAL project: #361159), the European Union's HORIZON-EIC-2023 PATHFINDER- OPEN-01 programme under grant agreement No. 101130883; from the European Union's Horizon 2020 programme (the Human Brain Project SGA3, 945539 and DEEPER, 101016787); project DEEPRED with reference PID2019-111493RB-I00 funded by MICIU/AEI /10.13039/ 501100011033; project EPILLUM with reference PID2022- 142609OB-I00 funded by MICIU/AEI /10.13039/ 501100011033 and by FEDER, UE; SGR-Cat 2021 with reference 2021 SGR 01410 (AGAUR, Generalitat de Catalunya); Research Network in Biomedicine eBrains-Spain, RED2022-134823-E. IBEC is a recipient of the Severo Ochoa Award of Excellence from MICIU. E.O. was supported by the FPI fellowship PRE2020-092901 financed by MICIU/AEI. R.C. was supported by the BEST Postdoctoral Fellowship, funded by the European Commission under H2020's Marie Sklowdoska-Curie Actions COFUND scheme (grant agreement no 712754) and by the Severo Ochoa Programme of the MICIU (grant SEV-2014-0425).
