Strontium and gallium doping enhances in vivo bone regeneration in biomimetic hydroxyapatite 3D-printed scaffolds.
Por:
Lodoso-Torrecilla I, Moreno-Romo D, Ciucci G, Mateu-Sanz, Miguel, Yoon JY, Jimenez-Pique E, Franch J, Manzanares MC, Konka JM, Español-Pons M and Ginebra MP
Publicada:
1 jun 2026
Ahead of Print:
16 abr 2026
Resumen:
Doping of calcium phosphates (CaPs) with bioinorganic ions is a widely used strategy to enhance their biological performance in bone regeneration. However, conventional methods for ionic incorporation in CaP scaffolds often require high-temperature treatments or involve multiple complex steps. Here, we present two simple strategies to dope 3D-printed CaP scaffolds via incorporation of ions into the apatitic phase during the hydrolysis of a-tricalcium phosphate (a-TCP) to calcium deficient hydroxyapatite (CDHA). In the first strategy, ions were incorporated directly into the printing ink, whereas in the second, undoped robocasted scaffolds were immersed in ionic solutions, allowing ion incorporation into precipitated CDHA during phase transformation. We investigated several ions, including strontium (Sr(2+)), magnesium (Mg(2+)), silicon (SiO(4) (4-)) and gallium (Ga(3+)). Sr(2+) and Ga(3+) were successfully incorporated into the scaffolds, either by direct ink doping (Sr(2+)) or by soaking in ionic solutions (Sr(2+) and Ga(3+)). Direct incorporation of Sr(2+) in the ink resulted in a higher ion loading and release, enhancing bone formation and bone quality, as evidenced by increased mineral-to-matrix ratio and Young's modulus, as well as osteoinductive properties relative to non-doped scaffolds. Furthermore, we demonstrated for the first time the osteoinductive capacity of Ga(3+) in an ectopic in vivo model.
Filiaciones:
Lodoso-Torrecilla I:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Group of Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona Research Centre for Multiscale Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain
Moreno-Romo D:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Group of Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona Research Centre for Multiscale Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain
Ciucci G:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Group of Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain
Mateu-Sanz, Miguel:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Group of Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona Research Centre for Multiscale Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain
Yoon JY:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Group of Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona Research Centre for Multiscale Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain
Jimenez-Pique E:
Barcelona Research Centre for Multiscale Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, CIEFMA Group, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain
Franch J:
Bone Healing Group, Small Animal Surgery Department, Veterinary School, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, 08193, Spain
Manzanares MC:
Human Anatomy and Embryology Unit, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, 08907, Spain
Konka JM:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Group of Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona Research Centre for Multiscale Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain
Español-Pons M:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Group of Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona Research Centre for Multiscale Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain
Ginebra MP:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Group of Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona Research Centre for Multiscale Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain
Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Carrer Baldiri Reixac 10- 12, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
Open Access
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