New Open Access Publication: Multifunctional Hybrid Sponges for Bone Tissue Engineering
A multidisciplinary and multicultural research team led by Dr. Zulema Vargas, Department of Biomaterials, has published a new open access article in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules (Elsevier).
The study, titled “Multifunctional hybrid chitosan/κ-carrageenan sponges integrating engineered SBA-15@Fe₃O₄ composites and nano-hydroxyapatite for bone tissue engineering”, presents an innovative biomaterial platform designed to address current challenges in bone tissue repair.
The research team developed BDDE-crosslinked and KCl-gelled chitosan/κ-carrageenan hybrid sponges incorporating engineered SBA-15/Fe₃O₄ magnetic composites and nano-hydroxyapatite crystals. These multifunctional scaffolds combine several desirable properties for advanced bone regeneration strategies:
- Highly porous and mechanically resilient structure with full shape recovery after compression under wet conditions
- Exceptional absorption capacity while maintaining structural integrity
- Efficient drug delivery, enabling high loading and controlled release of the bone-regenerative drug simvastatin for over 30 days
- Magnetic hyperthermia functionality, allowing controlled heat generation under an external magnetic field
- Enhanced bioactivity and cell compatibility, promoting adhesion and proliferation of bone-related cells
Cytocompatibility tests demonstrated ≥80% cell viability across macrophage, osteosarcoma, and pre-osteoblast cell lines, highlighting the strong potential of these hybrid sponges for bone tissue engineering applications.
Read the entire article: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.151201
The research was conducted by Dr. Zulema Vargas, Dr. Pelayo García-Acevedo, Dr. Yolanda Piñeiro, Dr. Martin Michálek, Prof. Asteria Luzardo-Álvarez, Prof. Francisco J. Otero-Espinar, Prof. Aldo R. Boccaccini and Prof. José Rivas.
This research was supported by the GlaCerHub project and the SIBILA project (APVV‑23‑0097), which aim to advance innovative biomaterials and interdisciplinary approaches in biomedical research.
The work demonstrates a promising multifunctional platform combining drug delivery, bioactivity, and magnetic responsiveness, opening new possibilities for next-generation biomaterials in regenerative medicine.
