Programa del congreso

Cutting-edge tissue engineering applications such as the promising cancer models need innovative materials to produce hydrogels. Chicken egg white (EW) is an underexplored protein-based biomaterial, which mixed with the biopolymer gelatin are being widely researched for food technology applications. Interestingly, hydrogels of EW and gelatin have not been explored for tissue engineering applications like cancer models. Cancer-on-a-chip and bioprinted cancer models are at the technological forefront of tissue-engineered cancer models. However, the current used hydrogels for these models hinder their progress. Our work investigated hydrogels of EW and gelatin for cancer-on-a-chip and bioprinted cancer models. Our results show the enormous potential of using these hydrogels. Compared with other hydrogels used in cancer models, EW/gelatin hydrogels are easily available, cost-effective, have no ethical issues, their fabrication is straightforward, are highly biocompatible due to presence of molecular cues found in the extracellular matrix of tissues, and offer reproducibility of results, mechanical integrity, and effective growth of multi-cellular tumour structures. Our results also showcase the importance of the tumour microenvironment in tumour cell behaviour.

Cardiovascular diseases account for a major proportion of global mortality, with ECG recordings being an essential diagnostic tool. However, conventional Ag/AgCl electrodes contribute significantly to medical waste. This work proposes a biodegradable alternative based on a conductive vegetal cellulose (cVC) substrate. The material was produced from TEMPO-oxidized sulphite pulp, mechanically homogenized into a nanocellulose gel, and doped with PEDOT:PSS to obtain conductive films. These films were characterized in terms of thickness, electrical conductivity using the Van der Pauw method, and wettability via contact angle measurements. A three-layer electrode was then designed, comprising the conductive cellulose core, a commercial adhesive layer, and a hydrogel electrolyte. The electrochemical performance of the device was evaluated through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), open circuit potential (OCP) stability tests, and cyclic voltammetry (CV), and compared to commercial Ag/AgCl electrodes. Results showed comparable impedance in the ECG-relevant frequency range, minimal potential drift well below ANSI/AAMI EC12:2000 limits, and resistance to hydrogel wetting. Finally, electrocardiographic recordings confirmed signal quality equivalent to that of commercial electrodes, validating the proposed design as a sustainable and effective alternative for biomedical applications.

This study analyses the influence of material selection on the mechanical behavior of 3D-printed biodegradable tracheal stents manufactured via fused deposition modeling (FDM). Three materials, polycaprolactone (PCL), polydioxanone (PDO), and polymer blend 50:50 of Polylactic acid with Polycaprolactone (PLA/PCL), were used to manufacture a complex stent design. Mechanical analysis (flexural test and radial compression test) has been developed to evaluate the difference between properties of each material selected. Special emphasis on radial force due to its clinical importance. Results highlight how material choice could impact surgical performance and stent reliability. These findings could aim to support safer and more effective tracheal stent placement in clinical practice.

In the field of regenerative medicine, bone regeneration under pathological conditions remains a major challenge. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of systemic diseases with high global prevalence that compromise physiological bone regeneration, affecting angiogenesis and osteoblastic activity. These impairments are partly due to the establishment of a pro-inflammatory microenvironment and redox imbalance. Such alterations hinder the success of conventional regenerative treatments and justify the need for new therapeutic strategies.

Current in vitro assays do not fully reproduce pathological conditions, highlighting the importance of advanced models to investigate bone cell responses in disease-relevant environments. The aim of this work was to adapt and validate a bone-on-a-chip platform capable of simulating diabetic and pro-inflammatory microenvironments, using primary osteoblast cultures exposed to high glucose (HG), IL-1β, and their combination (HG+IL-1β).

Cell morphology and differentiation were analyzed by confocal microscopy, morphometric parameters (area, perimeter, solidity, and form factor), and expression of osteogenic markers (Runx2, ALP, and osteocalcin). Under control conditions, osteoblasts progressively increased in size, developed cellular extensions, and formed interconnected networks by day 21, accompanied by a dynamic nuclear-to-cytoplasmic translocation of Runx2. In contrast, HG and IL-1β limited cellular expansion, promoted compact morphologies, and reduced differentiation marker expression, with HG+IL-1β showing the strongest effects.

In conclusion, this study demonstrates that hyperglycemia and pro-inflammatory signals synergistically impair osteoblast function, and validates the bone-on-a-chip as a robust tool to model diabetic bone pathophysiology and for future applications in biomaterial testing or therapeutic strategies.

A major challenge in neuroscience and drug discovery is the limited translatability of results from animal models to humans, as these systems fail to capture the structural and functional complexity of the human brain. In particular, the study of neurological disorders requires models that reproduce not only cellular composition but also the organization and connectivity of neural networks. Human in vitro models provide a promising alternative; however, their use has been hindered by poor reproducibility, including variability in spheroid size, cell distribution, and spatial arrangement. To address these limitations, we developed microfluidic platforms designed to control the seeding and organization of neural spheroids within microwell arrays. Across different device configurations, the systems enabled reproducible formation of single spheroids per well, with homogeneous size and defined spatial positioning. This controlled arrangement constitutes a critical first step toward establishing reproducible human neural networks, with potential applications in disease modeling and drug screening.

Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is commonly used in acetabular inserts, but its long-term performance is impacted by oxidation and wear. This study compares the clinical impact of the Duration process on UHMWPE components. The historical ABG I model was sterilized by gamma irradiation in air, while ABG II incorporated the Duration process, involving nitrogen packaging before irradiation and thermal stabilization (50 °C for 144 hours). Nineteen retrieved acetabular inserts (six ABG I and thirteen ABG II) were analyzed. Oxidation was measured via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and wear was assessed by thickness variation normalized to implantation time. ABG II samples showed significantly lower oxidation (mean=0.8) than ABG I (mean=3.4), with p=0.023 and Cohen’s d=2.22. Wear rates were also higher for ABG I inserts, consistent with the role of oxidation in the mechanical degradation. Oxidation was reduced by 76.5% and wear decreased by 30% in ABG II retrievals compared to the historical model. Clinically, revision analysis revealed that osteolysis-driven revisions dropped from 16.7% in ABG I to 7.7% in ABG II, with aseptic loosening becoming the predominant cause (46%) in the latter. In conclusion, the Duration process substantially enhances UHMWPE acetabular insert performance by lowering oxidation and wear, leading to clinically relevant reductions in revision rates due to osteolysis.