Maleki, Hajar - assoc. JRG 08 and CAP 35

Functional Bio-inspired Porous Materials

PD Dr. Hajar Maleki
PD Dr. Hajar Maleki

Institute of Inorganic Chemistry

CMMC - PI - assoc. JRG 08 and CAP 35

CMMC Profile Page

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Publications on PubMed

Institute of Inorganic Chemistry

Greinstr. 6

50939 Cologne

Introduction

Dr. Maleki's group focuses on the rational design of bio-inspired, self-assembled, and sol-gel-derived nanomaterials as theragenerative systems (combining therapy and regeneration). These materials are engineered with biomimetic microstructures and enhanced mechanical, self-healing, and shape-morphing properties for minimally invasive bone cancer therapy, bone regeneration, and drug delivery.

Their research focuses on developing smart, multifunctional biomaterials (hydrogels and aerogels) by hybridizing self-assembled biopolymers with surface-engineered nanoparticles, utilizing advanced synthesis and fabrication techniques such as 3D printing and microfluidics (cf. Figure 1). More recently, the group has focused on innovative, advanced multifunctional 4D-printed ‘’black’’ bioceramics, designed to address osteosarcoma and bone defects in the craniomaxillofacial (CMF) region through minimally invasive methods.

Through these advanced synthetic biomaterials, Dr. Maleki’s group aims to understand and regulate biomaterial-cell interactions by developing simple in vitro models and microfluidic in vivo-like microphysiological systems ("osteogenesis on a chip"). These models will help enhance osteoconductivity and osteoinductivity while also incorporating anti-tumor and antibacterial functionalities of designed biomaterials.

For more information, please visit Dr. Maleki´s website.

Figure 1

Fig. 1: Strategies to design hybrid aerogels: Dr. Maleki' group utilizes surface modified silk fibroin (SF), a biopolymer known for its high mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, they incorporated various functional inorganic nanoparticles to enhance further its therapeutic and regenerative activities. By integrating various advanced fabrication techniques, including 3D printing, directional freeze casting, and microfluidics, they create a library of innovative bulk and micro aerogels with a range of improved properties, such as enlarged porosity, enhanced therapeutic and regenerative functionalities, particularly addressing the bone defects affected by osteosarcoma.

Publication Record on PubMed - Hajar Maleki

2024 (up to June)
  • Abie N, Unlu C, Pinho AR, Gomes MC, Remmler T, Herb M, Grumme D, Tabesh E, Shahbazi MA, Mathur S, Mano JF, and Maleki H (2024). Designing of a Multifunctional 3D-Printed Biomimetic Theragenerative Aerogel Scaffold via Mussel-Inspired Chemistry: Bioactive Glass Nanofiber-Incorporated Self-Assembled Silk Fibroin with Antibacterial, Antiosteosarcoma, and Osteoinductive Properties. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. doi:10.1021/acsami.4c00065.
     
  • Tan V, Berg F, and Maleki H (2024). Diatom-inspired silicification process for development of green flexible silica composite aerogels. Sci Rep14, 6973. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-57257-x.
     
  • Vaseghi A, Parchin RA, Chamanie KR, Herb M, Maleki H, and Sadeghizadeh M (2024). Encapsulation of propolis extracted with methylal in the chitosan nanoparticles and its antibacterial and cell cytotoxicity studies. BMC Complement Med Ther24, 165. doi:10.1186/s12906-024-04472-8.
     
  • Zorron M, Cabrera AL, Sharma R, Radhakrishnan J, Abbaszadeh S, Shahbazi MA, Tafreshi OA, Karamikamkar S, and Maleki H (2024). Emerging 2D Nanomaterials-Integrated Hydrogels: Advancements in Designing Theragenerative Materials for Bone Regeneration and Disease Therapy. Adv Sci (Weinh), e2403204. doi:10.1002/advs.202403204.
2023
  • Al-Jawuschi N, Chen S, Abie N, Fischer T, Fare S, and Maleki H (2023). Self-Assembly-Driven Bi(2)S(3) Nanobelts Integrated a Silk-Fibroin-Based 3D-Printed Aerogel-Based Scaffold with a Dual-Network Structure for Photothermal Bone Cancer Therapy. Langmuir 39, 4326-4337. doi:10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c03334.
     
  • Karamikamkar S, Yalcintas EP, Haghniaz R, de Barros NR, Mecwan M, Nasiri R, Davoodi E, Nasrollahi F, Erdem A, Kang H, Lee J, Zhu Y, Ahadian S, Jucaud V, Maleki H, Dokmeci MR, Kim HJ, and Khademhosseini A (2023). Aerogel-Based Biomaterials for Biomedical Applications: From Fabrication Methods to Disease-Targeting Applications. Adv Sci (Weinh) 10, e2204681. doi:10.1002/advs.202204681.
     
  • Paolieri M, Chen ZH, Kadumudi FB, Alehosseini M, Zorrón M, Dolatshahi-Pirouz A, and Maleki H (2023). Biomimetic Flexible Electronic Materials from Silk Fibroin-MXene Composites Developed Mussel-Inspired Chemistry as Wearable Pressure Sensors. Acs Applied Nano Materials 6, 5211-5223. doi:10.1021/acsanm.2c05140.
     
  • Pektas HK, Demidov Y, Ahvan A, Abie N, Georgieva VS, Chen S, Fare S, Brachvogel B, Mathur S, and Maleki H (2023). MXene-Integrated Silk Fibroin-Based Self-Assembly-Driven 3D-Printed Theragenerative Scaffolds for Remotely Photothermal Anti-Osteosarcoma Ablation and Bone Regeneration. ACS Mater Au 3, 711-726. doi:10.1021/acsmaterialsau.3c00040.

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