Dr Maab Abdulsamad Ahmed Elsheikh. Photo by Ugnius Bagdonavičius.
Implants and bone substitutes without the risk of infection – this is the goal pursued by Dr. Maab Abdulsamad Ahmed Elsheikh, a postdoctoral researcher at the Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences (FCHG) of Vilnius University (VU). The researcher is developing biomaterials that combine calcium hydroxyapatite – a natural mineral that makes up the majority of bones and tooth enamel – with naturally occurring antibacterial compounds: propolis, clove oil, bee pollen and eugenol. The two-year postdoctoral fellowship at VU FCHG has opened the way for research that could become the foundation for future bone and dental implants.
According to the researcher, her work's results could first of all be useful to scientists in the field of biomaterials and regenerative medicine, who, drawing on this knowledge, could develop new bioactive materials with improved biological properties. Following further research, the benefits could also reach doctors and biomedical engineers. They could use these results as a basis for developing new bone substitutes and implant coatings that help support bone regeneration and reduce the risk of infection. “I really hope these results will help many people,” the researcher shares.
The researcher's primary specialization is dentistry, where hydroxyapatite is used in implanting missing teeth. During her doctoral studies, the researcher worked with calcium phosphate materials and studied their biological behavior when implanted into damaged bone. It was then that her interest arose in exploring their antibacterial properties, since hydroxyapatite does not have antibacterial properties on its own.
Dr. M. Elsheikh completed her dental studies at the University of Elrazi (formerly the Elrazi College of Medical and Technological Sciences) in Khartoum, Sudan, and earned her PhD degree in Japan, at Kyushu University, specializing in the field of biomaterials. For three years, Dr. M. Elsheikh worked as a dentist in Sudan and Saudi Arabia.
Calcium hydroxyapatite is a well-known biomaterial with a long history of implantation and clinical application due to its excellent biocompatibility properties – once implanted in the human body, it promotes the regeneration of bone tissue. However, Dr. M. Elsheikh's research takes a step further – her focus is on maximizing this material's potential and properties by integrating organic compounds that provide bacteria-destroying properties.
One of the most significant results of the fellowship is the development and characterization of calcium hydroxyapatite derivatives containing natural organic compounds such as eugenol / isoeugenol, propolis, clove oil, and bee pollen. The research revealed that synthesis conditions and parameters significantly affect the interaction between hydroxyapatite and organic compounds, thereby influencing the materials' physicochemical properties and potential antibacterial effectiveness. “These results have contributed to a better understanding of how bioactive compounds can be integrated into biomaterials for biomedical applications,” says Dr. M. Elsheikh.
The research findings are supported by scientific publications and form the basis for further work related to bacteria-inhibiting bone substitute materials.
The fellowship at VU FCHG provided the researcher excellent opportunities to establish connections and collaborate with institutions both in Lithuania and abroad. Domestically, she collaborated with the Center for Physical Sciences and Technology (FTMC), and internationally with Dr. Monika Mortimer's group at the National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics (NICPB) in Tallinn, Estonia.
In the coming years, the researcher plans to expand her knowledge and continue developing multifunctional biomaterials for bone tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The work is also expected to expand through the use of advanced characterization methods as well as in vitro and in vivo studies, potentially leading in the future to practical application in medicine that would help restore bones and prevent infections.