Nowadays, the treatment for bone damage remains a significant challenge. As a result, the development of bioactive three-dimensional scaffolds for bone regeneration has become a key area of study within tissue engineering. This research is focused on the evaluation of the properties of Chitosan (Ch)/Polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds with the Mytilus californiensis protein by Thermally Induced Phase Separation (TIPS). This study used the extrapalleal fluid protein from Mytilus californiensis because it increases biological processes that support bone regeneration. Two methodologies were used for the scaffolds functionalization: (I) an immersion process in a solution with the protein and (II) the protein direct addition during the scaffold synthesis. The scaffolds were analyzed by Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Mechanical Compression test to determine the composition, morphology, and mechanical properties of each material. In vitro analysis of biodegradation, bioactivity, and biocompatibility were also performed. The scaffolds with the protein added directly presented superior properties in the tests of bioactivity and cellular proliferation, making these composites attractive for the area of bone regeneration.

The objective of this research was to synthesize fluorescent silver nanoclusters (NC Ag-BSA/PVP) using polyvinylpyrrolidone polymer (PVP) as a stabilizer in conjunction with bovine serum albumin protein (BSA). The nanoclusters were prepared using a wet chemistry reduction technique with two distinctive pathways: the addition of PVP after BSA and the addition of PVP after the metal precursor. The optical properties of the materials were studied in samples with different BSA/PVP molar ratios and varying amounts of metal/reductant. The impact of protein and polymer amounts on fluorescence was determined. The materials were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), fluorescence spectroscopy, and UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy.

It was observed that increasing the BSA/PVP ratio resulted in higher fluorescence intensity at λ = 450 nm and a decrease at λ = 600 nm. Regarding the metal/reductant ratio, the amount of metal ions impacted the intensity obtained at λ = 600 nm. The experiments revealed that BSA had the largest effect on fluorescence intensity at λ = 450 nm, with little effect on fluorescence intensity regardless of the amount of polymer used. Due to its one-step synthesis and favorable reaction conditions, the NC Ag-BSA/PVP obtained under the proposed methodology holds promise as an optical marker material. The use of the stabilizing duo BSA-PVP, as well as the proposed amounts in this research, serves as a precedent for developing new experimental syntheses of colloidal nanoparticles.