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Regenerative medicine and cancer therapy demand innovative material solutions capable of dynamically interacting with biological systems. My research journey has focused on designing advanced bioactive ceramics and ceramic–polymer composite materials and translating them into functional biomedical platforms through additive manufacturing and materials engineering strategies.

During my PhD research at CNR-ISSMC in Faenza, I worked on calcium phosphate-based biomaterials, including ion-doped and multi-substituted hydroxyapatite systems and self-hardening bone cements. My work explored how ionic substitutions and phase composition influence mechanical performance, rheological behaviour, drug delivery capability, and biological response.

In my postdoctoral fellowship within the PRIN project “DESIRE – Design and Stereolithography of Cell-Instructive Gradient Scaffolds for Osteochondral Tissue Regeneration” at Politecnico di Torino, I advanced this expertise into additive manufacturing. I worked on vat photopolymerization of polymer/ceramic composites for biomedical applications and successfully designed and 3D-printed (DLP) scaffolds integrating both structural and compositional gradients within a single construct. These gradient architectures allow improved replication of complex multi-tissue interfaces such as cartilage and bone.

Currently, my research expands into oncology through the project “Innovative Therapeutic Treatments to Inhibit Perineural Invasion in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma (INTHEA)”, where I contribute to the development of advanced in vitro 3D tumour models. These models aim to replicate the tumour microenvironment more accurately than conventional 2D cultures, enabling better understanding of tumour progression and supporting the evaluation of innovative therapeutic strategies.

Across regenerative and cancer-focused research, my work integrates materials chemistry, advanced manufacturing, and biological evaluation. By engineering multifunctional systems that mimic physiological complexity, I aim to contribute to safer, more effective therapeutic solutions with meaningful clinical impact.

“Transforming materials chemistry into tangible biomedical solutions is what drives my research every day”.

Zahid Abbas

Politecnico di Torino, Italy

Zahid.abbas@polito.it

www.linkedin.com/in/zahidabbas1333

Paper Link: https://scholar.google.com/citations