Biocompatible glass-ceramic materials for bone substitution

J Mater Sci Mater Med. 2008 Jan;19(1):471-8. doi: 10.1007/s10856-006-0111-0. Epub 2007 Jul 3.

Abstract

A new bioactive glass composition (CEL2) in the SiO(2)-P(2)O(5)-CaO-MgO-K(2)O-Na(2)O system was tailored to control pH variations due to ion leaching phenomena when the glass is in contact with physiological fluids. CEL2 was prepared by a traditional melting-quenching process obtaining slices that were heat-treated to obtain a glass-ceramic material (CEL2GC) that was characterized thorough SEM analysis. Pre-treatment of CEL2GC with SBF was found to enhance its biocompatibility, as assessed by in vitro tests. CEL2 powder was then used to synthesize macroporous glass-ceramic scaffolds. To this end, CEL2 powders were mixed with polyethylene particles within the 300-600 microm size-range and then pressed to obtain crack-free compacted powders (green). This was heat-treated to remove the organic phase and to sinter the inorganic phase, leaving a porous structure. The biomaterial thus obtained was characterized by X-ray diffraction, SEM equipped with EDS, density measurement, image analysis, mechanical testing and in vitro evaluation, and found to be a glass-ceramic macroporous scaffold with uniformly distributed and highly interconnected porosity. The extent and size-range of the porosity can be tailored by varying the amount and size of the polyethylene particles.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry*
  • Bone Substitutes / chemistry*
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Survival
  • Ceramics
  • Glass / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Materials Testing
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Osteoblasts / metabolism*
  • Polyethylene / chemistry
  • Powders
  • Pressure
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Bone Substitutes
  • Powders
  • Polyethylene