Glass-ceramic scaffolds containing silica mesophases for bone grafting and drug delivery

J Mater Sci Mater Med. 2009 Mar;20(3):809-20. doi: 10.1007/s10856-008-3635-7. Epub 2008 Nov 20.

Abstract

Glass-ceramic macroporous scaffolds were prepared using glass powders and polyethylene (PE) particles of two different sizes. The starting glass, named as Fa-GC, belongs to the system SiO(2)-P(2)O(5)-CaO-MgO-Na(2)O-K(2)O-CaF(2) and was synthesized by a traditional melting-quenching route. The glass was ground and sieved to obtain powders of specific size which were mixed with PE particles and then uniaxially pressed in order to obtain crack-free green samples. The compact of powders underwent a thermal treatment to remove the organic phase and to sinter the Fa-GC powders. Fa-GC scaffolds were characterized by means of X-Ray Diffraction, morphological observations, density measurements, image analysis, mechanical tests and in vitro tests. Composite systems were then prepared combining the drug uptake-delivery properties of MCM-41 silica micro/nanospheres with the Fa-GC scaffold. The system was prepared by soaking the scaffold into the MCM-41 synthesis batch. The composite scaffolds were characterized by means of X-Ray Diffraction, morphological observations, mechanical tests and in vitro tests. Ibuprofen was used as model drug for the uptake and delivery analysis of the composite system. In comparison with the MCM-41-free scaffold, both the adsorption capacity and the drug delivery behaviour were deeply affected by the presence of MCM-41 spheres inside the scaffold.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry*
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Body Fluids
  • Bone Substitutes / chemistry
  • Ceramics / chemistry*
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Glass / chemistry*
  • Ibuprofen / administration & dosage
  • Materials Testing
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Particle Size
  • Silicon Dioxide / chemistry*
  • Tissue Engineering
  • Tissue Scaffolds / chemistry*
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Bone Substitutes
  • Silicon Dioxide
  • Ibuprofen