History and trends of bioactive glass-ceramics : HISTORY AND TRENDS OF BIOACTIVE GCs

Three-dimensional (3D), highly porous, mechanically competent, bioactive and biodegradable scaffolds have been fabricated for the first time by the replication technique using 45S5 Bioglass powder. Under an optimum sintering condition (1000 degrees C/1h), nearly full densification of the foam struts occurred and fine crystals of Na2Ca2Si3O9 formed, which conferred the scaffolds the highest possible compressive and flexural strength for this foam structure. Important findings are that the mechanically strong crystalline phase Na2Ca2Si3O9 can transform into an amorphous calcium phosphate phase after immersion in simulated body fluid for 28 days, and that the transformation kinetics can be tailored through controlling the crystallinity of the sintered 45S5 Bioglass. Therefore, the goal of an ideal scaffold that provides good mechanical support temporarily while maintaining bioactivity, and that can biodegrade at later stages at a tailorable rate is achievable with the developed Bioglass-based scaffolds.

Traditionally, bioactive glasses have been used to fill and restore bone defects. More recently, this category of biomaterials has become an emerging research field for bone tissue engineering applications. Here, we review and discuss current knowledge on porous bone tissue engineering scaffolds on the basis of melt-derived bioactive silicate glass compositions and relevant composite structures. Starting with an excerpt on the history of bioactive glasses, as well as on fundamental requirements for bone tissue engineering scaffolds, a detailed overview on recent developments of bioactive glass and glass-ceramic scaffolds will be given, including a summary of common fabrication methods and a discussion on the microstructural-mechanical properties of scaffolds in relation to human bone (structure-property and structure-function relationship). In addition, ion release effects of bioactive glasses concerning osteogenic and angiogenic responses are addressed. Finally, areas of future research are highlighted in this review.

Heat treatment of an MgO-CaO-SiO2-P2O5 glass gave a glass ceramic containing crystalline apatite (Ca10(PO4)6O,F2] and beta-wollastonite (CaO,SiO2) in an MgO-CaO-SiO2 glassy matrix. It showed bioactivity and a fairly high mechanical strength which decreased only slowly, even under load-bearing conditions in the body. It is used clinically as artificial vertebrae, iliac bones, etc. The bioactivity of this glass ceramic was attributed to apatite formation on its surface in the body. Dissolution of calcium and silicate ions from the glass ceramic was considered to play an important role in forming the surface apatite layer. It was shown that some new kinds of bioactive materials can be developed from CaO,SiO2-based glasses. Ceramics, metals and organic polymers coated with bone-like apatite were obtained when such materials were placed in the vicinity of a CaO,SiO2-based glass in a simulated body fluid. A bioactive bone cement which was hardened within 4 min and bonded to living bone, forming an apatite, was obtained by mixing a CaO,SiO2-based glass powder with a neutral ammonium phosphate solution. Its compressive strength reached 80 MPa comparable to that of poly(methyl methacrylate) within 3 d. A bioactive and ferromagnetic glass ceramic containing crystalline magnetite (Fe3O4) in a matrix of CaO,SiO2-based glassy and crystalline phases was obtained by a heat treatment of a Fe2O3-CaO.SiO2-B2O3-P2O5 glass. This glass ceramic was shown to be useful as thermoseeds for hyperthermia treatment of cancer.