Unlocking the Transformative Potential of Bioactive Glass in Healthcare

By Taha KhanApr 16 2024Reviewed by Lexie Corner

Bioactive glass has become a significant modern healthcare innovation since its discovery by Larry Hench in the late 1960s. Among various compositions explored, the bonding properties of 45S5 Bioglass, assisted by nanoparticles, stood out due to its distinct composition.^{1, 2} This article discusses bioactive glass and explores its properties, applications, challenges, and future prospects.

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Understanding Bioactive Glass

Bioactive glass has a unique ability to bond with living tissues, making it an invaluable asset in biomedical applications. Bioactive glass nanoparticles are primarily composed of silicon dioxide, calcium oxide, sodium oxide, and phosphorus pentoxide, exhibiting a porous structure conducive to cellular infiltration and integration within the body.

Researchers have developed several formulations of bioactive glass for specific biomedical applications. Adjustments in composition influence properties such as degradation rate, mechanical strength, and bioactivity.

For instance, 45S5 inorganic bioglass—known for its bioactivity, strong bond with host bone, and hard tissue regeneration—has a weight percentage composition of 6 % P₂O₅, 24.5 % Na₂O, 24.5 % CaO, and 45 % SiO₂.²

The synthesis of these nanoparticles involves various methods, such as sol-gel processing and melt-quenching, which allows precise control over particle size, morphology, and surface properties.³

Harnessing Properties and Advantages

Bioactive glass nanoparticles have unique properties that make them highly desirable for medical applications.

For instance, when bioactive glass nanoparticles are exposed to body fluids, a hydroxycarbonate apatite (HCA) layer is formed, facilitating osseointegration and promoting bone regeneration. This makes bioactive glass an ideal material for orthopedic implants and bone grafts, as it offers superior biocompatibility and a reduced risk of implant rejection compared to synthetic materials.⁴

Bioactive glass also exhibits controlled degradation, dissolving gradually and leaving behind healthy new tissue, thus eliminating the need for a second surgery to remove the implant.¹

Compared to traditional materials like metals and plastics, bioactive glass minimizes the risk of implant rejection and actively participates in the healing process rather than remaining inert.¹

Applications in Healthcare

In bone regeneration, bioactive glass granules or scaffolds fill bone defects caused by trauma, disease, or surgery, providing structural support and stimulating new bone growth, leading to faster healing.

In dental applications, bioactive glass nanoparticles can be incorporated into cement to fix dentures or dental implants, strengthening the bond between implant and bone and promoting faster osseointegration.⁵

These nanoparticles also accelerate wound closure and reduce scarring when applied as a topical dressing. Moreover, bioactive glass can be used as a carrier for drug delivery by encapsulating therapeutic drugs within its structure for controlled release, targeting specific areas, and minimizing side effects.⁶

Mesoporous Bioactive Glass for Improved Tissue Regeneration

In a 2023 study, researchers synthesized mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG) utilizing diatom as a natural source. They examined its surface morphology, quantified physical properties through X-Ray diffraction, and analyzed thermal properties via thermogravimetric analysis. Biocompatibility was confirmed through cytotoxicity testing using the MTT assay.⁷

The mesoporous bioactive glass was integrated with gelatin to create a nanofiber matrix via electrospinning. Platelet-rich plasma growth factors were activated by grafting on the matrix surface. Animal experiments demonstrated enhanced bone-tendon healing with the MBG nanofiber matrix, as observed through histological analyses.

The study highlights the potential of MBG nanofiber matrix in orthopedic applications, particularly in improving tissue regeneration and expediting healing processes.⁷

Bioactive Glass: Challenges and Innovations

While its application in healthcare is promising, bioactive glass faces several challenges that must be addressed.

Given that these materials are used in the human body, the body may recognize them as foreign substances and initiate processes to eliminate them, a reaction that can prove significantly counterproductive. Consequently, verifying the biocompatibility of these materials is imperative.

Similarly, the challenge of mass-producing bioactive glass impedes its widespread and cost-efficient application. However, researchers are exploring novel synthesis methods and 3D printing technologies to facilitate large-scale, cost-effective production of complex bioactive glass structures.⁸

Scalable Bioactive Glass Fabrication

In a 2023 study, researchers addressed the issue of scalability in fabricating bioactive glass scaffolds through stereolithographic technology. They aimed to replicate bone structure using digital light processing-based vat photopolymerization (DLP-VPP), reconstructing the trabecular architecture of cancellous bone from a polymeric sponge model.

The printed scaffolds exhibited foam-like structures post-sintering, with adequate mechanical properties suitable for bone-contact applications.⁸

The researchers demonstrated in vitro bioactivity by forming a hydroxyapatite layer after soaking in simulated body fluid (SBF), indicating potential for bone healing. This approach overcomes scalability challenges in bioactive glass scaffold mass production, offering precise control over pore shape and spatial arrangement, which is essential for tissue engineering applications.⁸

The Future Bioactive Glass in Medicine

The future trajectory of bioactive glass in healthcare will be driven by interdisciplinary collaboration and ongoing research efforts.^{7, 8} Innovations such as scalable bioactive glass fabrication methods⁸ will facilitate its widespread and economical utilization in healthcare settings.

Integrating bioactive glass nanoparticles into multifunctional medical devices opens avenues for personalized therapeutics and targeted interventions tailored to individual patient needs.

The importance of bioactive glass in health care is undeniable; therefore, it is imperative to continue to invest in research and development of bioactive glass-based technologies.

More from AZoM: Applications of 4D-Printed Shape-Memory Polymers

References and Further Reading

1. Fernandes, HR., et al. (2018). Bioactive glasses and glass-ceramics for healthcare applications in bone regeneration and tissue engineering. Materials. doi.org/10.3390%2Fma11122530
2. Gavinho, SR., et al. (2023). Bioactive glasses containing strontium or magnesium ions to enhance the biological response in bone regeneration. Nanomaterials. doi.org/10.3390%2Fnano13192717
3. Cannio, M., Bellucci, D., Roether, JA., Boccaccini, DN., Cannillo, V. (2021). Bioactive glass applications: A literature review of human clinical trials. Materials. doi.org/10.3390/ma14185440
4. Olmo, N., Martı́n, AI., Salinas, AJ., Turnay, J., Vallet-Regı́, M., Lizarbe, MA. (2003). Bioactive sol–gel glasses with and without a hydroxycarbonate apatite layer as substrates for osteoblast cell adhesion and proliferation. Biomaterials. doi.org/10.1016/S0142-9612(03)00200-X
5. Skallevold, HE., Rokaya, D., Khurshid, Z., Zafar, MS. (2019). Bioactive glass applications in dentistry. International journal of molecular sciences. doi.org/10.3390/ijms20235960
6. Huang, CL., Fang, W., Huang, BR., Wang, YH., Dong, GC., Lee, TM. (2020). Bioactive glass as a nanoporous drug delivery system for teicoplanin. Applied Sciences. doi.org/10.3390/app10072595
7. Lin, HM., Chen, CH., Hsu, FY., Wu, ZY., Wong, P. C. (2023). Biosilica source converted into mesoporous bioactive glass implanted for tendon‐bone healing. Journal of the Chinese Chemical Society. doi.org/10.1002/jccs.202300021
8. Baino, F., Dias, J., Alidoost, M., Schwentenwein, M., Verné, E. (2023). Making foam-like bioactive glass scaffolds by vat photopolymerization. Open Ceramics. doi.org/10.1016/j.oceram.2023.100392

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