In vitro bioactivity and structural features of mildly heat-treated sol-gel-derived silica fibers

The ability of sol-gel-derived silica fibers heat treated at a low temperature to induce formation of bone-like calcium phosphate (HCA) on their surfaces provides alternatives for the design of novel biomaterials, for example as implants used in tissue guiding or bone repairs. In this study, dry spinning was used to prepare the sol-gel fibers, which were heat-treated at 175 degrees and 250 degrees C. In addition, the differences in the surface topography (in a nanometer scale) of different fibers with respect to their in vitro bioactivity were studied. The structure of the fibers was varied using three different factors: (1) spinnable sols having varying structures and sizes of silica polymers to establish varying viscosity levels; (2) aging of green-state fibers; and (3) heat treatment of fibers. The in vitro bioactivity and solubility tests were done in simulated body fluid (SBF). To monitor surface topography and roughness of the heat-treated silica fibers, a scanning probe microscopy (SPM) with tapping mode AFM was used. Different fibers obtained clearly different properties. The fibers spun at about eta > 3.0 Pas had the best properties with respect to bioactivity, especially when they were heat-treated at 175 degrees C. It was found that surface structure in a nanometer scale was the most important factor controlling the in vitro bioactivity of heat-treated silica fibers. The correct proportions between the peaks and peak distances at the surfaces are suggested to be important with respect to in vitro bioactivity. The results indicate that peak distance distribution between 5-50 nm, especially between 5-20 nm, together with a peak height > or = 1 nm is most favorable for calcium phosphate formation.