Biodegradable borosilicate bioactive glass scaffolds with a trabecular microstructure for bone repair

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Orthopedic Research

Background:

• Bioactive glasses are promising for bone regeneration.
• Developing effective porous scaffolds is crucial for bone defect repair.
• The 13-93B1 borosilicate bioactive glass composition offers unique properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare and evaluate three-dimensional porous scaffolds of 13-93B1 bioactive glass.
• To assess the in vitro and in vivo performance of these scaffolds for bone repair.
• To investigate the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on scaffold-mediated bone regeneration.

Main Methods:

• Foam replication technique used for scaffold fabrication.
• In vitro immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) to assess hydroxyapatite conversion.
• In vivo evaluation in rabbit femoral head and radius defects.
• Histological analysis to assess bone integration and formation.

Main Results:

• In vitro SBF immersion led to partial conversion to porous hydroxyapatite.
• In vivo, scaffolds integrated well with newly formed bone in femoral defects.
• Scaffolds loaded with PRP enhanced bone regeneration in radial defects.
• The 13-93B1 scaffolds demonstrated biocompatibility and bone regenerative capacity.

Conclusions:

• 13-93B1 bioactive glass scaffolds are suitable for bone tissue engineering.
• Scaffold conversion to hydroxyapatite contributes to their efficacy.
• PRP enhances the bone regenerative potential of these scaffolds.
• The scaffolds show significant promise for orthopedic applications in bone repair.