Development and evaluation of copper-containing mesoporous bioactive glasses for bone defects therapy

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Materials Chemistry
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) are investigated for bone defect treatment.
• Incorporating therapeutic oxides like copper oxide (CuO) enhances MBG biological activity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize MBGs with varying CuO content (0-5 mol-%) using different synthesis routes.
• To evaluate the influence of CuO and synthesis parameters on MBG properties and in vitro bioactivity.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of two MBG series using chloride or nitrate precursors and catalysts.
• Characterization of nanoparticle size, structure, and ion release.
• In vitro bioactivity assessment using simulated body fluid (SBF) and cell culture media (MEM, THB).

Main Results:

• Nitrate-based MBGs showed larger metallic copper nanoparticles (>50 nm) and faster apatite layer formation in SBF.
• Chloride-based MBGs exhibited smaller calcium/copper phosphate nanoparticles (10-20 nm).
• All synthesized MBGs released therapeutic Ca2+ and Cu2+ ions within 24 hours in culture media.

Conclusions:

• MBGs synthesized using nitrate precursors demonstrate superior in vitro bioactivity and ion release profiles.
• These nitrate-based MBGs are proposed as excellent biomaterials for bone regeneration due to their rapid bioactivity and therapeutic ion release.