Selective Contribution of Bioactive Glasses to Molecular and Cellular Pathways

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Bioactive glasses are extensively studied as long-lasting biomaterials capable of bonding with hard and soft tissues.
• Understanding cellular and molecular responses is crucial for their application in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review foreign-body response mechanisms and the role of adsorbed proteins in cell-biomaterial interactions.
• To explain how physicochemical properties of bioactive glasses influence cellular and molecular responses.
• To highlight strategies for engineering bioactive glasses for controlled protein adsorption and cellular functions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of foreign-body response mechanisms.
• Analysis of protein adsorption's role in cell-biomaterial interactions.
• Discussion of physicochemical properties of common bioactive glasses.

Main Results:

• Adsorbed proteins are key mediators of initial cell-biomaterial interactions.
• Physicochemical properties significantly impact cellular and molecular responses to bioactive glasses.
• Tailoring glass properties can direct protein adsorption and cellular behavior.

Conclusions:

• Bioactive glasses offer potential for tissue engineering applications.
• Controlling protein adsorption and cellular responses through material engineering is achievable.
• Future strategies aim to precisely engineer bioactive glasses for enhanced regenerative medicine outcomes.