Bioactive glasses enriched with zinc and strontium: synthesis, characterization, cytocompatibility with osteoblasts...

Purpose: The aim of the presented work was to characterize the new obtained bioglasses and assess their biological performance in vitro. Bioglasses were produced using the sol-gel method in the SiO₂-P₂O₅-CaO system, for the purpose as composite ingredients. Their chemical composition was enriched with ZnO to introduce antibacterial properties and SrO with osteoinductive effect. The properties of bioglasses were compared and the effect of chemical composition and particle size on their biological properties was assessed. Methods: The bioglasses were evaluated via TG-DTA, FTIR, SEM-EDS analyses before and after incubation in SBF solution. LDH and WST-1 tests were used to determine the level of cytotoxicity of the tested bioglasses on hFOB1.19 osteoblasts. Results: The results show that the developed bioglasses release Ca²⁺, are bioactive in SBF solution, not cytotoxic and show antibacterial activity in contact with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus strains. Bioglasses enriched with ZnO show the highest bactericidal activity. All tested bioglasses enhanced hFOB 1.19 cells proliferation. Particle size has a lower effect on biological performance of the bioglasses than their chemical composition. Conclusions: The conducted research showed that bioglass modification with SrO and ZnO can be considered particularly for the development of biomaterials supporting bone regeneration and the treatment of infected bone defects.