Bioglasses as Local Drug Delivery System of Ketoprofen for Regenerative Medicine

This study explores the potential utilization of bioactive glasses using different dopant ions and ketoprofen for both tissue ingrowth and local drug delivery. Four different compositions of vitreous powders were synthesized by the sol-gel combined with the emulsion method, in the presence of the ionic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), differing by dopant ions: SiO₂- P₂O₅-CaO-(ZnO-MgO). This study investigates the chemical-mineralogical, morphological, and structural characteristics, as well as the biological properties of vitreous materials obtained. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) data analysis confirmed the vitreous nature; scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs correlate with the results of physical absorption with N₂, and the compositions used for the synthesis of the powders all showed for the samples with MgO lower porosity. Biological testing demonstrated biocompatible behavior towards osteoblast cells, (MG-63 type), inducing a slight acceleration of the mineralization phenomenon in the osteoid of the cells compared to the negative control, with cell viability for all the samples higher than 50%. Preliminary release analyses performed by UV-Visible spectroscopy showed a characteristic controlled release profile with prospects for a potential drug delivery system. The zinc-magnesium co-doped sample exhibits optimal performance in both osteogenic promotion and drug delivery, presenting potential for integrated bone repair and local drug administration. This study concludes that the synthesized bioglass exhibits promising characteristics for potential applications in tissue engineering with local drug delivery.