The effect of submicron bioactive glass particles on in vitro osteogenesis

This study investigated the effects of novel submicron bioactive glass (sm-BG) particles on in vitro osteogenesis and compared them to those of microscale bioactive glass (m-BG) particles. The ability of sm-BG particles to generate precipitates on their surface in the presence of simulated body fluid (SBF) was examined, and the effect of sm-BG particles on in vitro osteogenesis was evaluated by culturing human osteoblast-like osteosarcoma (MG-63) cells on particle-coated plates. It was found that sm-BG induced formation of precipitates after incubation for 24 hours in SBF. Compared with m-BG, sm-BG particles better promoted MG-63 cell adhesion and they induced expression of the ALP, RUNX2 and COL1 genes at an earlier stage and to a greater degree. This study demonstrates that submicron bioactive glass particles possess a high capacity for precipitates formation in SBF and improved osteogenic properties when compared to microscale BG particles.