Titanium phosphate glass microspheres for bone tissue engineering

We have demonstrated the successful production of titanium phosphate glass microspheres in the size range of similar to 10-200 mu m using an inexpensive, efficient, easily scalable process and assessed their use in bone tissue engineering applications. Glasses of the following compositions were prepared by melt-quench techniques: 0.5P(2)O(5)-0.4CaO-(0.1 - x)Na2O-xTiO(2), where x = 0.03, 0.05 and 0.07 mol fraction (denoted as Ti3, Ti5 and Ti7 respectively). Several characterization studies such as differential thermal analysis, degradation (performed using a novel time lapse imaging technique) and pH and ion release measurements revealed significant densification of the glass structure with increased incorporation of TiO2 in the glass from 3 to 5 mol.%, although further TiO2 incorporation up to 7 mol.% did not affect the glass structure to the same extent. Cell culture studies performed using MG63 cells over a 7-day period clearly showed the ability of the microspheres to provide a stable surface for cell attachment, growth and proliferation. Taken together, the results confirm that 5 mol.% TiO2 glass microspheres, on account of their relative ease of preparation and favourable biocompatibility, are worthy candidates for use as substrate materials in bone tissue engineering applications. (C) 2012 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.