Sol-gel preparation, characterisation and in vitro bioactivity of Mg containing bioactive glass

Bioactive glass of the type CaO-P2O5-SiO2-MgO was obtained by the sol-gel processing method. The obtained materials were characterised by the techniques, such as X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, thermal gravimetric analysis, differential scanning caloremetry and nitrogen adsorption pore size analysis. The bioactivity was examined in vitro with respect to the ability of hydroxyapatite layer to form on the surface as a result of contact with simulated body fluid. The gel derived materials were amorphous as shown by X-ray diffraction, but were able to crystallise Ca phosphates on their surfaces when exposed to simulated body fluid. The authors also examined the alkaline phosphatase activity of osteoblasts, using human fetal osteoblastic cells (hFOB 1.19) cultured on the Mg bioglass, and compared it with the polystyrene plates. The bone cells consistently expressed higher alkaline phosphatase activity in the Mg bioactive glass materials compared with the polystyrene plates.