Synthesis of high surface area mesoporous bioactive glass nanospheres

Mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG) nanospheres having the composition of SiO2-CaO-P2O5 with both a large specific surface area (similar to 1040 m(2) g(-1)) and pore volume (1.54 cm(3) g(-1)) were prepared using the ionic surfactant, cetyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide (CTAB), as a template. The size of the nanospheres depends on the amount of CaO that is incorporated and can be controlled over the range of diameters from 20 to 200 nm under dilute aqueous condition. In vitro bioactivity studies were carried out in simulated body fluid (SBF). Cytotoxicity tests of the MBG nanospheres were also performed by observing their influence on J774 macrophages at various concentrations. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.