Bioactivity and mechanical behaviour of cobalt oxide-doped bioactive glass

Bioactive glasses are materials capable of bonding implants to tissues. 45S5 Bio-glass A (R) is one such material capable of bonding strongly to bone within 6 weeks. It develops a hydroxy-carbonate apatite layer on the implant that is chemically and crystallographically equivalent to the mineral phase of bone. However, it suffers from a mechanical weakness and low fracture toughness due to an amorphous glass network and is not suitable for load-bearing applications. In order to improve its mechanical strength and bioactivity, the present work explores the effects of cobalt oxide additions. Bioactivity of the glass samples was assessed through their hydroxyapatite formation ability by immersing them in the simulated body fluid for different soaking periods. The formation of hydroxyapatite was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, pH measurement and microstructure evaluation through scanning electron microscopy. Densities and mechanical properties of the samples were found to increase considerably with an increase in the concentration of cobalt oxide.