Fabrication, Structural and Biological Characterization of Zinc-Containing Bioactive Glasses and Their Use in Membranes for Guided Bone Regeneration

Polymeric membranes are widely used in guided bone regeneration (GBR), particularly in dentistry. In addition, bioactive glasses can be added to the polymers in order to develop a matrix that is osteoconductive and osteoinductive, increasing cell adhesion and proliferation. The bioactive glasses allow the insertion into its network of therapeutic ions in order to add specific biological properties. The addition of zinc into bioactive glasses can promote antibacterial activity and induce the differentiation and proliferation of the bone cells. In this study, bioactive glasses containing zinc (0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 mol%) were developed and structurally and biologically characterized. The biological results show that the Zn-containing bioactive glasses do not present significant antibacterial activity, but the addition of zinc at the highest concentration does not compromise the bioactivity and promotes the viability of Saos-2 cells. The cell culture assays in the membranes (PCL, PCL:BG and PCL:BGZn2) showed that zinc addition promotes cell viability and an increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) production.

Automated summary

Polymeric membranes are commonly used in guided bone regeneration (GBR) in dentistry. The addition of bioactive glasses with therapeutic ions, including zinc, can enhance cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. In this study, bioactive glasses containing different concentrations of zinc were developed, and their structural and biological characteristics were evaluated. The results showed that the zinc-containing bioactive glasses did not exhibit significant antibacterial activity, but the highest concentration of zinc did not compromise bioactivity and promoted cell viability. Cell culture assays using the membranes demonstrated that the addition of zinc improved cell viability and increased alkaline phosphatase production.