In vitro Evaluation of Porous borosilicate, borophosphate and phosphate Bioactive Glasses Scaffolds fabricated using Foaming Agent for Bone Regeneration

Sci Rep. 2018 Feb 27;8(1):3699. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-22032-2.

Abstract

In this work, glasses within the borosilicate borophosphate and phosphate family were sintered into 3D porous scaffolds using 60 and 70 vol. % NH4(HCO3) as a foaming agent. All scaffolds produced remained amorphous; apart from one third of the glasses which crystallized. All produced scaffolds had porosity >50% and interconnected pores in the range of 250-570 µm; as evidenced by µCT. The in-vitro dissolution of the scaffolds in SBF and changes in compression were assessed as a function of immersion time. The pH of the solution containing the borosilicate scaffolds increased due to the typical non-congruent dissolution of this glass family. Borophosphate and phosphate scaffolds induced a decrease in pH upon dissolution attributed to the congruent dissolution of those materials and the large release of phosphate within the media. As prepared, scaffolds showed compressive strength of 1.29 ± 0.21, 1.56 ± 0.63, 3.63 ± 0.69 MPa for the borosilicate, borophosphate and phosphate samples sintered with 60 vol. % NH4 (HCO3), respectively. Evidence of hydroxyapatite precipitation on the borosilicate glass scaffolds was shown by SEM/EDS, XRD and ICP-OES analysis. The borophosphate scaffolds remained stable upon dissolution. The phosphate scaffolds were fully crystallized, leading to very large release of phosphate in the media.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry*
  • Bone Regeneration / physiology
  • Compressive Strength
  • Durapatite / chemistry
  • Glass / chemistry*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Phosphates / chemistry
  • Porosity
  • Tissue Engineering / methods
  • Tissue Scaffolds / chemistry*
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Phosphates
  • Durapatite