Copper-doped ordered mesoporous bioactive glass: A promising multifunctional platform for bone tissue engineering

The design and development of biomaterials with multifunctional properties is highly attractive in the context of bone tissue engineering due to the potential of providing multiple therapies and, thus, better treatment of diseases. In order to tackle this challenge, copper-doped silicate mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) were synthesized via a sol-gel route coupled with an evaporation-induced self-assembly process by using a non-ionic block co-polymer as a structure directing agent. The structure and textural properties of calcined materials were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning-transmission electron microscopy and nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements. In vitro bioactivity was assessed by immersion tests in simulated body fluid (SBF). Preliminary antibacterial tests using Staphylococcus aureus were also carried out. Copper-doped glasses revealed an ordered arrangement of mesopores (diameter around 5 nm) and exhibited apatite-forming ability in SBF along with promising antibacterial properties. These results suggest the potential suitability of copper-doped MBG powder for use as a multifunctional biomaterial to promote bone regeneration (bioactivity) and prevent/combat microbial infection at the implantation site, thereby promoting tissue healing

Production and characterization of glass-ceramic materials for potential use in dental applications: thermal and mechanical properties, microstructure, and in vitro bioactivity

Multicomponent silicate glasses and their corresponding glass-ceramic derivatives were prepared and tested for potential applications in dentistry. The glasses were produced via a melting-quenching process, ground and sieved to obtain fine-grained powders that were pressed in the form of small cylinders and thermally treated to obtain sintered glass-ceramic samples. X-ray diffraction investigations were carried out on the materials before and after sintering to detect the presence of crystalline phases. Thermal analyses, mechanical characterizations (assessment of bending strength, Young’s modulus, Vickers hardness, fracture toughness), and in vitro bioactivity tests in simulated body fluid were performed. On the basis of the acquired results, different potential applications in the dental field were discussed for the proposed glass-ceramics. The use of such materials can be suggested for either restorative dentistry or dental implantology, mainly depending on their peculiar bioactive and mechanical properties. At the end of the work, the feasibility of a novel full-ceramic bilayered implant was explored and discussed. This implant, comprising a highly bioactive layer expected to promote osteointegration and another one mimicking the features of tooth enamel, can have an interesting potential for whole tooth substitution

Regulation of the Ocular Cell/Tissue Response by Implantable Biomaterials and Drug Delivery Systems

Therapeutic advancements in the treatment of various ocular diseases is often linked to the development of efficient drug delivery systems (DDSs), which would allow a sustained release while maintaining therapeutic drug levels in the target tissues. In this way, ocular tissue/cell response can be properly modulated and designed in order to produce a therapeutic effect. An ideal ocular DDS should encapsulate and release the appropriate drug concentration to the target tissue (therapeutic but non-toxic level) while preserving drug functionality. Furthermore, a constant release is usually preferred, keeping the initial burst to a minimum. Different materials are used, modified, and combined in order to achieve a sustained drug release in both the anterior and posterior segments of the eye. After giving a picture of the different strategies adopted for ocular drug release, this review article provides an overview of the biomaterials that are used as drug carriers in the eye, including micro- and nanospheres, liposomes, hydrogels, and multi-material implants; the advantages and limitations of these DDSs are discussed in reference to the major ocular applications

The use of simulated body fluid (SBF) for assessing materials bioactivity in the context of tissue engineering: Review and challenges

Some special implantable materials are defined as “bioactive” if they can bond to living bone, forming a tight and chemically‐stable interface. This property, which is inherent to some glass compositions, or can be induced by applying appropriate surface treatments on otherwise bio‐inert metals, can be evaluated in vitro by immersion studies in simulated body fluid (SBF), mimicking the composition of human plasma. As a result, apatite coating may form on the material surface, and the presence of this bone‐like “biomimetic skin” is considered predictive of bone‐bonding ability in vivo. This review article summarizes the story and evolution of in vitro bioactivity testing methods using SBF, highlighting the influence of testing parameters (e.g., formulation and circulation of the solution) and material‐related parameters (e.g., composition, geometry, texture). Suggestions for future methodological refinements are also provided at the end of the paper

3D printing of hierarchical scaffolds based on mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs)-fundamentals and applications

The advent of mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) in applied bio-sciences led to the birth of a new class of nanostructured materials combining triple functionality, that is, bone-bonding capability, drug delivery and therapeutic ion release. However, the development of hierarchical three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds based on MBGs may be difficult due to some inherent drawbacks of MBGs (e.g., high brittleness) and technological challenges related to their fabrication in a multiscale porous form. For example, MBG-based scaffolds produced by conventional porogen-assisted methods exhibit a very low mechanical strength, making them unsuitable for clinical applications. The application of additive manufacturing techniques significantly improved the processing of these materials, making it easier preserving the textural and functional properties of MBGs and allowing stronger scaffolds to be produced. This review provides an overview of the major aspects relevant to 3D printing of MBGs, including technological issues and potential applications of final products in medicine