Influence of mesostructuration on the reactivity of bioactive glasses in biological medium: a PIXE-RBS study

Building mesostructured biomaterials is a challenging and exciting task that has attracted much attention because of their use as drug carriers or drug delivery systems. In the case of bioactive materials, the mesostructuration can also deeply impact their physico-chemical properties and the reactivity. In this study, we show how highly ordered mesoporosity influences the early steps of the biomineralization process and the reactivity in binary (SiO2–CaO) and ternary (SiO2–CaO–P2O5) bioactive glasses. Conventional porous sol–gel glasses were synthesized using a classical route, while mesostructured glasses were developed using a non-ionic surfactant. Textural properties of these materials have been characterized. The in vitro biomineralization process was followed, using Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) associated to Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS), which are efficient methods for a highly sensitive multi-elemental analysis. Elemental maps of silicon, calcium and phosphorus were obtained at a micrometer scale and revealed for the first time a bulk reactivity for mesostructured glasses. This is a major advantage over conventional glasses, for which the first steps of biomineralization are limited to the periphery of the material. Their enhanced bioactivity combined with their possible use as drug-delivery systems make them promising candidates for bone regeneration

Development of a new family of monolithic calcium (pyro)phosphate glasses by soft chemistry

The development of bioactive phosphate-based glasses is essential in biomaterials science, and especially for bone substitution applications. In this context, the preparation of amorphous calcium-phosphorus hydroxide/oxide monoliths at low temperature is a key challenge for being able to develop novel hybrid materials for these applications. We herein report for the first time the synthesis and physical chemical characterisation of a novel family of pyrophosphate-based glasses (with the formula: {[(Ca2+)1−x(H+/K+)2x]2[(P2O74−)1−y(PO43−)4y/3]} n(H2O)), which were prepared by soft chemistry using low temperatures (T<70°C) and water as a solvent. The effect of the initial Ca/Pyrophosphate ratio on the structure and morphology of these pyrophosphate glasses was investigated in detail. Depending on this ratio, a glass (mixed calcium pyro- and orthophosphate) or a glass-ceramic (Ca10K4(P2O7)6•9H2O crystals embedded in the amorphous phase) was obtained. The proportion of the crystalline phase increased with an increase in the Ca/Pyrophosphate ratio in the batch solution. As expected for a glass, the formation of the glassy material was demonstrated not to be thermodynamically but rather kinetically driven, and the washing step was found to be crucial to prevent crystallisation. The stability of the amorphous phase was discussed considering the structural degrees of freedom of pyrophosphate entities, ionic strength of the initial solution and the inhibitory effect of orthophosphate ions. Overall, this new strategy of preparation of monolithic calcium-(pyro)phosphate based glasses using soft chemistry in water is highly promising in view of preparing new functional organic-inorganic hybrids for bone substitution applications

Ibuprofen loading into mesoporous silica nanoparticles using Co-Spray drying: A multi-scale study

Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles (MSN) are used in an increasing number of applications in nanomedicine. Their synthesis and external/internal functionalization have been extensively studied as well as their biological properties. Nevertheless, the conventional drug loading processes of MSN (such as impregnation), do not enable sufficient efficiency and are difficult to consider on an industrial scale. To overcome these limitations, we implemented an innovative co-spray-drying process, using a nano spray-dryer, to load MSN with ibuprofen molecules. In this contribution, complementary techniques were used to perform a multi-scale characterization of the loaded particles. Spray-dried powders have been analysed from aggregates size and morphology to pore loading and ibuprofen conformation. This study demonstrates that ibuprofen/silica weight ratio in the initial suspension strongly affects the location (into mesopores or external) and the conformation (crystallized, amorphous or liquid-like) of ibuprofen. The quantification of each phase has allowed calculating precise loading rates and demonstrate tunable pore filling

Procédé innovant pour la formulation de nanovecteurs d’agents anticancéreux par co-spray drying

Les nanosystèmes présentent un intérêt important dans le monde biomédical, pour leur utilisation comme outilsdiagnostiquesou thérapeutiquesafin de réaliser une délivrance contrôlée de principes actifs. Parmi tous ces systèmes, les nanoparticules de silice mésoporeuse (MSN), biocompatibles et capablesde se dégrader naturellement dans le corps(Lu et al. 2007, Slowing et al. 2008), possèdent un véritable potentiel en tant que vecteurs de molécules actives.Leur capacité d’encapsulation par physisorption ou chimisorption est également un atout majeur. La silice de type MCM-41 est l’une des plus synthétiséeset utilisées, notammentgrâce à sa forteporosité et à satrès grande surface spécifique (Vallet-Regi etal. 2001, Wilczewska et al. 2012)

Freeze-casting for PLGA/carbonated apatite composite scaffolds: structure and properties

This paper focuses on the fabrication of three-dimensional porous PLGA-biomimetic carbonated apatite composite scaffolds by freeze-casting and using dimethyl carbonate as a solvent. Several charge/polymer ratios were tested in order to finely understand the influence of the filler rate on the scaffold porosity and mechanical and degradation properties using complementary characterization techniques (SEM, mercury porosimetry and X-ray microtomography). It was demonstrated that the apatite ratio within the composite scaffold has a strong influence in terms of architecture, material cohesion, mechanical properties and in vitro degradation properties. An optimum biomimetic apatite ratio was reached to combine good mechanical properties (higher rigidity) and material cohesion. In vitro degradation studies showed that higher apatite filler rates limited PLGA degradation and enhanced the hydrophilicity of the scaffolds which is expected to improve the biological properties of the scaffolds in addition to the bioactivity related to the presence of the apatite analogous to bone mineral

Oxidation behaviour of a CoNiCrAlY/h-BN based abradable coating

The oxidation resistance of a thermally sprayed CoNiCrAlY/h-BN abradable coating was studied at 750 and 900 °C. First, the high porosity of the abradable coating was carefully characterised in order to estimate the specific surface area of the coating, required to evaluate the oxidation kinetics. Then the formed oxides were investigated by XRD, Raman spectroscopy and SEM. At 900 °C, the mass variations exhibited a deviation from parabolic behaviour due to rapidly growing oxides. Meanwhile, at 750 °C, after a transient state, the oxidation rate reaches a steady state, indicating that a protective alumina scale was maintained at this temperature

Mechanism of Calcium Incorporation Inside Sol–Gel Silicate Bioactive Glass and the Advantage of Using Ca(OH)2 over Other Calcium Sources

Calcium is an essential component of osteogenesis and is often required for imparting significant bioactivity to synthetic bone substitutes and, in particular, silicate-based materials. However, the mechanism of calcium incorporation inside sol–gel silicates is poorly understood. In this work, we shed light on the determinant parameters for incorporation of calcium into acid–base-catalyzed sol–gel silicates at ambient temperature: increasing the pH above the isoelectric point of silicic acid and the nature of the calcium counterion in the calcium precursor are found to be the key. Based on our proposed reaction sequence, we were able to compare calcium precursors and select an ideal candidate compound for the synthesis of bioactive glasses (BG) and organic–inorganic hybrids at ambient temperature. Reproducible syntheses and gel times of SiO2–CaO BG were obtained using calcium hydroxide (CH), and we demonstrate its usability in the synthesis of promising BG–polycaprolactone hybrid scaffolds. BG and hybrids prepared with CH were able to form nanocrystalline nonstoichiometric apatite in simulated body fluid. The increased reliability of low-temperature syntheses associated with the use of a stable and inexpensive alkaline-earth precursor are major steps toward the translation of calcium silicate hybrids or other alkaline-earth silicates from bench to clinic

Advances in the synthesis and structure of α-canaphite: a multitool and multiscale study

α-Canaphite (CaNa2P2O7·4H2O) is a layered calcium disodium pyrophosphate tetrahydrate phase of significant geological and potential biological interest. This study overcomes the lack of a reliable protocol to synthesize pure α-canaphite by using a novel simple and reproducible approach of double decomposition in solution at room temperature. The pure α-canaphite is then characterized from the atomic to the macroscopic level using a multitool and multiscale advanced characterization strategy, providing for the first time full resolution of the α-canaphite monoclinic structure, including the hydrogen bonding network. Synchrotron X-ray diffraction and neutron diffraction are combined with multinuclear solid state NMR experimental data and computational modeling via DFT/GIPAW calculations. Among the main characteristics of the α-canaphite structure are some strong hydrogen bonds and one of the four water molecules showing a different coordination scheme. This peculiar water molecule could be the last to leave the collapsed structure on heating, leading eventually to anhydrous α-CaNa2P2O7 and could also be involved in the internal hydrolysis of pyrophosphate ions as it is the closest water molecule to the pyrophosphate ions. Relating such detailed structural data on α-canaphite to its physico-chemical properties is of major interest considering the possible roles of canaphite for biomedical applications. The vibrational spectra of α-canaphite (deuterated or not) are analyzed and Raman spectroscopy appears to be a promising tool for the identification/diagnosis of such microcrystals in vitro, in vivo or ex vivo

Synthèse par voie sol-gel et réactivité in vitro de verres bioactifs dopés, mésostructurés et macrostructurés. Caractérisation par micro-faisceaux d'ions

When bioactive glasses are in contact with living tissues, several physico-chemical reactions (dissolution, precipitation…) take place at the material / bone interface, and lead to the formation of a phosphocalcic layer, whose composition is close to the mineral phase of the bone (hydroxyapatite). The apatite layer is used as a mineralization site for bone cells and finally allows an intimate bond between the bioactive glass and osseous tissues. This bond is typical of bioactivity, which can be modulated through several parameters of the glass, like composition in major and trace elements or textural properties (specific surface, porosity).In this context, we elaborated bioactive glasses in binary (SiO2-CaO) and ternary (SiO2-CaO-P2O5) systems. Glasses have been doped with zinc and magnesium ions through the sol-gel route. Thanks to the use of surfactants, we obtained mesostructured glasses. Finally, by using inverse opal method, organized macroporous glasses have been synthesized. The influence of these parameters on the reactivity of glasses in contact with a biological medium (DMEM) has been mainly studied by techniques using micro-ion beams. The X-ray emission induced by charged particles (PIXE) combined with Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) has indeed demonstrated clear effects on the kinetics, the amplitude, and the spatial distribution of the physico-chemical reactions.Lorsque les verres bioactifs entrent en contact avec des tissus vivants, une série de réactions physico-chimiques (dissolution, précipitation...) ont lieu à l’interface matériau / os, et conduisent à la formation d’une couche phosphocalcique, dont la composition est proche de la phase minérale de l’os (hydroxyapatite). La couche d’apatite sert de site de minéralisation pour les cellules osseuses, ce qui permet in fine un lien intime entre le verre bioactif et les tissus osseux. Ce lien est caractéristique de la bioactivité, qui peut être modulée via plusieurs paramètres du verre comme la composition en éléments majeurs et traces ou les propriétés texturales (surface spécifique, porosité).Dans ce contexte, nous avons élaboré des verres bioactifs dans des systèmes binaires (SiO2-CaO) et ternaires (SiO2-CaO-P2O5). Ces verres ont été dopés en ions zinc et magnésium via la voie sol-gel. Grâce à l'emploi de tensioactifs, nous avons obtenu des verres mésostructurés. Enfin, en utilisant des méthodes dites « d’opale inverse », des verres à macroporosité organisée ont été synthétisés. L'influence de ces paramètres sur la réactivité des verres au contact d’un milieu biologique (DMEM) a principalement été étudiée par des techniques utilisant des microfaisceaux d'ions. L'émission X induite par particules chargées (PIXE) combinée à la spectrométrie de rétrodiffusion Rutherford (RBS) a en effet démontré des effets évidents sur la cinétique, l'amplitude et la distribution spatiale des réactions physico-chimiques

Sol-gel synthesis and in vitro reactivity of doped, mesostructured and macrostructured bioactive glasses. Micro-ion beam characterization

Lorsque les verres bioactifs entrent en contact avec des tissus vivants, une série de réactions physico-chimiques (dissolution, précipitation...) ont lieu à l’interface matériau / os, et conduisent à la formation d’une couche phosphocalcique, dont la composition est proche de la phase minérale de l’os (hydroxyapatite). La couche d’apatite sert de site de minéralisation pour les cellules osseuses, ce qui permet in fine un lien intime entre le verre bioactif et les tissus osseux. Ce lien est caractéristique de la bioactivité, qui peut être modulée via plusieurs paramètres du verre comme la composition en éléments majeurs et traces ou les propriétés texturales (surface spécifique, porosité).Dans ce contexte, nous avons élaboré des verres bioactifs dans des systèmes binaires (SiO2-CaO) et ternaires (SiO2-CaO-P2O5). Ces verres ont été dopés en ions zinc et magnésium via la voie sol-gel. Grâce à l'emploi de tensioactifs, nous avons obtenu des verres mésostructurés. Enfin, en utilisant des méthodes dites « d’opale inverse », des verres à macroporosité organisée ont été synthétisés. L'influence de ces paramètres sur la réactivité des verres au contact d’un milieu biologique (DMEM) a principalement été étudiée par des techniques utilisant des microfaisceaux d'ions. L'émission X induite par particules chargées (PIXE) combinée à la spectrométrie de rétrodiffusion Rutherford (RBS) a en effet démontré des effets évidents sur la cinétique, l'amplitude et la distribution spatiale des réactions physico-chimiques.When bioactive glasses are in contact with living tissues, several physico-chemical reactions (dissolution, precipitation…) take place at the material / bone interface, and lead to the formation of a phosphocalcic layer, whose composition is close to the mineral phase of the bone (hydroxyapatite). The apatite layer is used as a mineralization site for bone cells and finally allows an intimate bond between the bioactive glass and osseous tissues. This bond is typical of bioactivity, which can be modulated through several parameters of the glass, like composition in major and trace elements or textural properties (specific surface, porosity).In this context, we elaborated bioactive glasses in binary (SiO2-CaO) and ternary (SiO2-CaO-P2O5) systems. Glasses have been doped with zinc and magnesium ions through the sol-gel route. Thanks to the use of surfactants, we obtained mesostructured glasses. Finally, by using inverse opal method, organized macroporous glasses have been synthesized. The influence of these parameters on the reactivity of glasses in contact with a biological medium (DMEM) has been mainly studied by techniques using micro-ion beams. The X-ray emission induced by charged particles (PIXE) combined with Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) has indeed demonstrated clear effects on the kinetics, the amplitude, and the spatial distribution of the physico-chemical reactions