Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
bioactive glasses is they also are antimicrobial. This antimicrobial effect
is not totally understood, but it is likely to be due to the spike in pH
when the glass is hydrated due to the ions released from the glass.
6.7 TISSUE/VESSEL GUIDANCE
Bioactive borate glasses with the correct calcium content have a unique
ability to form hollow cavities in particles or fibers in a relatively
short period of time (weeks). Living tissue such as bone or blood
vessels can use these channels as guides for directional growth. As
mentioned previously, bone is a highly vascular material, and we know
that bioactive glasses are biocompatible and can be used to stimulate the
healing process in connective tissues. Harnessing the biocompatibility
(a)
(b)
(c)
Figure 6.13
Bioactive borate glass forming hollow channels
in vivo
: (a) unreacted
glass fibers, showing that they are originally dense glass fibers; (b) several reacted
fibers that have tissue growing inside and around them; and (c) a single hollow fiber
with blood vessels inside (arrows). For a better understanding of the figure, please
refer to the colour section (Figure 9).
