Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 2 Schematic representation of the main effects of bioactive glasses in the context of bone
tissue engineering
In addition, the incorporation of particular ions into the silicate network, such as
silver [
21
-
23
] and boron [
27
,
28
], has been investigated in order to develop
antibacterial and antimicrobial materials. Bioactive glasses can also serve as
carriers for the local delivery of selected ions and drugs to control specific cell
functions [
9
,
31
,
54
-
60
]. For example, mesoporous BG microspheres have dem-
onstrated enhanced haemostatic activity, as well as reduced clot detection times
and increased coagulation rates compared to nonporous microspheres [
61
].
Bioactive glasses belong to the group of Class A bioactive materials which are
characterized by both osteoconduction (i.e., growth of bone at the implant surface)
and osteoinduction (i.e., activation and recruitment of osteoprogenitor cells by the
material itself stimulating bone growth on the surface of the material) [
5
,
60
,
62
].
Differences between Class A and B bioactive materials are discussed elsewhere
[
5
,
13
,
62
]. As indicated above, the range of bioactive glasses exhibiting these
attractive properties has been extended over the years, in terms of both chemical
composition and morphology, as new preparation methods have become available.
A recent review summarizes these latest developments [
60
]. At this point, for
completeness, it has to be mentioned that an early significant modification of
bioactive silicate glasses was the development of apatite/wollastonite (A/W)
bioactive glass-ceramics [
63
,
64
]. A recent review summarizing research on
Ca-Si-based ceramics is available [
65
].
The present chapter covers specifically the field of bioactive glass-derived
scaffolds for bone TE. In
Sect. 2
, the essential requirements for bone TE
scaffolds are highlighted.
Section 3
covers fabrication technologies of bioactive
glasses.
Sections 4
and
5
summarize the latest developments of bioactive glass-
ceramic
and
BG-containing
composite
scaffolds,
respectively,
including
an
overview
of
both
materials
science
aspects
and
in
vitro/in
vivo
studies.
Section
6
discusses
the
angiogenic
properties
of
BG.
Finally,
in
Sect.
7
,
remaining
challenges
in
the
field
are
discussed,
and
areas
where
further
research is needed are identified.
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