Fluorophosphate bio-glass for bone tissue engineering: in vitro and in vivo study

Abstract

The objective of the work is to investigate the influence of fluoride in the bioactivity of phosphate bio-glass to utilise in bone tissue engineering. The fluorophosphate bio-glass system was formulated by varying fluoride content in phosphate-based glass 45 P₂O₅-(30-X) CaO-25Na₂O-XCaF₂ (X = 0, 1.25, 2.5, 3.75, and 5.0) using melt quenching technique. The elemental composition and fluoride retention in the prepared material was investigated by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy. The bioactivity test in simulated body-fluid (SBF) exhibited apatite layer and its bone bonding ability which was characterized by XRD patterns and FTIR spectra. The viability of human gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) and MG-63 cells of the bio-glass confirmed the nontoxic nature. In vivo studies demonstrated the conversion of the fluorophosphate glass to bone in the femoral condyle of the rabbit. After ten weeks, SEM_EDAX and CLSM examinations reveal the resorption rate, bone-glass interface qualitatively and quantitively. Consequently, the biocompatible and bioresorbable nature of the fluorophosphate bioglass can be exploited as a potential bone graft substitute in the near future.