title: Sol-gel derived bioactive glasses with low tendency to crystallize: synthesis, post-sintering bioactivity and possible application for the production of porous scaffolds.
abstract: A new sol-gel (SG) method is proposed to produce special bioactive glasses (BG_Ca family) characterized by a low tendency to devitrify. These formulations, derived from 45S5 Bioglass®, are characterized by a high content of CaO (45.6 mol%) and by a partial or complete substitution of sodium oxide with potassium oxide (total amount of alkaline oxides: 4.6 mol%), which increases the crystallization temperature up to 900°C. In this way, it is possible to produce them by SG preserving their amorphous nature, in spite of the calcination at 850°C. The sintering behavior of the obtained SG powders is thoroughly investigated and the properties of the sintered bodies are compared to those of the melt-derived (M) counterparts. Furthermore, the SG glass powders are successfully used to produce scaffolds by means of a modified replication technique based on the combined use of polyurethane sponges and polyethylene particles. Finally, in the view of a potential application for bone tissue engineering, the cytotoxicity of the produced materials is evaluated in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering "E. Ferrari", University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Vignolese 905, 41125 Modena, Italy. Electronic address: devis.bellucci@unimore.it.
authors.forename: Devis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bellucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering "E. Ferrari", University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Vignolese 905, 41125 Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sola
authors.affiliation: Lab. Biomaterials, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences of Children & Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 213/A, 41125 Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salvatori
authors.affiliation: Lab. Biomaterials, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences of Children & Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 213/A, 41125 Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anesi
authors.affiliation: Lab. Biomaterials, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences of Children & Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 213/A, 41125 Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chiarini
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering "E. Ferrari", University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Vignolese 905, 41125 Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cannillo
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003460:Crystallization; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D005782:Gels; D005898:Glass; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D016062:Porosity; D013818:Thermogravimetry; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005782:Gels
keywords: Bioactive glasses; Bone tissue engineering; Scaffolds; Sintering; Sol–gel