Preparation, Characterization and Comparative Evaluation of Bioactivity of Three Different Bioactive Glass Nano Powders for Medical Applications

Fabrication of biomaterials with ability to form a bond with bone tissue for bone skeletal system repair is one of the biomaterial science aims. Bioactive glasses containing CaO-SiO2-P2O5 are among the most important groups used in biomedicine and dentistry such as bone defect repair and maxillo-facial reconstruction. The aim of this work was preparation and characterization of nano particle bioactive glass with optimum bioactivity. Bioactive glasses with three different compositions (45S, 49S and 58S) were prepared via sol- gel technique. X- ray diffraction (XRD) technique and X- ray fluorescent (XRF) method were utilized for the phase analysis and also to investigate the chemical composition of the obtained bioactive glass nanopowders. Transmision electron microscopy (TEM) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were utilized to study the structure, morphology and particle size of synthesized bioactive glass nanopowders. In order to investigate the bioactivity, the prepared bioactive glasses were immersed in the simulated body fluid (SBF) solution at 37◦C for 30 days. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were utilized to recognize and confirm the apatite layer on the prepared bioactive glass nanopowders. TEM images showed that the prepared bioactive glasses had the particle sizes less than 100 nanometers. SEM, FTIR and XRD confirmed the formation of bone-like apatite layer formed on the bioactive glass nanopowders surface, confirming the bioactivity of synthesized bioactive glass nanopowders. It was concluded that the amount of apatite on the 45S bioactive glasse was greater in comparison with 49S and 58S bioactive glasses. It is notable that by optimizing the chemical composition, bioactive glass nanopowder could be used in applications such as repair of bone defects and bone replacement.