A Review of Bioactive Glass/Natural Polymer Composites: State of the Art.

Rachele Sergi,Valeria Cannillo,Devis Bellucci

doi:10.3390/ma13235560

Rachele Sergi, Valeria Cannillo + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13235560

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Abstract

Collagen, gelatin, silk fibroin, hyaluronic acid, chitosan, alginate, and cellulose are biocompatible and non-cytotoxic, being attractive natural polymers for medical devices for both soft and hard tissues. However, such natural polymers have low bioactivity and poor mechanical properties, which limit their applications. To tackle these drawbacks, collagen, gelatin, silk fibroin, hyaluronic acid, chitosan, alginate, and cellulose can be combined with bioactive glass (BG) nanoparticles and microparticles to produce composites. The incorporation of BGs improves the mechanical properties of the final system as well as its bioactivity and regenerative potential. Indeed, several studies have demonstrated that polymer/BG composites may improve angiogenesis, neo-vascularization, cells adhesion, and proliferation. This review presents the state of the art and future perspectives of collagen, gelatin, silk fibroin, hyaluronic acid, chitosan, alginate, and cellulose matrices combined with BG particles to develop composites such as scaffolds, injectable fillers, membranes, hydrogels, and coatings. Emphasis is devoted to the biological potentialities of these hybrid systems, which look rather promising toward a wide spectrum of applications.

Highlights

Over the past 40 years, life expectancy in industrialized countries has continued to rise thanks to many factors such as healthier nutrition, health care system and public health efforts, medical treatments, and more salubrious lifestyles [1,2]
The high hydrophilic nature of bioactive glass/silk fibroin composites compared to pure silk composites enhanced the interaction with cells, which is further improved by BGs, which release ions
The papers reported in this review have shown that collagen, gelatin, silk fibroin, hyaluronic acid, chitosan, alginate, and cellulose containing bioactive glasses represent interesting materials for biomedical devices, for both hard and soft tissue, not least because of their biocompatibility and non-toxicity

Summary

Introduction

Over the past 40 years, life expectancy in industrialized countries has continued to rise thanks to many factors such as healthier nutrition, health care system and public health efforts, medical treatments, and more salubrious lifestyles [1,2]. A specific response at the molecular level is promoted by third-generation biomaterials [8] Such devices can be gradually degraded and substituted by living host tissues. Natural polymers show more similarity to the extracellular matrix (ECM, network of biomacromolecules including glycosaminoglycans, which are polysaccharides and fibrous proteins such as collagen, laminin, elastin, and fibronectin [12]), being readily recognizable by the body compared to the synthetic ones Such similarity to ECM could be summarized as a suspension of macromolecules that support everything from local tissue growth to the maintenance of an entire organ.

Natural

Natural Polymers

Additional Remarks

Findings

Conclusions and Future Challenges