Biomedical applications of ion-doped bioactive glass: a review

Abstract

Bioactive glasses (BG) have been used in biomedical (dental applications or bone graft replacement for bone healing) and technological applications, and researchers have focused on the use of BGs in wound therapeutic and soft tissue. Researchers are concentrating their efforts on the creation of novel treatments for microbial infections due to the worrisome and rapid rise in drug-resistant microbial-related infections. In this review paper, we will discuss the main representatives of antimicrobial efficiency of metallic ion-doped bioactive glasses and their potential applications in the medical field. We will also go over the most important currently used and newly developed methods for surface and bulk modification of metallic ion-doped BG concerning new surgical therapy, which are used to enhance bio integration, pathogen killing effectiveness, decrease or eliminate cancer cells, mechanistic integration, a reduction in material costs, improved in BG bioactivity, angiogenic potential, biocompatibility, osteoconductive, biodegradability and mechanical integration. The integration and regulated release of antibacterial metallic ions like silver, copper, zinc, manganese, cerium, and gallium cations into the BG are one of the most appealing methods for preventing bacterial growth and reproduction. The porosity of BG matrixes (metallic ion-doped BG with micro-, meso-, and macro-porous porosity types), in combination with their low cytotoxicity, high specific surface area, and tunable pore structure, greatly facilitates the formation of hydroxyapatite or hydroxyl carbonate apatite.