Changes in the mechanical properties of bioactive borophosphate fiber when immersed in aqueous solutions

Ayush Mishra,Catherine Boussard‐Plédel,Laeticia Petit,Jonathan Massera,Panu Noppari

doi:10.1111/ijag.15514

Abstract

AbstractBioactive fibers have become increasingly prevalent for applications in optical sensing and as reinforcement in fully biodegradable devices. However, the typical bioactive glass fibers drawn from silicate glasses have poor mechanical properties. Here, we present our latest study on the development of new bioactive single‐core (SC) borophosphate fiber with the composition (in mol%) 47.5P2O5‐20CaO‐20SrO‐10Na2O‐2.5B2O3 and of core‐clad (CC) borophosphate fiber, the composition (in mol%) of the clad and the core being 47.5P2O5‐20CaO‐20SrO‐10Na2O‐2.5B2O3 and 0.025CeO2‐0.975(47.5P2O5‐20CaO‐20SrO‐10Na2O‐2.5B2O3), respectively. We show that the immersion in aqueous solutions such as Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (TRIS) increases first the mechanical properties of the fibers due to the early congruent glass dissolution and so due to the reduction in the density of surface flaws. However, for long immersion in TRIS or in Simulated Body Fluid (SBF), the mechanical properties decrease due to the precipitation of a reactive calcium‐phosphate layer at the surface of the fibers. Especially when immersed for a long time in SBF, the fibers become too fragile to allow one to measure their mechanical properties. Nonetheless, we clearly show in this study that the newly developed fibers are promising materials for reinforcing composite and/or as biosensors as these fibers still possess sufficiently high mechanical properties after immersion for significant time in SBF and/or TRIS.

Highlights

The use of glass fibers in modern health care has expanded from the use of chemically stable fiber, such as E-glass, commonly used as reinforcing agent in composites,[1] to the use of optical fiber for biosensing.[2,3] the common features of the majority of the fibers used nowadays are their high SiO2 content and/or the presence of toxic compound which prevents their clinical use
We investigate the changes in the mechanical properties of borophosphate fibers when immersed in TRIS buffer and Simulated Body Fluid (SBF) solutions to check if these fibers maintain sufficient mechanical properties upon immersion and so to check if they can be used for sensing, reinforcing of composite and/or as materials for tissue engineering scaffolds processing
Borophosphate SC and CC fibers were drawn from preforms

Summary

Introduction

The use of glass fibers in modern health care has expanded from the use of chemically stable fiber, such as E-glass, commonly used as reinforcing agent in composites,[1] to the use of optical fiber for biosensing.[2,3] the common features of the majority of the fibers used nowadays are their high SiO2 content and/or the presence of toxic compound which prevents their clinical use. . |2 reinforcement would require an additional surgery to remove the fibers post-treatment before it becomes encapsulated by a fibrous tissue.[5] Alternatively, the chalcogenide glass family (containing elements such as Se, As, Ge, etc...) is used for biosensing to probe signals that are in the mid- and far-IR region.[6] these fibers can only be used ex vivo due to the presence of toxic elements. These fibers cannot be used for polymer reinforcement, for example

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