Dual loaded Ce-MBGs with bioactivity, antioxidant and antibacterial properties

Abstract

The performance of Bioactive Mesoporous Glasses (MBGs) as tissue regeneration scaffolds can be enhanced by the addition of therapeutic inorganic ions (TIIs) or organic molecules. In order to maximise the benefits conferred by different TIIs and organic molecules on bioactive glasses, we investigated the behavior of a 1:1 mixture (wt.%) of MBGs doped with cerium and loaded separately with gentamicin (Gen) and polyphenols (POLY). The resulting admixed material preserves bioactivity of the unloaded cerium-doped MBGs, assessed by evaluating the formation of an apatitic layer. Furthermore, it shows both antioxidant properties, evaluated by the reduction of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) measured by enzymatic assays, conferred by cerium POLY loadings and antibacterial properties conferred by Gen, and estimated by a modification of the Kirby-Bauer agar diffusion method. Ce-MBGs can thus be applied as a useful dual drug delivery system (DDS) with hard tissue regeneration capabilities.