Microwave energy assisted fabrication and characterization of 45S5 bioglass-ceramics using bio-wastes as alternative resources for biomedical applications

Abstract

This work presents a novel approach for the fabrication and characterization of 45S5 bioglass-ceramics using rice husk ash (RHA) and eggshell ash (EGSA) as alternative resources at varying inclusions. In this study, RHA and EGSA, which are abundant agricultural waste products, are utilized to synthesize 45S5 bioglass through a microwave energy-assisted melt-quenching approach and sintered at temperatures of 950, 1000 and 1050 °C respectively. The obtained bioglass-ceramics (BGCs) were characterized for their structure, mechanical properties, morphology, antibacterial properties, and bioactivity. The results showed the developed BGCs exhibited a broad hump base with sharp crystalline peaks. The morphology showed irregular morphology containing heterogeneous grains, rough and porous surface respectively, essential for bone in-growth and cell infiltration, while a cauliflower-like appearance of carbonate-hydroxyapatite was well pronounced on all the samples after immersion in simulated body fluid. The developed BGCs also showed improved mechanical properties with increased sintering temperature and antibacterial properties to justify their use for biomedical applications.