Mixed alkali effect on the mechanical, thermal and biological properties of 58S bioactive glass

Abstract

Bioactive glasses (BG) containing silicon, phosphorous, and boron have emerged as promising materials for bone tissue engineering. Modifying ions play a multifaceted role in BGs, influencing their structure, properties, and biological activity that depends on their size, charge, and coordination chemistry. This study investigates the addition of sodium borate (Na2B4O7) to the 58S BG and the mixed alkali effect (MAE) resulting from incorporating Na and B ions into the CaO–SiO2–P2O5 system. In specific concentrations, Na+ and Ca2+ ions function as network modifiers, introducing structural disruptions and generating defects that impact the glass transition temperature (Tg), crystallization temperature (Tc), hardness, and sintering characteristics. The physicochemical characterization of BGs confirms the incorporation of Na and B structures. Furthermore, the Na and B doped glass sample with a [Na/Si] ratio of 0.045 exhibits favorable properties for promoting cell attachment, including forming a hydroxyapatite (HAp) layer over the surface, thereby accelerating human placental mesenchymal stem cells (hPMSCs) proliferation. The findings demonstrate the potential of Na2B4O7 incorporation in BG for bone tissue engineering applications.