Preliminary biological evaluation of tantalum containing soda lime borosilicate bioactive glasses

Abstract

The importance of the current investigation was to understand the in vitro studies of tantalum (Ta) containing amorphous glass system, i.e., B2O3–SiO2–CaO–Na2O–Ta2O5 (TaBG). The bioactivity and cytocompatibility studies of the glass system was performed with physiological fluid i.e., simulated body fluid and MTT assay respectively. The glass system B2O3–SiO2–CaO–Na2O–Ta2O5 was prepared by conventional melting and annealing technique and characterized for in-vitro biological and mechanical properties. Bioactivity study was performed with simulated body fluid, by immersing amorphous powder samples up to twenty-one days. Different techniques like structural (XRD), functional (FTIR), morphological (SEM) and elemental (EDS) analytical methods were performed to assess the apatite-forming ability i.e., bioactivity. Cytocompatibility has been performed by the ISO 10993–5. Microhardness has been measured with indentation method. Bioactivity of the tantalum doped glasses was affected by the incorporation of tantalum content. Microhardness significantly improved and cell viability was not affected for the glass system by the addition tantalum. Hence, the findings in the present study were encouraging to be used as bone implant for appropriate medical applications.