Synthesis, characterization and biological response of magnesium-substituted nanobioactive glass particles for biomedical applications

Abstract

In this study, silica-based magnesium-substituted nanobioactive glass compositions (58SiO2–33CaO–9P2O5, 58SiO2–23CaO–9P2O5–10MgO and 58SiO2–13CaO–9P2O5–20MgO (mol %)) were synthesized by a simple, cost-effective sol–gel method. The synthesized nanobioactive glass samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer studies. The prepared samples revealed amorphous phase with spherical morphology, having a particle size less than 50nm. The samples MT0, MT10 and MT20 showed average pore diameters of 18.67, 17.35 and 24.51nm while the specific surface areas were 90.69, 95.56 and 86.70m2g−1, respectively. The bioactivity of glass samples was confirmed by the formation of hydroxyapatite layer on glass surfaces during in vitro studies. Further, the MgO-doped nanobioactive glasses did not reveal significant antibacterial activity. A better biocompatibility was achieved in human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line in case of MgO glass samples while comparing the biological behaviour of MgO-based glasses with base glass. MgO substitutions show better in vitro bioactivity and remain non-cytotoxic to human cells.