Synthesis of 60 (wt.)%SiO<sub>2</sub>-40 (wt.)%CaO Sol-Gel Derived Glass-Ceramic and <i>In Vitro</i> Bioactivity Assessment in SBF Solution

Abstract

The objective of this study is to determine the bioactive property of compacted and crystallized glass-ceramic based on 60 (wt.)%SiO2-40 (wt.)%CaO by immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) for various times. The powder of this phosphate-free glasses based on binary SiO2-CaO system was synthesized via an acid catalyzed sol-gel route prior to powder compaction for the bioactivity assessment. The main chemical precursors used for synthesis the glass powder were tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and calcium nitrate tetrahydrate reagent whereas nitric acid was used as the catalyst during the sol-gel process. The obtained hydrogels were dried, heat treated and grounded into powders before being pressed into rounded shape compacts. The initial compacted glass then sintered at 1000°C for 4 hours in typical muffle furnace to obtain crystallized glass-ceramic phase. Precipitation of apatite structures on the glass-ceramic surface were observed by immersion of the compacted pellets into SBF solution from one to 21 days. All the test results obtained from X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform-Infrared (FT-IR), Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) indicates that the sintered glass-ceramic showed an actively bioactivity property. Precipitation of apatite was detected on the surface of the compacted glass-ceramic within the first 24 hours after being immersed in SBF. The development of apatite structures were continuously increased and progressively growth into coral-like structure and has particularly found to crystallize into carbonated apatite (HCA) layer after 14 days of immersion in SBF.