Bioactive Glass Composites Research Articles

Mesoporous bioactive glass composition effects on degradation and bioactivity

Mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) are promising materials for regenerative medicine, due to their favorable properties including bioactivity and degradability. These key properties, but also their surface area, pore structure and pore volume are strongly dependent on synthesis parameters and glass stoichiometry. However, to date no systematic study on MBG properties covering a broad range of possible compositions exists.Here, 24 MBG compositions in the SiO2–CaO–P2O5 system were synthesized by varying SiO2 (60–90 mol %), CaO and P2O5 content (both 0 to 40 mol-%), while other synthesis parameters were kept constant. Mesopore characteristics, degradability and bioactivity were analysed.The results showed that, within the tested range of compositions, mesopore formation required a molar SiO2 content above 60% but was independent of CaO and P2O5 content. While mesopore size did not depend on glass stoichiometry, mesopore arrangement was influenced by the SiO2 content. Specific surface area and pore volume were slightly altered by the SiO2 content. All materials were degradable; however, degradation as well as bioactivity, i.e. the ability to form a CaP mineral on the surface, depended on stoichiometry. Major differences were found in early surface reactions in simulated body fluid: where some MBGs induced direct hydroxyapatite crystallization, high release of calcium in others resulted in calcite formation.In summary, degradation and bioactivity, both key parameters of MBGs, can be controlled by glass stoichiometry over a broad range while leaving the unique structural parameters of MBGs relatively unaffected. This allows targeted selection of material compositions for specific regenerative medicine applications.

A New Generation of Electrospun Fibers Containing Bioactive Glass Particles for Wound Healing.

Chitosan fibers blended with polyethylene oxide (CHIT_PEO) and crosslinked with genipin were fabricated by electrospinning technique. Subsequently, CHIT_PEO bioactive glass composite electrospun mats were fabricated with the aim to achieve flexible structures with adequate mechanical properties and improved biological performance respect to CHIT_PEO fibers, for potential applications in wound healing. Three different compositions of bioactive glasses (BG) were selected and investigated: 45S5 BG, a Sr and Mg containing bioactive glass (BGMS10) and a Zn-containing bioactive glass (BGMS_2Zn). Particulate BGs (particles size < 20 μm) were separately added to the starting CHIT_PEO solution before electrospinning. The two recently developed bioactive glasses (BGMS10 and BGMS_2Zn) showed very promising biological properties in terms of bioactivity and cellular viability; thus, such compositions were added for the first time to CHIT_PEO solution to fabricate composite electrospun mats. The incorporation of bioactive glass particles and their distribution into CHIT_PEO fibers were assessed by SEM and FTIR analyses. Furthermore, CHIT_PEO composite electrospun mats showed improved mechanical properties in terms of Young’s Modulus compared to neat CHIT_PEO fibers; on the contrary, the values of tensile strain at break (%) were comparable. Biological performance in terms of cellular viability was investigated by means of WST-8 assay and CHIT_PEO composite electrospun mats showed cytocompatibility and the desired cellular viability.

Calorimetric approach to assess the apatite-forming capacity of bioactive glasses

This paper investigates a new microcalorimetric approach to assess the capacity of bioactive glasses, to form hydroxyapatite during immersion in physiological fluids. Three silicate glasses were selected namely 45S5 (46.1SiO2-2.6P2O5-26.9CaO-24.4Na2O; mol%), F0 (46.1SiO2-2.6P2O5-37.6CaO-6.8Na2O-6.8K2O; mol%), and F3 (44.8SiO2-2.5P2O5-36.5CaO-6.6Na2O-6.6K2O-3.0CaF2; mol%), synthesized by a melt-quench route and studied initially using electron microscopy. The hydroxyapatite formation of samples immersed in simulated body fluid (SBF) was monitored using X-ray diffraction and Infrared spectroscopy. The microcalorimetric investigations were conducted by observing, over seven days, the thermochemical behavior of glasses in SBF at 37°C and by measuring the heat of acidic dissolution of treated and untreated samples in SBF. The results showed that the samples with the higher capacity to form apatites also present the higher heat variation from day-to-day, with 45S5 presenting the highest heat difference recorded in both experiments. These analyses led to the quantification of the calcium phosphate formed for each bioactive glass composition.

Fabrication, characterization, and in vitro evaluation of β-TCP/ZrO2-phosphate-based bioactive glass scaffolds for bone repair

Scaffolds have proven to be an excellent option for the regeneration of bone tissues; since they present excellent results of architecture, composition, and functionality. Therefore, scaffolds can be used as implants to repair bones and show guided regeneration, allowing complete restructuring of damaged tissue, as well as allowing the site where the implant is located to have functionality. In the present investigation, three different beta-phase tricalcium phosphate/zirconia-reinforced phosphate-based bioactive glass compositions were evaluated: V1, VZ0.5, and VZ1.0 (0, 0.5, and 1mol%). All scaffolds showed excellent bioactivity and osteoconductivity results. They were forming HA crystalline aggregates with the typical cauliflower morphology in vitro studies in simulated body fluid and with human osteoblasts (MG-63).On the other hand, cell proliferation analyzed using the BrdU assay and apoptosis using Annexin V. As well as the viability (MTT assay) and adhesion (RT-PCR of beta 3 integrin) of osteoblasts at day 14. Zirconia had a significant positive effect on cell proliferation as well as in the cell adhesion, with a substantial proliferation for the scaffold with VZ1.0 composition. Due to the zirconia modifies the scaffold surface, allowing greater cell adhesion, an essential step for cell proliferation to take place.

Effects of a Novel Bioactive Glass Composition on Biological Properties of Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells.

Functional reconstruction of bone defects represents a clinical challenge in the regenerative medicine field, which targets tissue repair following traumatic injuries and disease-related bone deficiencies. In this regard, the optimal biomaterial should be safe, biocompatible and tailored in order to promote the activation of host progenitor cells towards bone repair. Bioactive glasses might be suitable biomaterials due to their composition being able to induce the host healing response and, eventually, anti-bacterial properties. In this study we investigated whether and how an innovative bioactive glass composition, called BGMS10, may affect cell adhesion, morphology, proliferation, immunomodulation and osteogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). When cultured on BGMS10, hDPSCs maintained their proliferation rate and typical fibroblast-like morphology, showing the expression of stemness markers STRO-1 and c-Kit. Moreover, the expression of FasL, a key molecule in mediating immunomodulation effects of hDPSCs, was maintained. BGMS10 also proved to trigger osteogenic commitment of hDPSCs, as confirmed by the activation of bone-related transcription factors RUNX2 and Osx and the ongoing deposition of extracellular matrix supported by the expression of OPN and OCN. Our findings suggest that BGMS10 not only maintains the typical biological and immunomodulatory properties of hDPSCs but also favors the osteogenic commitment.

Fabrication and Characterization of 45S5 Bioactive Glass/Thermoplastic Composite Scaffold by Ceramic Injection Printer.

45S5 bioactive glass (45S5) scaffolds were fabricated using a novel additive-manufacturing (AM) technology. A ceramic injection printer (CIP) was designed by combining injection molding and fused deposition modeling, for the fabrication of three-dimensional constructs of ceramic materials. A high fraction (50 vol%) of 45S5 powder was mixed with the thermoplastic polymer. The synthesized 45S5 composites were subjected to Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The BET results of prepared 45S5 powder were confirmed to have a mean pore diameter of 11.402 nm, and specific surface area is 0.966 m²/g. The prepared 45S5/thermoplastic composite powder was subjected to Thermogravimetric/Differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA). The debinding process of polymer occurred at 192.5, 360.8, and 393 °C. The elastic modulus and ultimate stress of these scaffolds were measured to be 312.49±87.36 MPa and 21.83±6.67 MPa, respectively. The XRD results revealed the presence of Na6Ca₃Si6O18 phases. The presence of Si, Ca, P, and Na was confirmed via energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The printed scaffold exhibited amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) expression after immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) and also it was observed that the intensity of the crystalline phase of 45S5 was decreased, as the immersion time increases. Bioactive glass composites with the high volume fraction can be able to construct 3D complex porous scaffolds using CIP.

Use of strontium doping glass-ceramic material for bone regeneration in critical defect: In vitro and in vivo analyses

The in vitro bioactivity and in vivo bone neoformation in critical-size bone defects of a glass-ceramic material containing strontium ions (Sr2+) were evaluated in the present study as well as the antimicrobial effect against oral pathogens. A glass-ceramic bioactive material in powder (CP), based on the composition of S53P4 bioactive glass, was produced by partially replacing calcium with SrO using the sol-gel route. The amount of SrO added was 2.2 wt% (CPSr12.5) and 5.0 wt% (CPSr25). The amount of Sr2+ ions released by the CP increase with time achieving 18 mg/L at 6 h and the release rate decreased at longer times. pH values higher than 10 were obtained in the first 6 h, in agreement with an inhibitory microbial effect. These materials showed in vitro bioactivity, with total surface coated by hydroxyapatite (HA) after 7 days of immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF). The pH of SBF increased rapidly after immersion of CP, reaching a maximum value of 8.72 after 168 h. HA formation was observed in vitro for all samples. On microtomography and histomorphometric analysis, CPSr25 showed higher values than CP without Sr2+ (CPSr0) for bone volume (p = 0.016), density (p = 0.016) and neoformation area (p = 0.025) at 28 days. Histological analysis revealed higher degree of vascularization after 28 days for CPSr25 when compared to CPSr0 (p = 0.003). In addition, CP showed an inhibitory effect on oral pathogens. Substitution of CaO by SrO (CPSr25) presented the best results on the healing of critical-size bone defects, as evidenced by microtomographic and histological analyses. These data confirmed that higher concentrations of Sr2+doped CP materials are potential alternatives to improve bone healing and regeneration in critical-size bone defects.

Comparison of different silica sources in the development of plasma sprayed 45S5 bioactive glass coatings

45S5 bioactive glass coatings were deposited by plasma spraying from liquid feedstocks. In these feedstocks, the SiO2 needed to achieve the 45S5 bioactive glass composition has been provided either as tetraethyl orthosilicate (typical precursor of glasses by sol–gel), or as colloidal silica suspension or mixtures of both sources. The synthesised materials were analysed in terms of rheology and sedimentation tests, and subsequently deposited onto metallic substrates under two different spraying distances. The resulting coatings were characterised on the basis of microstructure and phase nature.All feedstocks developed preserved the composition of the 45S5 bioactive glass and showed adequate viscosity and stability to be transported and injected into the plasma plume. However, different coating microstructures were achieved when using tetraethyl orthosilicate or colloidal silica suspensions. Besides, regardless the source of silica an improvement of the coatings microstructure and phase nature have also been observed when the spraying distance was significantly reduced.

Comparison of the Influence of 45S5 and Cu-Containing 45S5 Bioactive Glass (BG) on the Biological Properties of Novel Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)/BG Composites.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), due to their biodegradable and biocompatible nature and their ability to be formed in complex structures, are excellent candidates for fabricating scaffolds used in tissue engineering. By introducing inorganic compounds, such as bioactive glasses (BGs), the bioactive properties of PHAs can be further improved. In addition to their outstanding bioactivity, BGs can be additionally doped with biological ions, which in turn extend the functionality of the BG-PHA composite. Here, different PHAs were combined with 45S5 BG, which was additionally doped with copper in order to introduce antibacterial and angiogenic properties. The resulting composite was used to produce scaffolds by the salt leaching technique. By performing indirect cell biology tests using stromal cells, a dose-depending effect of the dissolution products released from the BG-PHA scaffolds could be found. In low concentrations, no toxic effect was found. Moreover, in higher concentrations, a minor reduction of cell viability combined with a major increase in VEGF release was measured. This result indicates that the fabricated composite scaffolds are suitable candidates for applications in soft and hard tissue engineering. However, more in-depth studies are necessary to fully understand the release kinetics and the resulting long-term effects of the BG-PHA composites.

Tantalum doped SiO2-CaO-P2O5 based bioactive glasses: Investigation of in vitro bioactivity and antibacterial activities

AbstractMultifunctionality can be achieved for bioactive glasses by endowing them with multiple other properties along with bioactivity. One way to address this topic is by doping these glasses with therapeutic metallic ions. In this work, we put under investigation a series of bioactive glasses doped with tantalum. We aim to study the effect of tantalum, on the structure, bioactivity and antibacterial property of a ternary bioactive glass composition based on SiO2-CaO-P2O5. Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Electron Scanning Microscopy (SEM) were used to assess the structural and morphological properties of these glasses and monitor their changes after in vitro acellular bioactivity test. Antibacterial activity was tested against gram positive and negative bacteria. Characterization results confirmed the presence of calcium carbonate crystallites along with the amorphous silica matrix. The assessment of bioactivity in SBF indicated that all compositions showed a fast bioactive response after only six hours of immersion period. However, analytical characterization revealed that tantalum introduced a slight latency in hydroxyapatite deposition at higher concentrations (0.8-1 %mol). Antibacterial test showed that tantalum ions had an inhibition effect on the growth of E. coli and S. aureus. This effect was more pronounced in compositions where mol% of tantalum is superior to 0.4%. These results proved that tantalum could be used, in intermediate proportions, as a promising multifunctional dopant element in bioactive glasses for bone regeneration applications.

Dynamics of structural relaxation in bioactive 45S5 glass

Kinetics of physical aging in archetypic 45S5 bioactive silicate glass composition with different types of phase separation are studied in situ below the glass transition temperature (Tg). The qualitative nature of aging is found to be almost independent of the structural differences on the micrometer scale. A well-expressed step-like behavior in the enthalpy recovery kinetics is observed for aging temperatures Ta ∼ 0.90Tg and Ta ∼ 0.85Tg, which, however, disappears when the aging occurs at Ta ∼ 0.95Tg. The overall kinetics are described by a stretched-exponential function with stretching exponent close to 3/7 at Ta ∼ 0.95Tg, and 1/3 when the aging temperature drops to ∼0.90Tg and below. The values correlate well with the predictions of Phillips’ diffusion-to-traps and percolating fractals models. Appearance of step-like behavior at larger departure from Tg is attributed to the hierarchical scheme of approaching equilibrium based on an alignment-shrinkage mechanism of physical aging proposed earlier for chalcogenide glasses.

Novel biodegradable hybrid composite of polylactic acid (PLA) matrix reinforced by bioactive glass (BG) fibres and magnesium (Mg) wires for orthopaedic application

We fabricate biodegradable hybrid composites of unidirectional magnesium alloy wires and bioactive glass (BG) fibres inserted as reinforcements inside a polylactic (PLA) matrix by utilising lamina stacking process. The degree of mechanical reinforcement that can be achieved through this hybridisation is determined by examining various composite combinations by volume, i.e. the use of 20% Mg and 30% Mg wires with the BG fibre content varying from 0% to 30%. BG fibre addition up to ~10% by volume affords high tensile strength, which remain nearly constant upon subsequent fibre addition. Hybrids with 30% Mg content exhibit tensile strengths comparable with that of the cortical bone; thus, we perform a seven-day tensile degradation study of the composites in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) to determine their behaviour under wet conditions as function of immersion time at 37 °C. The least amount of BG fibres (10%) exhibits greater retention strength in PBS than other combinations.

Mechanical and degradation properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) cement/borate bioactive glass composites.

Bone cement is used extensively in orthopedics to anchor prostheses to bone and fill voids. Incorporating bioactive glass into poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-based bone cement could potentially improve its effectiveness for these tasks. This study characterizes the mechanical and degradation properties of composites containing PMMA-based bone cement and particles of borate bioactive glass designated as 13-93B3. Glass particles of size 5, 33, and 100 μm were mixed with PMMA bone cement to create composites containing 20, 30, and 40 wt % glass. Composites and a bone cement control were soaked in phosphate-buffered saline. Compressive strength, Young's modulus, weight loss, water uptake, solution pH, and ionic concentrations were measured over 21 days. The compressive strengths of composites decreased over 21 days. Average Young's moduli of the composites remained below 3 GPa. Weight loss and water uptake of specimens did not exceed 2 and 6%, respectively. Boron concentrations and pH of all solutions increased over time, with higher glass weight fractions leading to higher pH values. Results demonstrated that the composite can sustain glass degradation and ionic release without compromising short-term mechanical strength.

A review of acellular immersion tests on bioactive glasses––influence of medium on ion release and apatite formation

AbstractWhen evaluating new bioactive glass compositions for their suitability as a biomaterial, one of the first steps is the study of their behavior in contact with aqueous solutions. Ion release, pH changes, and apatite precipitation are investigated during immersion experiments, and a wide variety of solutions is used, including simulated body fluid, Tris buffer solution, various cell culture medium formulations or deionized water. This paper reviews the different parameters used for immersion experiments on bioactive glasses. Results show that, depending on solution composition, pH, and buffering capacity, the experimental outcome is likely to vary. In addition, bioactive glass particle size and solution volume/glass surface area ratio affect the resulting ion concentration in solution, and, thus, the rate at which apatite is formed. It is, therefore, important to consider these effects when planning experiments, interpreting results or comparing the results of experiments performed in different laboratories.

Adult stem cell response to doped bioactive borate glass.

Bioactive glasses have transformed healthcare due to their versatility. Bioactive borate glass, in particular, has shown remarkable healing properties for both hard and soft tissues. Incorporating dopants into the composition of bioactive glass helps to control mechanical properties, and it increases their usefulness for clinical applications. Using a bioactive borate glass, 13-93B3 (B3), we investigated eleven dopants on the viability and migration potential of adipose stem cells (ASCs), a therapeutic source of cells used in tissue engineering and cell therapy. Our results show that under standard cell culture conditions, only Cu-doped B3 decreased cell viability, while only Y-doped B3 attracted ASCs as it dissolved in cell culture media. Using a transwell invasion assay, priming ASCs with Co, Fe, Ga, I, Sr, or Zn-doped B3 increased their homing capacity. Because there is widespread interest in optimizing and enhancing the homing efficiency of ASCs and other therapeutic cells, we then tested if priming bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) with dopants also increased their homing capacity. In the case of BMSCs, there was a significant increase in invasion when cells were primed with any of the doped-B3 glasses. This work shows that incorporating dopants into borate glasses can provide a platform for a safe and efficient method that stimulates endogenous cells and healing mechanisms.

Superior biocompatibility and comparable osteoinductive properties: Sodium-reduced fluoride-containing bioactive glass belonging to the CaO–MgO–SiO2 system as a promising alternative to 45S5 bioactive glass

Bioactive glasses (BGs) are promising bone substitute materials. However, under certain circumstances BGs such as the well-known 45S5 Bioglass® (composition in wt%: 45.0 SiO2, 24.5 Na2O, 24.5 CaO, 6.0 P2O5) act cytotoxic due to a strong increase in pH caused by a burst release of sodium ions. A potential alternative is a sodium-reduced fluoride-containing BG belonging to the CaO–MgO–SiO2 system, namely BG1d-BG (composition in wt%: 46.1 SiO2, 28.7 CaO, 8.8 MgO, 6.2 P2O5, 5.7 CaF2, 4.5 Na2O), that has already been evaluated in-vitro, in-vivo and in preliminary clinical trials. Before further application, however, BG1d-BG should be compared to the benchmark amongst BGs, the 45S5 Bioglass® composition, to classify its effect on cell viability, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Therefore, in this study, the biocompatibility and osteogenic potential of both BGs were investigated in an indirect and direct culture setting to assess the effect of the ionic dissolution products and the BGs’ physical presence on the cells. The results indicated an advantage of BG1d-BG over 45S5 Bioglass® regarding cell viability and proliferation. Both BGs induced an earlier onset of osteogenic differentiation and accelerated the expression of late osteoblast marker genes compared to the control group. In conclusion, BG1d-BG is an attractive candidate for further experimental investigation. The basic mechanisms behind the different impact on cell behavior should be assessed in further detail, e.g. by further alteration of the BG compositions.

Bioactive assessment of bioactive glass nanostructures synthesized using synthetic and natural silica resources

AbstractThe sol‐gel route of synthesizing bioactive glasses of composition 45S5 has shown higher compatibility than the melt casting method. In bioactive glass synthesis, a major silica source is derived from the synthetic tetraethyl orthosilicate precursor. This work demonstrates the sol–gel‐derived bioactive glass prepared from rice husk and TEOS as silica sources. In this study, the effect of crystallization with respect to the silica source in bioactive glass composition was investigated to gain further understanding on the processes involved in the fabrication of bioglass. The in vitro biodegradation and apatite formation of the bioactive glass in simulated body fluid was investigated by spectroscopic and morphological studies. Both the bioactive glasses show a change in morphology toward nanostructured apatite formation after in vitro immersion studies. Further, the hemocompatibility of bioactive glass prepared using rice husk is similar to bioactive glass prepared from organic silica sources. This promises the possibility of synthesizing low cost and biocompatible bioactive glass 45S5 system for tissue engineering applications.

Cu, Zn doped borate bioactive glasses: antibacterial efficacy and dose-dependent in vitro modulation of murine dendritic cells.

Among emerging biomaterials, bioactive glasses (BGs) are being widely explored for various applications in tissue engineering. However, the effects of BGs (in particular BG ionic dissolution products) on immune cells and specifically on dendritic cells (DCs), which are the most potent antigen-presenting cells of the immune system, have not been previously investigated in detail. Such interactions between BGs and DCs must be assessed as a novel biocompatibility criterion for biomaterials, since, with the increased application possibilities of BGs, the modulation of the immune system may induce potential complications and undesired side effects. Indeed, the effects of BG exposure on specific immune cells are not well understood. Thus, in this study we investigated, for the first time, the effect of borate BGs doped with biologically active ions on specific immune cells, such as DCs and we further investigated the antibacterial properties of these borate BGs. The compositions of the borate BGs (B3) were based on the well-known 13-93 (silicate) composition by replacing silica with boron trioxide and by adding copper (3 wt%) and/or zinc (1 wt%). By performing an agar diffusion test, the antibacterial effect depending on the compositions of the borate BGs could be proved. Furthermore we found a dose-dependent immune modulation of DCs after treatment with borate BGs, especially when the borate BGs contained Zn and/or Cu. Depending on the ion concentration and the rise in pH, the phenotype and function of DCs were modified. While at low doses B3 and Zn-doped B3 BGs had no impact on DC viability, Cu containing BGs strongly affected cell viability. Furthermore, the surface expression of DC-specific activation markers, such as the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-II, CD86 and CD80, was modulated. In addition, also DC mediated T-cell proliferation was remarkably reduced when treated with high doses of B3-Cu and B3-Cu-Zn BGs. Interestingly, the release of inflammatory cytokines increased after incubation with B3 and B3-Zn BGs compared to mock-treated DCs. Considering the essential role of DCs in the modulation and regulation of immune responses, these findings provide first evidence of phenotypic and functional consequences regarding the exposure of DCs to BGs in vitro.

A Comprehensive Overview of the Pertinence and Possibilities of Bioactive Glass in the Modern Biological World

An unbelievable revolution happened in medical science during the late '60s. A casual conversation with a colonel led Larry Hench to the invention of a biomaterial that is more biocompatible, biodegradable, and bioactive, which was named as Bioglass. The material started its journey with its application in the replacement of ossicles in the middle ear, and today Bioglass is dominating in major medical fields like bone tissue engineering, drug delivery, dentistry, and so on. The wide range of applications and such bio-friendly properties of the material also convey a message that this material is a promising area to work in the field of research. Bioglass is synthesized by two methods i) melt quenching and ii) sol-gel. We aim to help new optimistic researchers in uplifting their interest to conduct researches with this auspicious biomaterial. This paper provides a bird's eye view of the history, preparation process, composition of different bioactive glasses and their biological feedback, biocompatibility mechanism, fundamental properties, noteworthy applications, possibilities along with the shortcomings of Bioglass. The shortcomings of Bioglass are elaborated so that the researchers can explore more about those limitations. We have also depicted the chronological advancements of bioglasses over the years. We believe that the prospects of more advanced researches with Bioglass can bring more success in the modern biomedical world.

The Effects of Copper Addition on The Structure and Antibacterial Properties of Biomedical Glasses

In this work, we studied the effects of copper incorporation in the composition of bioactive glass. Three different glass compositions were synthesized with 0, 3, and 6 mol% of copper addition. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) patterns confirmed that an amorphous microstructure was obtained for all three glass compositions. Results from Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) showed that the copper addition in the glass lowers the glass transition temperature, from 646°C to 590°C when added at 6 mol%. X-ray Photoelectron (XPS) survey and high-resolution scans were performed to study the structural effects of copper addition in the glass. Results indicated that the incorporation of copper changes the ratio of bridging to non-birding oxygens in the structure. Glasses were further analyzed for their structure with Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, which indicated that copper acts as a network modifier in the glass composition and copper-containing glasses show a less connected microstructure. Antibacterial efficacy of the glasses was analyzed against E. coli and S. epidermis. Copper-containing glasses showed a significantly higher inhibition zone compared to control glass. The glass with 6 mol% copper, exhibited inhibition zones of 9 and 16mm against E. coli and S. epidermis bacteria, respectively.