Cell Adhesion and Proliferation over Zinc-Glass Reinforced Hydroxyapatite composites (Zn-GRHA)

Abstract

In this work, the authors report the preparation, characterization and biological assessment of two compositionally different novel Zn-glass reinforced hydroxyapatite composites obtained by a liquid phase sintering process, via the combination of ZnO-P2O5-CaO-Na2O-CaF2 glass with a HA matrix. Biological assessment was conducted in vitro by the direct culture of MG63 human osteoblast-like cells over the composites. HA was used as control. Previously, the present group has developed and characterized, both in vitro and in vivo, the osteogenic potential of a CaO-P2O5-Na2O-CaF2 glass reinforced hydroxyapatite, without ZnO, and patented the composite as Bonelike. When compared to HA, Bonelike reports enhanced bioactivity and improved mechanical properties resulting from the addition of the phosphate based bioactive glasses. During the sintering process, these glasses induce HA decomposition into beta-tricalcium phosphate, which in turn, at higher sintering temperatures, is decomposed into alpha-tricalcium phosphate. Bonelike appears to induce bone formation through specific activation of osteoblasts with the regulated release of ionic species, namely F-, Mg2+, Na+, among others. The incorporation of ZnO is expected to further improve the composite bioactivity.