Synthesis, characterization and in vitro bioactivity of sol-gel-derived SiO2–CaO–P2O5–MgO bioglass

In this study, the synthesis of SiO2–CaO–P2O5–MgO bioactive glass was performed by the sol-gel method. Sol-gel-derived bioglass material was produced both in powder and in discs form by uniaxial pressing, followed by sintering at 700 °C. The obtained material was evaluated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning caloremetry (DSC) analyses. The biocompatibility evaluation of the formed glass was assessed through in vitro cell culture [alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity of osteoblasts] experiments and immersion studies in simulated body fluid (SBF) for different time intervals while monitoring the pH changes and the concentration of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium in the SBF medium. The SEM, XRD and FTIR studies were conducted before and after soaking of the material in SBF. At first, an amorphous calcium phosphate was formed; after 7 days this surface consisted of deposited crystalline apatite. The present investigation also revealed that the sol-gel derived quaternary bioglass system has the ability to support the growth of human fetal osteoblastic cells (hFOB 1.19). Finally, this material proved to be non-toxic and compatible for the proposed work in segmental defects in the goat model in vivo.