In vivo evaluation of cerium, gallium and vanadium-doped borate-based bioactive glass scaffolds using rat subcutaneous implantation model

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the cerium, gallium and vanadium-containing bioactive borate glass scaffolds for soft tissue applications and determine the potential toxicity of these scaffolds on the adjacent tissues. The effects of the cerium, gallium and vanadium substitution on the soft tissue ingrowth and angiogenesis in porous borate based bioactive glass scaffolds were investigated using rat subcutaneous implantation model. For this purpose, bioactive borate glass powders containing therapeutic ions were prepared by melt-cast method and subsequently scaffolds were fabricated using polymer foam replication technique. The scaffolds were implanted subcutaneously for 4 weeks in Sprague Dawley rats. Bare borate glass scaffolds with the same microstructure were used as the control. Histology was used to evaluate tissue ingrowth and blood vessel formation in the implants. Additionally, the antibacterial activities of cerium, gallium and vanadium containing porous bioactive glass scaffolds were investigated in vitro by a zone inhibition method. Results revealed that addition of cerium ions to the borate glass network caused an increase in blood vessel formation. On the other hand, a decrease was obtained in angiogenesis in gallium and vanadium-containing glasses. All of the scaffolds prepared in the study did not show any antibacterial activity towards Escherichia coli and Staphylococcusaureus.