Design of mesoporous bioactive glass/hydroxyapatite composites for controllable co-delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs and proteins

• The MBG/HCA composites were successfully designed for controllable co-delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs and proteins through the mineralization of MBG materials in SBF solution.
• The MBG/HCA composites had high loading capacity of chemotherapeutic drugs and proteins, respectively.
• The MBG/HCA composites exhibited a simultaneous and sustained drug/protein release behavior.

Mesoporous bioactive glass/hydroxyapatite (MBG/HA) composites with controllable drug/protein delivery have been successfully developed by the mineralization of MBG materials in simulated body fluid (SBF). Using dexamethasone (DEX) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) as the model chemotherapeutic drug and protein, both DEX and BSA could be loaded in the MBG/HA composites with high loading capacities. Most importantly, the MBG/HA composites exhibited a simultaneously sustained DEX/BSA release behavior, and the DEX/BSA release rates were controlled by changing the mineralization period. It indicated that the mineralization of MBG materials to form the MBG/HA composites offered a simple and effective approach to realize the controllable co-delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs and proteins for bone regeneration.