A treatment study evaluates glass and glass-ceramics of the Na2O center dot CaO center dot K2O center dot MgO center dot SiO2 center dot P2O5 system, modified with B2O3, Al2O3 or B2O3/Al2O3 up to 0.66. Both, bioactivity using simulated body fluid (SBF) immersion and mineral nodule formation using calvaria derived osteoblasts, were tested. The surface structure changes were examined by SEM-EDX line scan X-ray microanalysis and calcium deposition by the alizarin-red test. It was found that all compositions of glasses as well as glass-ceramics reacted with the SW allowing the development of a SiO2 rich layer. In some cases the presence of a rich calcium and phosphorous layer was observed, that according to other studies, corresponds to the apatite layer identified in previous studies. This result suggests a bioactivity behavior, with the exception of the glass containing B2O3/Al2O3=0.66 and the glass-ceramic of the same composition with a 2(nd) heat treatment. The composition containing B2O3/Al2O3 = 0.66 showed the best biocompatibility with hydroxyapatite nodule formation on its surface, especially on the glass-ceramics.

Keywords: Bioactive glass; osteoblast-like cells; in vitro biomineralization; Scanning Electron Microscopy (Line scan)