Development of biocomposites with bioactive glass fibers reinforcement for tissue engineering applications

Abstract

Bioactive glasses were developed by Hench in 1969 and are widely known to be able to form a chemical bond with bones and other hard tissues. Despite their osteoconductive and osteopromotive nature the direct application of this biomaterial in load bearing clinical cases has been limited, since their ceramic nature makes them very brittle. Another factor that restricts their application is that these glasses tend to easily crystallize hindering any manufacture process. In order to explore the biological properties of these biomaterials many research groups are investigating the combination of bioactive glasses with biomedical resorbable polymers, this would increase their manufacture routes and expand the possibilities of clinical applications. Normally, these composites are made with bioactive glass granules or particles. However, a recently developed new bioactive glass composition in the Vitreous Materials Laboratory (LaMaV - UFSCar) has a very high glass stability and high bioactivity, making possible the obtainment of bioactive fibers, meshes and 3D forms. Their elevated bioactivity makes these fibers suitable for reinforcing biopolymers and also acts as a bonding agent between the biocomposite and the living tissues.Therefore, the aim of this study is to develop innovative biocomposites with bioactive glass fibers reinforcement with different shapes, such as films and porous 3D devices that can be applicable in tissue engineering for hard and soft tissues. (AU)