Dissolution behavior of the bioactive glass S53P4 when sodium is replaced by potassium, and calcium with magnesium or strontium

The initial dissolution behavior of glasses based on bioactive glass S53P4 was studied with a dynamic measurement setup in a Tris-buffered solution. The glass composition was modified systematically on a molar basis by replacing sodium oxide with potassium oxide (0-100% K) and calcium oxide with magnesium (0-18% Mg) or strontium oxide (0-100% Sr). The concentrations of the ions dissolving from the glasses were measured continuously on-line in the fluid flow for 15 to 25 min using an inductively coupled plasma emission optical spectrometer. This method enabled attainment of detailed information on the initial dissolution mechanisms without the, for bioactive glasses typical, interference of apatite layer formation. The results showed that initial dissolutions of sodium and potassium were markedly higher from the mixed alkali oxide glasses than from the compositions containing only one alkali oxide. Introducing MgO in S53P4 caused a minor decrease in the dissolution rates of all ions. The glass containing 3 mol% of MgO showed the best chemical durability. In contrast, replacing CaO gradually with SrO increased the dissolution rates of all ions. The glasses with the highest replacement of CaO with SrO showed rapid release of both Sr and Na ions. The results corroborate the overall knowledge of glass durability and can be utilized to design bioactive glasses with controlled ion release rate for tissue engineering applications.