Structure and in vitro dissolution of Mg and Sr containing borosilicate bioactive glasses for bone tissue engineering

Borosilicate bioactive glasses are promising for bone tissue engineering. The objective was to assess the impact of magnesium and/or strontium, when substituted for calcium on the glasses' thermal and dissolution properties. Both Mg and Sr substitution appeared to enhance the hot forming domain, i.e. the ability to hot process (sinter, draw fibres) without adverse crystallization. Structural analysis indicated that substitution of MgO and/or SrO for CaO results in changes in the BO₃/BO₄ ratio as well as in the ratio between bridging and non-bridging oxygen atoms in the silicate structure. Additionally, a de-shielding effect was noticed when Ca, Mg and Sr are present together in the glass network, possibly owing to PO₄ ³⁻ charge-balanced preferentially by Na⁺. The Mg and/or Sr substitution resulted in a lower ion release in simulated body fluid and delayed formation of hydroxyapatite. However, once this layer formed it consisted of a Mg/Sr-substituted apatite. This work highlights the effect of combined ionic substitutions on bioactive glass structure and properties.