Mechanochemical and in vitro cytocompatibility evaluation of zirconia modified silver substituted 1393 bioactive glasses

Abstract

Zirconia and silver oxide substituted 1393 bioactive glasses (1393Zr and 1393Zr–1Ag) were prepared by sol-gel technique and sintered at 900–1100 °C. ZrO2 incorporation into the glass was on the sole purpose of mechanical performance augmentation, while Ag2O being antibacterial, their incorporation on microbial efficacy, in vitro bioactivity and cytocompatibility were assessed. The Ag2O incorporated glass showed minimal effect on bioactivity of the parent glass. Both the cytocompatibility (U2-OS cells using MTT assay) and antibacterial efficacy (by using Bacillus subtilis; and Escherichia coli) were found significantly improved in silver doped glass than the undoped one. Excellent mechanical performance was also observed in 1393Zr-1Ag compared to the both pure 1393 glass and 1393Zr. Thus, Ag2O incorporation into 1393Zr not only introduced the bactericidal efficacy, but also enhanced the mechanical properties of the glass, while leaving bioactivity unharmed. Thus the Ag2O incorporated 1393Zr seems a potential biomaterial for bone tissue engineering application.