| Although work of other investigators to date has provided much insight into the mechanism of bone repair using bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), the most fundamental clinical questions have remained unanswered; i.e., whether the BMPs can be placed in vivo in such a way as to force the initiation of bone regeneration and whether the regeneration response can be restricted to the desired location only. In this way, the choice of a suitable substrate for their delivery is central to the BMP repair methodology.;In this research, highly homogeneous bioactive glasses outside of the normally accepted bioactivity composition range were synthesized by the solution sol-gel technique. They were subsequently assessed for bioactivity in vitro and their ion exchange with a simulated body fluid was measured over a 7-day period. Their immersion in the fluid resulted in rapid precipitation of fine-grained hydroxyapatite crystals, as observed by SEM and FT-IR techniques. The experimental glasses were also tested for cellular compatibility by culturing osteoblast cells on the surface of pressed discs of the material. Here, the glass was shown to Provide a suitable substrate for cell growth and proliferation. Altogether, these findings suggest that this type glass may serve as a suitable bone grafting material and delivery substrate for BMPs in the repair of osseous defects. |
