Structure, properties and in-vitro response of SiO2-Na2O-CaO-P2O5 system based glass-ceramics after partial replacement of Na2O by Li2O

•Melt derived 45S5 bioglass sample was ceramized by two stage heat treatment.•Li+ ion had formed glass structure more compact leading to improved mechanical properties.•XRD and SEM/EDX confirmed hexagonal shaped combeite as main crystalline phase in glass-ceramics.•FTIR, Raman, XRD confirmed HCA formation on sample surface after in-vitro test in SBF.•Li+ slows down HCA formation rate with respect to the control one. Effect of lithium oxide substitution on the structure, in-vitro chemical dissolution and mechanical properties of melt derived 45S5 based glass-ceramics in 46.1SiO2 (24.4-x)Na2O 26.9CaO 2.6P2O5 x Li2O (x = 0, 2, 4, 6, and 10 mole %) system was studied. Raman analysis had shown the presence of Q2 silica tetrahedra and crystalline phosphorus in the glass-ceramics samples. Higher mechanical properties of lithia containing glass and glass-ceramics were noticed due to compact glass structure in presence of small sized Li+ ions. Hexagonal shaped combeite (Na2O.2CaO.3SiO2) was the only crystalline phase. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectra confirmed formation of carbonated hydroxyapatite (HCA) on the glass-ceramics surface in SBF solution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) corroborated cotton ball like morphology as carbonated hydroxyapatitel ayer on lithium containing glass-ceramics sample surface.