In vitro study of nano-sized zinc doped bioactive glass

Surface reactivity in physiological fluid has been linked to bioactivity of a material. Past research has shown that bioactive glass containing zinc has the potential in bone regeneration field due to its enhanced bioactivity. However, results from literature are always contradictory. Therefore, in this study, surface reactivity of bioactive glass containing zinc was evaluated through the study of morphology and composition of apatite layer formed after immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF). Nano-sized bioactive glass with 5 and 10 mol% zinc were synthesized through quick alkali sol–gel method. The synthesized Zn–bioglass was characterized using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX), X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR). Samples after SBF immersion were characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and EDX. Morphological study through SEM showed the formation of spherical apatite particles with Ca/P ratio closer to 1.67 on the surface of 5 mol% Zn–bioglass. Whereas, the 10 mol% Zn–bioglass samples induced the formation of flake-like structure of calcite in addition to the spherical apatite particles with much higher Ca/P ratio. Our results suggest that the higher Zn content increases the bioactivity through the formation of bone-bonding calcite as well as the spherical apatite particles. ► Nano-sized bioactive glasses were synthesized through quick alkali sol–gel method. ► 5 and 10 mol% Zn–bioglass induced the formation of spherical particles in SBF test. ► 10 mol% Zn–bioglass also induced the formation of flake-like structure. ► The flake-like structure is calcium carbonate; spherical particles are apatite. ► High Zn contents negatively influence the chemical composition of the apatite layer.