Synthesis and degradation of sodium iron phosphate glasses and their in vitro cell response

The degradation profiles of six sodium iron phosphate glass formulations have been investigated using simple dissolution trials in deionized water. The glasses were produced from the appropriate phosphate salts by melting at 1200°C in 5% Au/95% Pt crucibles. Dissolution rates varied from 0.2 gcm−2h−1 for the 1% Fe glass to essentially zero over the 6‐week test period for the 15% Fe and 20% Fe glasses. The overall degradation rate was found to vary according to the approximate relation: rate = 1.3e−0.79x gcm−2h−1, where x is the percentage iron content of the glass. Glasses with 10% or greater iron content were observed to maintain a constant density over the course of the tests and thus appeared to degrade from the surface and not the bulk. In vitro cell response tests were conducted on the glasses using macrophages and primary craniofacial osteoblasts. These tests were performed on the glasses with 10% or greater iron content because glasses with lower iron content degraded too quickly. Confocal microscopy revealed a rounded macrophage morphology and IL‐1β production was low, suggesting little macrophage activation. However, a significant level of peroxide production was observed. Osteoblasts were observed to attach to the glass surfaces and spread, exhibiting a similar cytosketetal organization to the cells on the Thermanox controls, with a high level of F‐actin organization. On balance, the 15% Fe glass performed slightly better than the 20% Fe glass in these assays. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 71A: 283–291, 2004