EUROPEAN CONGRESS AND EXHIBITION ON ADVANCED MATERIALS AND PROCESSES - EUROMAT 2021

Mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs) are multifunctional materials for various biomedical applications [1]. MBGNs are usually synthesized using sol-gel based strategies. Their composition and morphology (e.g., particle size, pore structure) can be conveniently tailored by tuning sol-gel processing parameters, e.g., the concentration of pore-forming templates [2]. Incorporating biologically active ions into MBGNs can extend and boost the therapeutic effects (osteogenic, angiogenic, antibacterial, immunomodulatory properties. We have developed a series of ion-doped MBGNs for chronic wound healing and infected bone defect repair. Key results will be presented. Specifically, Ag-doped MBGNs exhibited enhanced antibacterial activity as indicated in a 3D infected skin model [3], while B and Ce doped MBGNs showed anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic activities. MBGNs could also act as delivery carriers of BMP-2, exhibiting a sustained release of BMP-2 and enhancing bone healing through synergistic effects of released ions and growth factors. In addition, the incorporation of MBGNs as fillers into hydrogels can improve the mechanical performance and osteogenic activities of matrices. Given their unique compositional and morphological characteristics, ion-doped MBGNs exhibit great potential in various applications ranging from (hard/soft) tissue regeneration to drug delivery.

[1] K. Zheng, B. Sui, K. Ilyas, A.R. Boccaccini, Porous bioactive glass micro- and nanospheres with controlled morphology: developments, properties and emerging biomedical applications, Mater. Horizons. 8 (2021) 300–335.
[2] K. Zheng, A.R. Boccaccini, Sol-gel processing of bioactive glass nanoparticles: A review, Adv. Colloid Interface Sci. 249 (2017) 363–373.
[3] K. Zheng, P. Balasubramanian, T.E. Paterson, R. Stein, S. Macneil, S. Fiorilli, C. Vitale-brovarone, J. Shepherd, A.R. Boccaccini, Ag modified mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles for enhanced antibacterial activity in 3D infected skin model, Mater. Sci. Eng. C. 103 (2019) 109764.