The role of MgO on physical and bioactive properties of borophosphate glasses for biomedical applications

In this work, a novel series of borophosphate glasses of the system 40B2O3-25P2O5-(20-x)Na2O-15CaF2-xMgO (x = 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 mol%) were synthesized using the melt -quenching technique. The effect of replacing Na2O with MgO in the glasses was analyzed by the physical and bioactive properties. The glasses were characterized by density, molar volume, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential thermal analysis (DTA), bioactivity tests in simulated body fluid (SBF), pH measurements, mass loss, and verification of cellular compatibility in RAW 247 murine macrophages. XRD and FTIR analyses were performed before and after immersion in SBF to verify the bioactivity. Density, molar volume and FTIR results before SBF showed structural changes in the glasses due to the addition of MgO. The pH and mass loss measurements allowed to verify the degradation behavior of the glass series as a function of MgO concentration. The DTA data showed an increase in Tg, Tx, and thermal stability due to the increase in MgO addition. XRD and FTIR analyses after SBF soaking showed superficial formation of apatites and other calcium phosphates of biological interest in the samples, attesting the bioactivity. Cytotoxicity assessed by MTT assay on the cell line RAW 247 showed that at a concentration of 500 mu g/mL all glasses were compatible (non-cytotoxic). The results suggest that the synthesized glasses are bioactive, with the sample containing 5 mol% MgO exhibiting the bioactivity and biocompatibility required for biomaterial applications.