New formulation of functionalized bioactive glasses to be used as carriers for the development of pH-stimuli responsive biomaterials for bone diseases.

The aim of the present contribution is to prepare a functionalized bioactive glass potentially useful as prosthetic material, but also able to release organic molecules in response to a change of the pH environment. By this approach it is possible to develop devices which can be used for a triggered drug release in response to specific stimuli; this is an attractive research field, in order to avoid either systemic and/or local toxic effects of drugs. In particular, in the present paper we report data related to the development of a new formulation of bioactive glasses, their functionalization with organic molecules to obtain a pH-sensitive bond, their physicochemical characterization and in vitro bioactivity in simulated biological fluids (SBF), and organic molecule delivery tests at different pH. The glass functionalization, by means of a covalent reaction, allows us to produce a model of pH-responsive bioactive biomaterial: when it is exposed to specific pH changes, it can favor the release of the organic molecules directly at the target site. Cysteamine and 5-aminofluorescein are used as model molecules to simulate a drug. The materials, before and after the different functionalization steps and in vitro release tests at different pH, have been characterized by means of different experimental techniques such as X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), Raman, FTIR and fluorescence spectroscopies, N2 adsorption, thermogravimetric (TGA) and elemental analysis.

Conjugation of amino-bioactive glasses with 5-aminofluorescein as probe molecule for the development of pH sensitive stimuli-responsive biomaterials.

Bioceramics, such as silica-based glasses, are widely used in bone and teeth restoration. Nowadays, the association between nanotechnology and pharmacology is one of the most promising research fields in cancer therapy. The advanced processing methods and new chemical strategies allow the incorporation of drugs within them or on their functionalized surfaces. Bioceramics can act as local drug delivery systems to treat bone and teeth diseases. The present paper reports data related to the development of a pH-stimuli responsive bioactive glass. The glass conjugation with 5-aminofluorescein (5-AF), through a pH-sensitive organic spacer, allows to produce a pH-responsive bioactive biomaterial: when it is exposed to specific pH changes, it can favour the release of 5-AF directly at the target site. 5-AF has been chosen as a simple, low cost, non toxic model to simulate doxorubicin, an anticancer drug. As doxorubicin, 5-AF contains an amino group in its structure in order to form an amide bond with the carboxylic functionalities of the glass. Raman spectroscopy and thermal analysis confirm the glass conjugation of 5-AF by means of an amide bond; the amount of 5-AF loaded was very high (≈ 65 and 44 wt%). The release tests at two different pH (4.2 and 7.4) show that the amount of released 5-AF is higher at acid pH with respect to physiological one. This preliminary datum evidenced that a pH-sensitive drug delivery system has been developed. The low amount of 5-AF released (<1 wt% of the total 5-AF) is due to the very low solubility of 5-AF in aqueous medium. This disadvantage, may be overcome in a dynamic environment (physiological conditions), where it is possible to obtain a drug release system ensuring an effective therapeutic dose for long times and, at the same time, avoiding the drug toxicity.

Evaluation of the behaviour of fluorine-containing bioactive glasses: reactivity in a simulated body fluid solution assisted by multivariate data analysis.

Potentially bioactive fluorine-containing glasses of formula 46.2SiO(2)·24.3Na(2)O·(26.9-x)CaO·2.6P(2)O(5)·xCaF(2) [x = (0), 5, 10, 15] have been studied: the study was carried out as a function of fluorine percentage, dimensions and time of soaking in SBF. The results are compared to those obtained in the same conditions for Bioglass(®) 45S5. Due to the high number and different kind of variables/conditions explored by this set of data, the results are rationalized for the first time by means of multivariate data analysis (MDA); in this way it is possible to classify the behaviour of bioglasses toward bioactivity. The presence of fluorine does not inhibit the formation of HA; in particular, for a fast bioactivity (in term of HA crystallization) it will be better to have large particle size or slabs, while for a fast dissolution fine particle sizes should be preferred.

Magnesium- and strontium-co-substituted hydroxyapatite: the effects of doped-ions on the structure and chemico-physical properties.

The present study is aimed at investigating the contribution of two biologically important cations, Mg(2+) and Sr(2+), when substituted into the structure of hydroxyapatite (Ca(10)(PO(4))(6)(OH)(2),HA). The substituted samples were synthesized by an aqueous precipitation method that involved the addition of Mg(2+)- and Sr(2+)-containing precursors to partially replace Ca(2+) ions in the apatite structure. Eight substituted HA samples with different concentrations of single (only Mg(2+)) or combined (Mg(2+) and Sr(2+)) substitution of cations have been investigated and the results compared with those of pure HA. The obtained materials were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, specific surface area and porosity measurements (N(2) adsorption at 77 K), FT-IR and Raman spectroscopies and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicate that the co-substitution gives rise to the formation of HA and ß-TCP structure types, with a variation of their cell parameters and of the crystallinity degree of HA with varying levels of substitution. An evaluation of the amount of substituents allows us to design and prepare BCP composite materials with a desired HA/ß-TCP ratio.

Bioactive glasses containing Au nanoparticles. Effect of calcination temperature on structure, morphology, and surface properties.

Bioactive glasses containing gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been synthesized via the sol-gel route using HAuCl(4) x 3 H(2)O as gold precursor. The formation process of AuNPs was studied as a function of the thermal treatment, which induces nucleation of Au particles and influences their nature, optical properties, shape, size, and distribution. The physicochemical characterization indicates that the sample treated at 600 degrees C presents the best characteristics to be used as a bioactive material, namely high surface area, high amount of AuNPs located at the glass surface, presence of micropores, and abundant surface OH groups. In the case of samples either aged at 60 degrees C or calcined at 150 degrees C, AuNPs just begin their formation, and at this stage the gel is not completely polymerized and dried yet. A thermal treatment at higher temperatures (900 degrees C) causes the aggregation of AuNPs, forming "AuMPs" (i.e., Au microparticles) in a densified glass-ceramic material with low surface area, absence of pores, and low number of surface OH groups. These features induce in the glass-ceramic materials treated at high-temperatures a lower bioactivity (evidenced by SBF reaction), as compared with that exhibited by the glass samples treated at 600 degrees C.

Functionalization of sol gel bioactive glasses carrying Au nanoparticles: selective Au affinity for amino and thiol ligand groups.

It is demonstrated here that bioactive glasses containing Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) can be selectively functionalized with small molecules carrying either amino or thiol groups by simply varying the temperature and pH of the functionalization batch. The results evidence the following. (i) At room temperature (RT), no functionalization of Au-free glass occurs, whereas in the case of glasses containing AuNPs, stable linkages form only with amino groups, as in this condition Au does not bind with either thiol or hydroxyl groups. The RT functionalization with cysteine and cystine confirms the preferential functionalization through the amino groups, while the -SH groups are oxidized to S-S bridges. (ii) The functionalization with cysteine and cystine, compared at pH = 5, 9, and 12, is shown not to take place at pH = 5 and to be hindered by the glass matrix dissolution at pH = 12 (with consequent release of AuNPs), while the best results are obtained at pH = 9. (iii) For the effect of reaction temperature, at 4 °C it is possible to obtain a strong Au-S interaction, whereas at RT, a weak Au-N linkage is formed. These results should allow production, in a selective way, of different bonds exhibiting different strengths and, consequently, different release times in solution, with a wide range of possible applications (for instance, weak Au-N bonds in the case of drug delivery, strong Au-S bonds in protein immobilization).

Highly-Bioreactive Silica-Based Mesoporous Bioactive Glasses Enriched with Gallium(III).

Beneficial effects in bone cell growth and antibacterial action are currently attributed to Ga3+ ions. Thus, they can be used to upgrade mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs), investigated for tissue engineering, whenever they released therapeutic amounts of gallium ions to the surrounding medium. Three gallium-enriched MBGs with composition (in mol %) xSiO2-yCaO-zP2O5-5Ga2O3, being x = 70, y = 15, z = 10 for Ga_1; x = 80, y = 12, z = 3 for Ga_2; and x = 80, y = 15, z = 0 for Ga_3, were investigated and compared with the gallium-free 80SiO2-15CaO-5P2O5 MBG (B). 29Si and 31P MAS NMR analyses indicated that Ga3+ acts as network modifier in the glass regions with higher polymerization degree and as network former in the zones with high concentration of classical modifiers (Ca2+ ions). Ga_1 and Ga_2 exhibited a quick in vitro bioactive response because they were coated by an apatite-like layer after 1 and 3 days in simulated body fluid. Although we have not conducted biological tests in this paper (cells or bacteria), Ga_1 released high but non-cytotoxic amounts of Ga3+ ions in Todd Hewitt Broth culture medium that were 140 times higher than the IC90 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, demonstrating its potential for tissue engineering applications.

Cytotoxicity of zinc-containing bioactive glasses in contact with human osteoblasts.

Bioactive glasses such as Hench's 45S5 have applications to tissue engineering and bone repair: the insertion of zinc has been proposed to improve their bone-bonding ability and to slacken their dissolution in extracellular body fluids. In view of a potential clinical application, we have investigated whether zinc-containing 45S5 (HZ) glasses might be cytotoxic for human MG-63 osteoblasts. In our experimental conditions, after 24h of incubation HZ glasses released significant amounts of Zn(2+) and induced in MG-63 cells release of lactate dehydrogenase (index of cytotoxicity) and the following indexes of oxidative stress: (i) accumulation of intracellular malonyldialdehyde, (ii) increased activity of pentose phosphate pathway, (iii) increased expression of heme oxygenase-1, (iv) increased activity of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase, (v) decreased level of intracellular thiols. These effects were inversely related to the zinc content of glass powders, were mimicked by ZnCl(2) solutions and were prevented by either metal chelators (EDTA, NTA) or the antioxidant ascorbate, suggesting that Zn(2+) released fastly from HZ glasses can cause MG-63 cell damage via an oxidative stress. This work highlights the importance of designing Zn-containing bioactive glasses without cytotoxic effects and gives supplementary information about the prooxidant role of zinc in living systems.

SiO2-CaO-P2O5 Bioactive Glasses: A Promising Curcuminoids Delivery System.

In this paper, we report the study of the loading and the release of curcuminoids by bioactive glasses (BG) and mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBG). Through a detailed spectroscopic study, it was possible to determine the amount and the type of molecules released in water and in simulated body fluid (SBF). In particular, curcumin and K2T21 show a good ability to be released in di-keto and keto-enolic form, depending from the pH. However, after 24 h, the amount of pristine curcumin release is very low with a consequent increment of degradation products derived by curcuminoids. The presence of -OH groups on curcuminoids is a fundamental pre-requisite in order to obtain a high loading and release in polar solution such as water and SBF. The substrate on which we loaded the drugs does not seem to affect significantly the loading and the release of the drugs. The environment, instead, affects the release: for all the drugs, the release in SBF, buffered at pH of 7.4, is slightly worse than the release in water (basic pH values).

A computational tool for the prediction of crystalline phases obtained from controlled crystallization of glasses.

An automatic tool (named CLUSTER) for the prediction of the most probable crystal phases that can separate from glasses has been developed. The program analyzes the output of molecular dynamics simulations of glasses or glass ceramics, systematically sampling the ratios of the ions in different portions of the simulation box and comparing them to the stoichiometric ratio of compositionally equivalent crystalline phases retrieved from a crystal structure database. The efficacy of the similarity index elaborated has been judged by comparing the results obtained with the crystal phases identified by XRD analysis after thermal treatment in a series of multicomponent potential bioactive glasses and glass ceramics for which the advantages of rational-designed erosion-controlled release is straightforward.

Qualitative and quantitative structure-property relationships analysis of multicomponent potential bioglasses.

The results of a qualitative and quantitative structure-property relationships analysis of multicomponent potential bioglasses of composition (2 - y) SiO2 x 1 Na2O x 1.1 CaO x y P2O5 x x ZnO (x = 0, 0.16, 0.35, 0.78 and y = 0.10, 0.20, 0.36) are presented. Quantitative models are obtained by means of structural descriptors derived by molecular dynamics simulations and experimental data measured for density, thermal analysis, 29Si and 31P magic angle spinning NMR, and chemical durability in water. Analysis of the crystal species obtained upon glass crystallization helped in the rationalization of the structural role of the different components. Finally, glass surface characterization with scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction after soaking in acellular simulated body fluid demonstrated the in vitro bioactivity of the newly obtained 1.80 SiO2 x 1 Na2O x 1.1 Ca x 0.20 P2O5 x 0.16 ZnO (HP5Z5) glass, corresponding to x = 0.16 and y = 0.20.

Thermodynamic aspects of the adsorption of hexametaphosphate on kaolinite.

The adsorption of hexametaphosphate ion, an important deflocculant used in the ceramic industry, from aqueous solutions onto kaolinite has been studied at different temperatures. The adsorption isotherm follows the Langmuir model: the thermodynamic parameters DeltaG(ads)(0), DeltaH(ads)(0), and DeltaS(ads)(0) were calculated and found to be consistent with an interaction model involving the formation of an inner-sphere complex between HMP and aluminol groups. Also, the dependence of the adsorption behavior on the kaolinite volume fraction has been studied and discussed in term of association processes between the clay particles.

Evidence of catalase mimetic activity in Ce(3+)/Ce(4+) doped bioactive glasses.

The ability of Ce-containing bioactive glasses to inhibit oxidative stress in terms of reduction of hydrogen peroxide, by mimicking the catalase enzyme activity is demonstrated here for the first time. The antioxidant properties of three bioactive glasses containing an increasing amount of CeO2 have been evaluated by following the degradation of hydrogen peroxide with time after immersion in H2O2 aqueous solutions with different concentration. XPS and UV-vis measurements allowed us to determine the Ce(3+)/Ce(4+) ratio in the bulk and on the glass surface, and to correlate it with the ability of the samples to show catalase mimetic activity. Interestingly, we have found that the bioactive glass with composition 23.2Na2O-25.7CaO-43.4SiO2-2.4P2O5-5.3CeO2 immersed in 0.1 M H2O2 aqueous solution is able to degrade 90% of it in 1 week. The reduction in bioactivity of the glasses with increasing CeO2 content is here rationalized in terms of a lower amount of phosphate groups available for the hydroxyapatite layer formation, after binding with cerium ions. In fact, classical molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the addition of CeO2 leads to the formation of cerium phosphate rich regions. The formation of an insoluble CePO4 crystalline phase is also observed by XRD analysis after thermal treatment of the glass samples.

Amide Group Coordination to the Pb(2+) Ion.

The binary and ternary (2,2'-bipyridine) complexes of dipositive lead formed by N-carbonyl and N-sulfonyl amino acids, which are ligands containing the peptide and the sulfonamide group, respectively, were investigated in aqueous solution by NMR and differential pulse polarography, and some were also characterized crystallographically. N-Tosylglycine, N-tosyl-beta-alanine, and N-benzoylglycine behave as simple carboxylate ligands at acid pH, while around neutrality they switch to dianionic N,O-bidentate chelating ligands due to the involvement of the deprotonated amide nitrogen as an additional donor site. The same coordination behavior is maintained in the presence of 2,2'-bipyridine. The binary and ternary species formed in solution, and their stability constants were determined and compared with those of the homologous complexes of Pd(2+), Cu(2+), Cd(2+), and Zn(2+). The Pb(2+) ion is the only dipositive metal which is effective in promoting peptide nitrogen deprotonation in benzoylglycine. The molecular structures of [Pb(N-tosylglycinato-N,O)(H(2)O)] (1), [Pb(N-benzoylglycinato-O)(2)(H(2)O)(2)].2H(2)O (2), and [Pb(N-tosylglycinato-O)(2)(bpy)] (3) were determined by X-ray crystallography (O and N,O refer to the ligands binding as carboxylates and as N,O-chelating dianions, respectively). These compounds are all polymeric with six- to eight-coordinate metals showing distorted coordination geometries indicative of a stereochemically active metal lone pair. Polymerization is invariably determined by a bidentate chelate carboxylate group with one oxygen bridging between two metals, and in 2 and 3 it occurs through the formation of chains of Pb(2)O(2) square-planar rings. The binding set in 1, involving a deprotonated amide nitrogen and a sulfonic oxygen, is unprecedented for the Pb(2+) ion. This work provides new information on the solution and solid state chemistry of dipositive lead with ligands of biological interest, a research area that has received little attention in the past, although it is of great relevance for understanding the mechanisms of metal toxicity.

Binding ability of sialic acid towards biological and toxic metal ions. NMR, potentiometric and spectroscopic study.

The binary complexes of 5-amino-3,5-dideoxy-D-glycero-D-galactononulosic acid (NANA), commonly called N-acetyl neuraminic acid, formed with biological metal ions such as Co(II) and Cu(II) and toxic metal ions such as Cd(II) and Pb(II) were investigated in aqueous solution by means of potentiometry, UV and NMR spectroscopy. The corresponding ternary systems with 2,2'-bipyridine were studied in aqueous solution by potentiometry and UV spectroscopy. NANA co-ordinates all metal ions, in both binary and ternary systems through the carboxylic group (protonated or deprotonated according to pH), pyranosidic ring oxygen and glycerol chain alcoholic hydroxy groups. The prevailing species in the pH range 2-7 are of [M(NANA)(2)] type, and their stability constants are greater than those of simple carboxylate complexes. Above pH 7, the species [M(NANA)(2)OH](-) are also formed, but they do not prevent the precipitation of metal hydroxides. This work provides information on the solution state chemistry of NANA in the presence of bivalent metal ions; its great affinity for the toxic metals Cd(II) and Pb(II), near physiological conditions, and the relatively high stability of the complex species found may also account for the mechanism of toxicity.

Co-ordination of transition metal ions by galactaric acid: a potentiometric and spectroscopic study.

A solution study on the ability of galactaric acid [GalaH(2), HOOC(CH)(4)COOH] in the complexation of biological metal ions such as Co(II) and Ni(II) and toxic metal ions such as Cd(II), Pb(II) and Hg(II), is reported. The stability constants of the complex species are determined by means of potentiometric measurements. Galactaric acid behaves as chelate ligand through carboxylic oxygen and alpha-hydroxy group towards Co(II) and Ni(II), while in the Pb(II) and Cd(II) containing system it co-ordinates the metal ion with carboxylic oxygen and two alcoholic hydroxy groups. The prevailing species at acidic or neutral pH is [MGala] which is also isolated in the solid state and characterized by means of IR spectroscopy. On increasing pH, the [MGalaH(-1)](-) species is also formed where the co-ordinated OH group undergoes deprotonation in all metal ion complexes except those with Hg(II), where the co-ordination of hydroxide ion is suggested as the precipitation of the metal hydroxide occurs at pH 7.

Removal of cadmium ion by means of synthetic hydroxyapatite.

The reaction behaviour of synthetic hydroxyapatite [Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2] (HAP) toward cadmium ion was investigated for the Cd/Ca molar ratio in the range 1-0.005, by means of ions, pH measurements and XRD, SEM, IR techniques. The reaction behaviour between HAP and cadmium ion could be explained by a formation of an amorphous phase and/or a sorption mechanism.

In vitro antibacterial capacity and cytocompatibility of SiO2-CaO-P2O5 meso-macroporous glass scaffolds enriched with ZnO.

Zn2+ ions exhibit osteogenic, angiogenic and antimicrobial properties. For this reason, they are often added in small amounts to bioceramics being investigated for bone tissue engineering. In this paper, the cytocompatibility and antibacterial properties of 80% SiO2-15% CaO-5% P2O5 (mol%) mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG) scaffolds substituted with 4.0% and 7.0% of ZnO were studied and compared with the Zn-free scaffold. Cell proliferation, morphology, differentiation and cytotoxic effects of Zn2+ ions released from the samples were examined by culturing human osteoblast-like cells (HOS) osteoblasts both in the presence of sample extracts and on the scaffold surface. The bacterial inhibition capacity of the scaffolds was explored by using Gram-positive Stapylococcus aureus bacteria, responsible for numerous infections in orthopedic surgery, to simulate a severe infection. Our results show that the Zn-MBG scaffolds possess a hierarchical meso-macropore structure suitable for osteoblast growth. Furthermore, the amount of Zn2+ released from the scaffold with 4.0% ZnO was found to be more favorable for HOS cell development than that released from the scaffold including 7.0% ZnO. Zn2+ released to the medium from both scaffolds exhibited antibacterial properties against S. aureus. Thus, the cytocompatibility and the antibacterial ability exhibited by the MBG scaffold containing 4.0% ZnO make it a suitable candidate for bone regeneration applications.

Gallium-containing phosphosilicate glasses: functionalization and in-vitro bioactivity.

A gallium containing glass 45.7SiO2·24.1Na2O·26.6CaO·2.6P2O5·1.0Ga2O3 (referred to as "Ga1.0") and a parent Ga-free glass 46.2SiO2·24.3Na2O·26.9CaO·2.6P2O5 (hereinafter represented as "H"), corresponding to Bioglass® 45S5, were functionalized with Tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTS) in order to improve their ability to bond with biomolecules, such as drugs, proteins, and peptides. Functionalization with TEOS and APTS promoted the increment in OH groups and formation of NH2 groups on the glass surface, respectively. The presence of OH or NH2 groups was investigated by means of IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Moreover, in vitro study of these functionalized glasses was performed in simulated body fluid (SBF) so as to investigate the effect of functionalization on the bioactive behavior of H and Ga1.0. The results showed that the functionalization was obtained along with maintaining their bioactivity. The surfaces of both functionalized glasses were covered by a layer of apatite within 30 days of SBF immersion. In addition, CaCO3 was also identified on the surface of APTS functionalized glasses. However, no gallium release was detected during SBF soaking.

Mesoporous bioactive scaffolds prepared with cerium-, gallium- and zinc-containing glasses.

Mesoporous bioactive glass scaffolds (MBG_Scs), based on 80% SiO(2)-15% CaO-5% P(2)O(5) (in mol.%) mesoporous sol-gel glasses substituted with Ce(2)O(3), Ga(2)O(3) (both 0.2% or 1.0%) and ZnO (0.4% or 2.0%), were synthesized by combination of evaporation-induced self-assembly and rapid prototyping techniques. Cerium, gallium and zinc trace elements were selected because of their inherent beneficial biological properties. Fabricated scaffolds were characterized and compared with unsubstituted scaffold (B_Sc). All of them contained well interconnected ultralarge pores (pores >400 µm) ideal for vascular ingrowth and proliferation of cells. Macropores of size 100-400 µm were present inside the scaffolds. In addition, low-angle X-ray diffraction showed that B_Sc and scaffolds with substituent contents up to 0.4% exhibited ordered mesoporosity useful for hosting molecules with biological activity. The textural properties of B_Sc were a surface area of 398 m(2) g(-1), a pore diameter of 4.3 nm and a pore volume of 0.43 cm(3) g(-1). A slight decrease in surface area and pore volume was observed upon substitution with no distinct effect on pore diameter. In addition, all the MBG_Scs except 2.0% ZnO_Sc showed quite quick in vitro bioactive response. Hence, the present study is a positive addition to ongoing research into preparing bone tissue engineering scaffolds from bioceramics containing elements of therapeutic significance.