Alumina and Hydroxyapatite Reinforced Glass-Ceramic Composites for Bone Filler and Dental Filler Applications
Khushi Bijalwan
Biomaterials and Medical Devices Division, CSIR-Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (CSIR-CGCRI), Kolkata-700032, India.
Sutanu Dutta
Biomaterials and Medical Devices Division, CSIR-Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (CSIR-CGCRI), Kolkata-700032, India.
Sumana Ghosh *
Biomaterials and Medical Devices Division, CSIR-Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (CSIR-CGCRI), Kolkata-700032, India and Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad- 201002, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Alumina and hydroxyapatite were reinforced into apatite-based glass-ceramics to prepare glass-ceramic composites. The study aims to improve the mechanical properties, bioactivity and biocompatibility of the resultant composites. Developed composites were evaluated by physical, mechanical and biological characterisations. Hardness and Young’s modulus of 40 wt.% hydroxyapatite reinforced glass-ceramic composites were 1.76±0.15 GPa and 41.44±1.12 GPa, respectively, whereas 12 wt.% alumina reinforced glass-ceramic composites showed slightly lower hardness (1.25±0.11 GPa) and Young’s modulus (16.39±0.75 GPa). Apatite was formed on the surfaces of glass-ceramics and their composites when immersed in Simulated Body Fluid (SBF) solution, thereby showing good bioactivity. In vitro cytotoxicity assessment showed non-toxicity of the glass-ceramics and their composites. Thus, the experimental studies indicated that the developed glass-ceramics and composites with good mechanical and biological properties might be used for bone filler and dental filler applications.
Keywords: Alumina, hydroxyapatite, glass-ceramics, composites, characterisation, biomedical applications