Synthesis, characterization, in vitro bioactivity and wettability of sol-gel-derived SiO2-CaO-P2O5 and SiO2-CaO-P2O5-Na2O bioglasses

Abstract

Glasses in the ternary and quaternary system SiO₂-CaO-P₂O₅ ; SiO₂-CaO-P₂O₅-Na₂O were prepared  by means of a sol-gel route starting from tetraethyl orthosilicate, calcium nitrate, TEP, and sodium nitrate. The obtained glasses were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These materials were subjected to immersion studies in simulated body fluid (SBF), and have been subjected to water contact angle measurements. A comparative study on Na₂O-containing (22Na) and Na₂O-free bioactive glass ceramics (44C) indicated that Na₂O could be an important constituent enabling achievement of an optimal combination of bioactivity and wettability.