Bioactive borate glass scaffold for bone tissue engineering

Borate glass particles and microspheres with size distributions in the range of approximately 100–400 μm, were loosely compacted and sintered for 10 min at 600 °C to form a porous, three-dimensional construct (porosity 25–40%). Conversion of the borate glass to hydroxyapatite was investigated by soaking the constructs in a solution of K₂HPO₄ (0.25 M) at 37 °C and with a pH value of 9.0, and measuring the weight loss of the constructs as a function of time. Almost full conversion of the borate glass to hydroxyapatite was achieved in less than 6 days. X-ray diffraction revealed an initially amorphous product that subsequently crystallized to hydroxyapatite. The biocompatibility of the porous constructs was investigated by in vitro cell culture with human mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow (bMSC) and human mesenchymal stem cell derived osteoblasts (MSC-Ob). The cells adhered to the scaffolds and the MSC-Obs produced alkaline phosphatase which is an indication of osteogenic differentiation. The data suggest strong bioactive characteristics for the borate glass constructs and the potential use of the constructs as scaffolds for tissue engineering of bone.