ABSTRACT
This chapter describes that phosphate-based bioactive glass (P2O5-CaO-CaF2-Na2O-X) doped with metal oxide (X = Ag2O, ZrO2, and TiO2) and fluoride (CaF2) was formulated using the melt quenching technique. The concentration of CaF2 content in the bioglass system varied as 0.00, 1.25, 2.50, 3.75, and 5.00 mol%. Metal oxides (Ag, Zr, and Ti) were selected based on their proven efficacy and existing application as metallic implants. The beneficial effects of metal oxides and fluoride-doped phosphate bioglass were evaluated by physical, thermal, in vitro, and in vivo studies. The physical characteristics of the prepared glass–ceramics such as density, longitudinal modulus, Young’s modulus, bulk modulus, and shear modulus were assessed using Archimedes’ principle and non-destructive ultrasonic methods. The 21-day simulated body fluid (SBF) study showed dissolution of ZrFp/TiFp/AgFp with evidence of apatite layer formation. Differences in the structure, morphology, and elemental composition of the metal-doped fluorophosphate glass before and after SBF immersion were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Thermal characterization was done by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry. In vivo studies revealed the regeneration capacity of the metal oxide–doped phosphate-based glass within a short time. The bioconversion percentage of selected ZrFp3/TiFp5/AgFp5 was found to be 57%, 62%, and 66%, which indicated that the variation in metal oxide and CaF2 content altered the properties of the bioactive glass.
