Genetic design of bioactive glass

This paper reviews the discovery that controlled release of biologically active Ca and Si ions from bioactive glasses leads to the up-regulation and activation of seven families of genes in osteoprogenitor cells that give rise to rapid bone regeneration. This finding offers the possibility of creating a new generation of gene activating glasses designed specially for tissue engineering and in situ regeneration of tissues. Recent findings also indicate that controlled release of lower concentrations of ionic dissolution products from bioactive glasses can be used to induce angiogenesis and thereby offer potential for design of gene activating glasses for soft tissue regeneration.