Synthesis, characterization and biological response of magnesium-substituted nanobioactive glass particles for biomedical applications

In this study, silica-based magnesium-substituted nanobioactive glass compositions (58SiO2–33CaO–9P2O5, 58SiO2–23CaO–9P2O5–10MgO and 58SiO2–13CaO–9P2O5–20MgO (mol %)) were synthesized by a simple, cost-effective sol–gel method. The synthesized nanobioactive glass samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer studies. The prepared samples revealed amorphous phase with spherical morphology, having a particle size less than 50 nm. The samples MT0, MT10 and MT20 showed average pore diameters of 18.67, 17.35 and 24.51 nm while the specific surface areas were 90.69, 95.56 and 86.70 m2 g−1, respectively. The bioactivity of glass samples was confirmed by the formation of hydroxyapatite layer on glass surfaces during in vitro studies. Further, the MgO-doped nanobioactive glasses did not reveal significant antibacterial activity. A better biocompatibility was achieved in human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line in case of MgO glass samples while comparing the biological behaviour of MgO-based glasses with base glass. MgO substitutions show better in vitro bioactivity and remain non-cytotoxic to human cells.