Affiliations: Nanyang Technological University, School of Materials
Science and Engineering, Singapore | School of Chemical and Life Sciences, Nanyang
Polytechnic, Singapore
Note: [] Address for correspondence: S.C.J. Loo, Nanyang Technological
University, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Avenue 50,
Singapore 639798. Tel.: +65 67904603; Fax: +65 67909081; E-mail:
joachimloo@ntu.edu.sg
Abstract: The current review investigates the bioactivity of different glass
interfaces created on thin glass cover slips as substrates. The interfaces
studied are plain glass, functionalized glass using 0.5 M and 5 M of sodium
hydroxide (NaOH) for 24 hrs, and glass coated with bioactive 58S Bioglass
(58S). A biomimetic method, involving the exposure of the three interfaces to
1.5 times simulated body fluid (SBF) tests the bioactivity of the interfaces
via creation of layer of Hydroxyapatite (HA). Fluorinated SBF will precipitate
fluorine doped HA (FHA) on a bioactive interface. Higher concentration of 1.5
times of SBF used in this study intended to accelerate the formation of HA and
FHA layer over the substrate. HA and FHA is found to be precipitated on the
thinly coated 58S. This paper, study also the thin film coatings of three forms
of bioceramics – bioactive 58S, HA and FHA. The study, also proposes to draw a
relation between the morphology of HA particles with duration of exposure to
SBF, the effects of fluorine on the morphology and the cell interaction with
bioactive 58S, HA and FHA interfaces using pre-differentiated osteoblastic
MC3T3 cells. The analysis of cells in this study is confined to three
parameters that include the attachment, proliferation and viability of cells.
Tests employed for the analysis of the thin film coating of HA and FHA is
restricted to qualitative X-Ray Diffraction and quantitative Field Emission
Scanning Electron Microscope. Other mechanical tests such as shear test are not
used to test the mechanical properties of this thin layer, due to the fact that
the thin film is too thin for such analysis.
Journal: BioFactors, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 205-216, 2007
