Characterization and In Vivo Evaluation of Phosphate-Based Glass/TiO2 for Skull Prosthetic Application

Skull defects as a consequence of tumors, congenital anomalies, decompressive craniectomies, and skull fractures are a problem that led to the development of the present study. The need to find a biomaterial that can stimulate and promote the healing of skull bone tissue, thereby achieving rapid and complete recovery from the injury, helps improve the patient's quality of life. Bioactive glasses are materials with excellent biological characteristics, including bioactivity, biocompatibility, resorbability, and the ability to promote cell adhesion and osseointegration. The present investigation aimed to evaluate the chemical composition of phosphate-based bioactive glass (45P 2 O 5 30CaO 24 Na 2 O 1TiO 2 , mol%) in Wistar rats for skull prostheses applications. The experimental methodology involves creating a cranial defect in two groups (control and experimental) by forming trephines in the skulls of Wistar rats and implanting the prosthesis in the trephines in the experimental group. Subjects underwent motor and cognitive-behavioral tests over a four-month period to analyze the prosthetic's potential side effects on the brain. The physical, chemical, and biological characterization techniques of both cranial and brain tissue were used, including X-ray diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Elemental analysis by energy dispersive spectroscopy, Histological evaluation of skull tissue, Alacian Blue Staining Method, and Histological evaluation of brain tissue. the authors found hydroxyapatite precipitations on the implant surface from the first-month post-surgery, contrary to the control group, where precipitations began to appear in the third month after surgery. The implant facilitated bone tissue regeneration without compromising motor capabilities or associative learning. The present investigation supports the application of a skull prosthesis made of bioactive glass, which exhibits excellent physical, chemical, and biological properties, demonstrating adequate osteoinduction, osteoconduction, and bone cell adhesion, without presenting adverse reactions in the brain. • Glass/TiO 2 formulation is an alternative for manufacturing cranial implants. • The implant helps accelerate the regeneration process of cranial bone tissue. • The implant harmless in cognitive and motor abilities. • The implant initiates an astrogliosis response postoperatively in month.