In-vitro Evaluation of Hydroxyapatite Reinforced Glass-ceramic Composites for Biomedical Applications

Current study investigated the effect of hydroxyapatite inclusion in apatite based glass-ceramic matrix on mechanical properties, bioactivity, biocompatibility and antibacterial property of the resultant composites. Density, hardness and compressive strength of 50 wt.% hydroxyapatite reinforced apatite-diopside glass-ceramic composites were 2.433 g.cm-3, 1.374 GPa and 1.0305 GPa whereas these values were 2.179 g.cm-3, 1.833 GPa and 1.374 GPa for 50 wt.% hydroxyapatite reinforced apatite-wollastonite glass-ceramic composites, respectively. The bioactivity study showed that the developed glass-ceramics and composites were bioactive in nature. In antibacterial study it was found that all the glass-ceramics and composites were capable of resisting bacterial attack efficiently. However, glass-ceramics had the best antibacterial efficacy. In vitro cytotoxicity assessment showed non-toxicity of glass-ceramics and composites. Thus, the experimental studies indicated that the developed glass-ceramics and composites might be used for bone filler as well as dental filler applications. However, in-vivo study was essential to confirm their suitability for the said applications.