Bioactivity and Degradability of Bioactive Glass/Caprolactone Composite Prepared Using Cyclotella meneghiniana as a Silica Source

Bioactivity, degradability, and mechanical ability are among the key requirements for a material to serve as a scaffold in bone regeneration. Strategically, bioactive glasses are combined with suitable degradable polymers to form composites tailored to meet these demands. The current study, therefore, aimed to synthesize a bioactive glass/polymer composite and assess its bioactivity, degradability, and mechanical properties for application in bone regeneration. The bioactive glass was prepared from silica derived from Cyclotella meneghiniana, a diatom, as the silica source, whereas CaO and P2O5 were obtained from catfish bone (Siluriformes), then incorporated into a polycaprolactone matrix through a solution casting method with the bioactive glass i.e. bioactive glass/PCL ratios of 1:1 and 1:2 to obtain two samples. To characterize the samples, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to study the morphology, diffraction patterns, and bond types, respectively. In vitro bioactivity and degradability of the samples were tested in simulated body fluid (SBF), while the compressive strength was determined using a mechanical tester. Results obtained showed that the samples nucleated hydroxyapatite on their surface when immersed in SBF for 7 -14 days. The degradability was 36.5 and 18.3% for the samples containing bioactive/PCL in the ratios of 1:1 and 1:2, respectively, after 28 days in SBF. The compressive strength for bioactive glass/PCL in the ratio 1:1 was 1.02 MPa, whereas that with the 1:2 ratio was 1.26 MPa. The composites exhibited bioactivity and controlled degradability, which could be essential for bone regeneration.