Bioactive glasses (BGs) form a versatile class of biocompatible materials
that can be utilized for various therapeutic strategies, including bone tissue engineering,
soft tissue healing, and cancer therapy. Commonly, BGs are classified into three
distinct categories, namely silicate, phosphate, and borate glasses. Several commercial
BG-based products are now available on the market, and new generations with unique
therapeutic features are also expected to introduce them in the near future. Due to their
clinical significance, the biological behaviors of BGs have been one of the most
interesting topics in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Although BGs are
generally recognized as biocompatible materials in medicine, any new composition and
formulation should be carefully tested through a series of standard in vitro and in vivo
tests provided by international agencies (e.g., Food and Drug Administration (FDA))
and regulatory bodies (e.g., the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)).
As a rule of thumb, the release of ionic dissolution products from BGs into the
surrounding biological environment is regarded as the main parameter that modulates
cellular and molecular phenomena. This process is even more crucial when specific
elements (strontium, copper, etc.) are added to the basic composition of BGs to
improve their physico-chemical properties, mechanical strength, and biological
performance. Moreover, it is now well-established that some physical (e.g., the
topography) aspects of BGs can directly affect their compatibility with the living
systems (cells and tissues). Therefore, a multifaceted design and testing approach
should be applied while synthesizing BGs in the laboratory, and the collaboration of
materials and chemical engineers with biologists and medical experts can be really
helpful for producing optimized formulations.
Keywords: Angiogenesis, Antibacterial activity, Bioactive glasses (BGs), Bioactivity, Biocompatibility, Borate bioactive glasses, Bone tissue engineering, Cytotoxicity, Tissue compatibility, Genotoxicity, Hemocompatibility, Glass-ceramics, Inflammatory response, International Organization for Standardization (ISO), In vitro study, In vivo animal study, Phosphate bioactive glasses, Polymers, Silicate bioactive glasses, Soft tissue engineering, Three-dimensional (3D) printing, Wound healing.
