Synthesis and Bioactivity of Sol-Gel Derived Porous, Bioactive Glass Microspheres Using Chitosan as Novel Biomolecular Template

Abstract

This article reports a novel, simple route for synthesis of solgel derived porous, bioactive glass (BG) microspheres using chitosan (CTS) as a biomolecular template in the acid-catalyzed solgel process. The use of CTS, which is a natural biocompatible polymer with a unique molecular structure, allowed the synthesis of BG microparticles with a spherical shape, 510 similar to mu m in size. Furthermore, pores with a size of 540 similar to nm were created entirely throughout BG microspheres, which were formed by removing the network of CTS present initially in the CTS-BG composite microparticles via heat-treatment at 600 degrees C for 2 similar to h. These porous BG microspheres induced the vigorous precipitation of apatite crystals on their surface when immersed in simulated body fluid for 24 similar to h, thus suggesting their excellent bioactivity .similar to