In vivo testing of a biodegradable woven fabric made of bioactive glass fibers and PLGA₈₀—A pilot study in the rabbit

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to perform an intra-animal comparison of biodegradable woven fabrics made of bioactive glass (BG) fibers and poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) 80/20 copolymer (PLGA(80)) fibers or PLGA(80) fibers alone, in surgical stabilization of bone graft. The BG fibers (BG 1-98) were aimed to enhance bone growth at site of bone grafting, whereas the PLGA component was intended to provide structural strength and flexibility to the fabric. Bone formation was analyzed qualitatively by histology and quantitatively by peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) at 12 weeks. The surgical handling properties of the control PLGA(80) fabric were more favorable. Both fabrics were integrated with the cortical bone surfaces, but BG fibers showed almost complete resorption. There were no signs of adverse local tissue reactions. As a proof of material integration and induced new bone formation, there was a significant increase in bone volume of the operated femurs compared with the contralateral intact bone (25% with BG/PLGA(80) fabric, p < 0.001 and 28% with the control PLGA(80) fabric, p = 0.006). This study failed to demonstrate the previously seen positive effect of BG 1-98 on osteogenesis, probably due to the changed resorption properties of BG in the form of fibers. Therefore, the feasibility and safety of BG as fibers needs to be reevaluated before use in clinical applications.

Fiber glass–bioactive glass composite for bone replacing and bone anchoring implants

“…The particle size of the glasses affects the dissolution; the smaller the particles, the higher the concentration. For example, using bioactive glasses as thin continuous fibers in a polylactide composite gave rapid dissolution due to the high surface area and modified surface composition as compared to the bulk glass [59]. When using bioactive glasses in composites, the adhesion of the particles or fibers also affects the dissolution rate.…”

Bioabsorbable fabrics for musculoskeletal scaffolds

“…The motive for the use of bioceramic and BaG components in the composite has been twofold: to use it as reinforcement and to provide osteoconductivity to the composite. Alm et al, 2010), and knits (unpublished) have been constructed and studied in vitro and in vivo. Alm et al, 2010), and knits (unpublished) have been constructed and studied in vitro and in vivo.…”

Do properties of bioactive glasses exhibit mixed alkali behavior?

“…Therefore, the mixed alkali effect might help to design bioactive glasses of desired bioactivities with improved processing by widening the hot working window of the melts. In fact, quite a few number of bioactive glasses of mixed alkali compositions have been produced, such as 13-93 and 1-98 compositions, towards a product form of sintered scaffolds or hot drawing fibers [19,[22][23][24]. Recent studies have further investigated in detail the MAE in a bioactive glass system with regard to the glass structure, the thermal properties and the ion release from the glass in vitro [25][26][27].…”