Dissolution of Glass–Ceramic Scaffolds of Bioactive Glasses 45S5 and S53P4

Abstract Although the initial in vitro dissolution of bioactive glasses (BAG) is well characterized, long-term behaviour crystallized BAG scaffolds a continuous fluid flow incompletely understood. A detailed understanding vital for predicting their clinical applications. Here, we explored and reaction mechanisms partly crystalline glass–ceramic based on S53P4 45S5 using flow-through method Tris-buffer (Tris) simulated body (SBF) up to 21 days. Granules parent were used as references. The main phase both was sodium-calcium-silicate. scaffolds’ suggested that sodium-calcium-silicate crystals dissolved incongruently yield hydrous silica. silica then provided abundant nucleation sites hydroxyapatite precipitation, resulting fine-grained structures. When exposed Tris, almost completely within test period, leaving only highly porous remnant phases. For scaffolds, calcium phosphate layers formed surfaces effectively slowed SBF. In contrast, this effect less apparent specimens.