Effect of varying the Mg with Ca content in highly porous phosphate-based glass microspheres

This paper reports on the role of phosphate-based glass (PBG) microspheres and their physicochemical properties including in vitro biological response to human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Solid porous were prepared via a flame spheroidisation process. The Mg content PBG formulations explored was reduced from 24 2 mol% with subsequent increase Ca content. A small quantity TiO2 (1 mol%) added lower Mg-content (2 avoid crystallisation. Morphological physical characterisation revealed interconnected porosity (up 76 ± 5 %), average external pore sizes 55 μm surface areas ranging 0.38 0.43 m2 g−1. Degradation ion release studies conducted compared solid (non-porous) 1.5 2.5 times higher degradation rate for microspheres. Also, bioactivity using simulated body fluid (SBF) Ca/P ratios all three between 0.75 0.92 which within range suggested precipitated amorphous calcium phosphate. Direct cell seeding indirect culture (via incubation microsphere products) hMSCs able grow undergo osteogenic differentiation vitro, confirming cytocompatibility tested. However, (24 showed most potent is therefore considered as promising candidate bone repair applications.