Wound healing is a complex and well-organized chain of events that begins after the integrity of the skin is disrupted [1]. Several approaches have been developed to help the healing process. However, the use of bioactive glasses (BGs), which enable the release of antibacterial, angiogenic, and anti-inflammatory ions to the wound area, has attracted much attention in recent years as it positively affects wound healing [2].

BGs first discovered as a material that can form a strong bond between hard and soft tissues [3]. Since their discovery, different glass compositions in a variety of dimensions have been produced by melt-quenching and sol-gel methods [4]. However, mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs) can be produced in a variety of compositions by a sol-gel technique and come up as a promising material owing to size and surface properties [5]. MBGNs' well-ordered porosity, controlled pore diameter, surface area, pore volume, and functionalization allow them to load with drugs or biologically active molecules [4,6]. MBGNs can be incorporated with several ions to enhance their chemical and biological properties. Boron (B) is an important ion for stimulating bone regeneration and wound healing [5]. B ions can promote angiogenesis, cell proliferation, and haemostasis [7]. Moreover, the release of B helps wound healing by increasing local pH [8]. Zinc (Zn) ions have homeostasis, angiogenesis, and antibacterial effects. It is also frequently used in soft tissue engineering due to its positive effect on fibroblast proliferation, migration of epithelial cells, and reduction of infection, which are important factors in wound healing [9].

In this study, B and Zn-containing MBGNs produced by a sol-gel technique are investigated for their wound-healing activity. The basic composition for the MBGNs is 60 SiO₂ and 40 CaO mol %. The MBGNs are doped with different concentrations of only B 60SiO₂-(60 − X)CaO-XB₂O₃ (X = 5 and 10 mol%) and Zn 60SiO₂-(60 − X)CaO-XZnO (X = 5 and 10 mol%). The MBGNs are also co-doped with the B and Zn 60SiO₂-(60 − X)CaO- XZnO-XB₂O₃ (X = 5 and 10 mol%) to achieve the synergetic effect with the dual release of the ions. The effect of ions in different compositions on particle size and morphology, pore characteristics, chemical structure, and biological properties are investigated. Cytotoxicity of the MBGNs is performed to see the direct effect of ion types and concentrations on cell viability.

1. Martin, P.; Nunan, R. Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Repair in Acute and Chronic Wound Healing. British Journal of Dermatology 2015, 173, 370–378, doi:10.1111/bjd.13954.

2. Pantulap, U.; Arango-Ospina, M.; Boccaccini, A.R. Bioactive Glasses Incorporating Less-Common Ions to Improve Biological and Physical Properties. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine 2021 33:1 2021, 33, 1–41, doi:10.1007/S10856-021-06626-3.

3. Rahaman, M.N.; Day, D.E.; Sonny Bal, B.; Fu, Q.; Jung, S.B.; Bonewald, L.F.; Tomsia, A.P. Bioactive Glass in Tissue Engineering. Acta Biomater 2011, 7, 2355–2373, doi:10.1016/J.ACTBIO.2011.03.016.

4. Zheng, K.; Boccaccini, A.R. Sol-Gel Processing of Bioactive Glass Nanoparticles: A Review. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2017, 249, 363–373, doi:10.1016/j.cis.2017.03.008.

5. Ege, D.; Nawaz, Q.; Beltrán, A.M.; Boccaccini, A.R. Effect of Boron-Doped Mesoporous Bioactive Glass Nanoparticles on C2C12 Cell Viability and Differentiation: Potential for Muscle Tissue Application. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2022, 8, 5273–5283, doi:10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c00876.

6. Zheng, K.; Balasubramanian, P.; Paterson, T.E.; Stein, R.; MacNeil, S.; Fiorilli, S.; Vitale-Brovarone, C.; Shepherd, J.; Boccaccini, A.R. Ag Modified Mesoporous Bioactive Glass Nanoparticles for Enhanced Antibacterial Activity in 3D Infected Skin Model. Materials Science and Engineering: C 2019, 103, 109764, doi:10.1016/j.msec.2019.109764.

7. Schuhladen, K.; Raghu, S.N.V.; Liverani, L.; Neščáková, Z.; Boccaccini, A.R. Production of a Novel Poly(ɛ-Caprolactone)-Methylcellulose Electrospun Wound Dressing by Incorporating Bioactive Glass and Manuka Honey. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater 2021, 109, 180–192, doi:10.1002/JBM.B.34690.

8. Jung, S.; Day, T.; Boone, T.; Buziak, B.; Omar, A. Anti-Biofilm Activity of Two Novel, Borate Based, Bioactive Glass Wound Dressings. Biomedical Glasses 2019, 5, 67–75, doi:10.1515/BGLASS-2019-0006.

9. Neščáková, Z.; Zheng, K.; Liverani, L.; Nawaz, Q.; Galusková, D.; Kaňková, H.; Michálek, M.; Galusek, D.; Boccaccini, A.R. Multifunctional Zinc Ion Doped Sol–Gel Derived Mesoporous Bioactive Glass Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications. Bioact Mater 2019, 4, 312–321, doi:1016/j.bioactmat.2019.10.002.