Phosphate-based glasses (PBGs) in the P2O5–CaO–Na2O system have great potential in tissue engineering, for the regeneration of hard and soft tissues.[1] Being bioresorbable, they dissolve in the physiological environment and are eventually replaced by regenerated tissue.[2] In addition, bioresorbability makes PBGs ideal materials for the controlled delivery of therapeutic molecules and ions. [3]

In particular, phosphate-glass fibres (PGFs) are of great interest due to their peculiar morphology; PGFs can be easily packed into complex bone defects and used as mats for wound dressings.[4] PGFs are usually prepared via the traditional melt-spinning technique (MS), where oxide powders are melted at temperatures >1100°C, followed by the drawing of fibres. MS is incompatible with thermal-sensitive molecules and does not allow the production of high surface area and/or porous PGFs important properties for a controlled delivery biomaterial. [5]

In this study, PGFs in the system P2O5–CaO–Na2O doped with Ga3+ and Ce3+ up to 3 mol % are presented. PGFs are prepared via electrospinning of coacervate gels, obtained by the slow addition of Ca2+ to a concentrated aqueous solution of sodium polyphosphate (NaPP). Gallium and cerium ions have been added for their antibacterial and therapeutic properties. [6]

PGFs were characterised using a range of complementary techniques (X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy. The controlled release of ions following immersion of PGFs in deionised water over time was investigated using microwave plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. In addition, antibacterial activity and biocompatibility against HaCaT cells were studied.

References

[1] F. Foroutan, B. A. Kyffin, I. Abrahams, J. C. Knowles, E. Sogne, A. Falqui and D. Carta, Frontiers in chemistry, 2020, 8, 249.

[2] A. Nikolaou, M. Felipe-Sotelo, R. Dorey, J. Gutierrez-Merino and D. Carta, Scientific Reports, 2022, 12, 1-12. [3] F. Foroutan, J. McGuire, P. Gupta, A. Nikolaou, B. A. Kyffin, N. L. Kelly, J. V. Hanna, J. Gutierrez-Merino, J. C. Knowles and S.-Y. Baek, ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering, 2019, 5, 6054-6062.

[4] F. Foroutan, A. Nikolaou, B. A. Kyffin, R. M. Elliott, M. Felipe-Sotelo, J. Gutierrez-Merino and D. Carta, Materialia, 2020, 14, 100939.

[5] B. A. Kyffin, F. Foroutan, F. N. Raja, R. A. Martin, D. M. Pickup, S. E. Taylor and D. Carta, Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 2019, 7, 7744-7755

[6] B. Kyffin, D. Pickup, G. Mountjoy, F. Foroutan, I. Abrahams and D. Carta, The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2021, 125, 12256-12268.

Zarrin Moghaddam (Ph.D.)