Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
Bioactive glasses (6P55) used for coating Ti/Ti-alloy were tested for their in vitro behavior in a comparative study with commercial Bioglass™ (45S5) and commercial Ti alloy (Ti6Al4V). In vitro testing included pH and dissolution rate determination in simulated body fluid (SBF) along with in vitro cyto compatibility testing. It was seen in this work that 6P55 and 45S5 had similar dissolution behavior, demonstrating t½ dependence and maximum pH of approximately 8.1 after 10 days of immersion. This pH was reduce by 0.2 0.4 pH units when the in vitro V:A ratio was increased from 1 to 3. The dissolution rate of these glasses approached 0 after additional immersion tests after 15 days and the pH stablilized at less than 7.5. Cell culture studies showed that both glasses behaved in similar fashion after 16 hours in culture. Both glasses had an increase in cell numbers of close to 200-250%, whereas Ti6Al4V had a less pronounced cell number increase (∼ 180%)