Fabrication and Characterization of Nanobioactive glass based composite for Tissue Engineering

Project Title

Fabrication and Characterization of Nanobioactive glass based composite for Tissue Engineering

Project Area of Specialization Biomedical EngineeringProject Summary

The basic idea is to develop a Nano-bioactive glass (NBG) based composite that could serve as a potential scaffold for tissue engineering applications. We are preparing a composite of Nano-bioactive glass and a natural, biodegradable polymer, Sodium Alginate. Bioactive glass nanoparticles are synthesized using sol-gel method and are incorporated into the prepared sodium alginate gel via freeze drying, forming a composite scaffold. Characterization is carried out using techniques including Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), FTIR analysis, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), porosity and swelling behavior measurement, mechanical testing and thermal analysis. Strong interaction of NBG and alginate is observed and the scaffold is expected to hold increased bioactivity, biocompatibility, suitable porosity with well interconnected pores, controlled swelling, greater surface area and further enhanced properties proving it as a promising candidate for tissue engineering including regenerative applications.

Project Objectives

Our objective is to develop a nanocomposite material that could serve best for tissue repair and regenerative applications. The idea is to prepare an advanced  nanocomposite using simple techniques in lesser time and easily available resources. The methods are chosen in a way that are utilized on easily accessible temperatures.

We aim to:

• fabricate a Nano-bioactive glass/sodium alginate (NBG/ALG) composite and study its behavior and properties by performing various tests to prove its applications in tissue engineering.
• determine how addition of bioactive glass to sodium alginate scaffold affect its basic properties and appearance.
• utilize sol-gel technique and highlight its importance for bioglass synthesis.
• explore and detect phase composition, crystallinity and morphology of sodium alginate bioactive glass.
• study mechanical and rheological behavior of glass and the effect of temperature change on bioactive glass scaffold.

Summarizing the objectives of our project as:

• to eliminate the requirement of host or donor bone tissue in surgeries for bone grafting, thereby decrease donor dependencies  
• to develop a composite that could serve as an appropriate bioactive matrix for bone tissue regeneration

Project Implementation Method

Synthesis of Nano-bioactive Glass (NBG)

• Sol-Geltechnique
• Calcination (carried out at 600° C)

Synthesis of NBG/NA-ALG Composite

• CaCl2 Crosslinking
• Lyophilization (Freeze drying)

In our study, we choose to prepare 58S Nanobioactive-glass (NBG) in the ternary SiO2·CaO·P2O5 system (58 wt% SiO2, 33 wt% CaO and 9 wt% P2O5), by a quick alkali-mediated sol–gel method. Sodium Alginate gel is produced by simply dissolving sodium alginate powder in distilled water and kept for overnight stirring. The NBG/ALG composite scaffold is prepared by Cacl2 crosslinking followed by lyophilization technique.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                     

                                                                                                                               

Method for preparation of  Alginate/Nbg composite scaffold

                                                                                                                

Benefits of the Project

There is an increasing need for advanced bone repair materials in tissue engineering. The treatment of bone defects is still a considerable challenge. 

The developed material, Sodium alginate/Nano-bioglass composite scaffold will benefit in tissue engineering for restoration of diseased or damaged bone to its original state and function, which we call as bone regeneration. This would contribute to decrease donor dependencies. Using bioactive glass based composite, we will eliminate the requirement to use host or donor bone tissue in surgeries requiring bone grafting.

This combination of biodegradable polymer with Nano scale bioactive glass would serve as a powerful approach towards advanced engineered material with high bioactivity including 3D tissue scaffolds, Nano composite hydrogels.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

The synthesized and characterized composite material emerges as biodegradable, non-toxic, antibacterial thereby initiating bone repair/regeneration. It holds best hybrid properties, having particle size in nanometers, amorphous state, high mechanical strength, controlled swelling, better porosity with pores well-interconnected, serving as an ideal bone tissue regenerative material.The scaffold is found to have characteristic, materialistic and biological properties essential to tissue regeneration.

Final Deliverable of the Project Hardware SystemCore Industry MedicalOther IndustriesCore Technology OthersOther TechnologiesSustainable Development Goals Good Health and Well-Being for PeopleRequired Resources

Item Name	Type	No. of Units	Per Unit Cost (in Rs)	Total (in Rs)
			Total in (Rs)	77950
Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS)	Equipment	1	14000	14000
Triethyl Phosphate (TEP)	Equipment	1	26500	26500
Calcium Nitrate Tetrahydrate [Ca(N03)2.4H20]	Equipment	1	6000	6000
Ammonia solution [NH4OH]	Equipment	1	3000	3000
2M Nitric Acid [HNO3]	Equipment	1	4000	4000
Sodium Alginate Powder	Equipment	1	10000	10000
Calcium Chloride (CaCl2)	Equipment	1	3000	3000
Ethanol [C2H5OH]	Equipment	1	2000	2000
Distilled water	Equipment	1	450	450
SEM Analysis	Miscellaneous	1	3000	3000
Surface Analysis	Miscellaneous	1	3000	3000
Thermal Analysis	Miscellaneous	1	3000	3000