Haemocompatiblity of controlled release glass.

There are many medical applications which benefit from the use of soluble biomaterials, including the sustained release of drugs over a precise period of time, or temporary conduits for controlling nerve regrowth. We have manufactured a series of phosphate-based controlled release glasses (CRGs) in which the solubility could be controlled by varying the concentration of CaO and Na2O. Fibres of the CRG containing iron and cerium were placed into direct contact with human neutrophils and macrophages in tissue culture for 2.5 and 24 h respectively and the responses analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal microscopy. The supernatants were analysed for the cytokine IL-1beta by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Disks of CRG of various compositions were placed in contact with whole blood for 30 min and platelet adhesion assessed by SEM. Activation of platelets, granulocytes and complement were quantified by ELISA for beta-thromboglobulin, elastase and iC3b. Intrinsic coagulation activation was measured by timing the clotting of recalcified plasma. Only the cerium fibre inhibited IL-1beta release from macrophages. No platelet adhesion was observed to any disk composition. Three compositions containing MgO inhibited plasma clotting and showed an insignificant level of complement activation. This study has demonstrated the development of a number of compositions of CRG, which have great potential in a wide variety of biomedical applications.