Primary osteoblast cell response to sol-gel derived bioactive glass foams.

Bioactive glass macroporous structures were developed in this work to be used as scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications. A sol-gel route was used to obtain glass foams with the introduction of a gas phase in the solution and by vigorous agitation of the sol-gel solution that contains a foam agent. Stable and homogeneous foams were formed near the gelation point, which were than dried and heat-treated. Macroporous structures with interconnected pores of up to 500 mu m, porosity as high as 88% and specific surface area of 92 m(2)/g were obtained. The porous glasses were tested in osteoblast cultures to evaluate adhesion, proliferation, collagen and alkaline phosphatase production. Osteoblast proliferation was higher in the presence of the foams as well as was the collagen secretion, when compared to control. The alkaline phosphatase production was not altered. Viable osteoblasts could be seen inside the foams, suggesting that the produced porous glass foams are a promising materials for bone repair, since it provides a good environment for the adhesion and proliferation of osteoblasts.