In vitro apatite forming ability of type I collagen hydrogels containing bioactive glass and silica sol-gel particles.

Type I collagen hydrogel containing bioactive glass (CaO-P2O5-SiO2) and silica sol-gel micrometric particles were prepared and their in vitroapatite-forming ability in simulated body fluid assessed. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that bioactive glass particles entrapment in collagen matrix did not inhibit calcium phosphate formation and induced morphology variations on the crystalline phase precipitated on the hydrogel surface. The silica--collagen hydrogel composite precipitated calcium phosphate whereas silica particles and collagen hydrogel alone did not, indicating a possible synergetic effect between collagen and silica on the apatite-forming ability. Mechanisms of calcium phosphate precipitation and its relevance to biomaterial development are discussed.