Combination of Na-Ca-phosphate and fluorapatite in wollastonite-diopside glass-ceramic: degradation and biocompatibility

Abstract In this study, we investigated the effect of introducing sodium calcium phosphate (NCP), fluorapatite (FA), or the combination of both phases in the wollastonite-diopside (WD) bioactive glass-ceramic system on the crystalline phases formed, microstructure, degradation, and biocompatibility of those materials. The prepared materials were characterized by DTA, XRD, and SEM/EDX. Moreover, the density was measured via Archimede’s method, and the mechanical properties were measured by Vicker’s microhardness indenter. The in vitro bioactivity test was carried out in the simulated body fluid (SBF), and the cell viability test was evaluated using the Vero cells. The results showed that the formed crystalline phases were close to the starting proposed phases. Moreover, NCP-containing WD glass-ceramic was showed the lowest density value due to its low densification, and accordingly, it showed the lowest Vicker`s microhardness value due to the same reason. Furthermore, combining sodium calcium phosphate in WD glass-ceramic was increased cell viability better than that included fluorapatite, whereas, the combination of both crystalline phases in WD glass-ceramic led to an increase in the cytotoxicity to the highest value. In conclusion, different properties of wollastonite-diopside glass-ceramics can be tailored by the combination of NCP or FA, and hence, these glass-ceramic materials can be modified effectively according to the purpose for which it is intended to be applied. The obtained results indicated that different properties of WD glass-ceramic materials can be tailored by the combination of NCP and/or FA. Hence, these glass-ceramics are expected to be useful materials in promising biomedical applications, such as orthopedics and dentistry.