Synthesis and characterisation of porous luminescent glass ceramic scaffolds containing europium for bone tissue engineering

Eu2O3 was added to bioactive glass ceramic in the system CaO–SiO2–P2O5–MgO–CaF2 to prepare porous luminescent scaffold with high mechanical property. The crystal structure, compressive strength, in vitro bioactivity, cell affinity and luminescent property under ultraviolet of samples was evaluated. According to results, Eu2O3 improved the crystallisation behaviour but inhibited fluorapatite formation in the glass ceramics. Although scaffolds had connective porous structure, the compressive strength could be improved to as high as 3·6 MPa with the addition of Eu2O3. The in vitro bioactivity test showed a decrease in Ca release ability and a retardation of apatite forming on the samples with increasing substitution of Eu2O3 for CaO. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-dipheyltetrazolium bromide assay and SEM observation results displayed that ROS17/2·8 cells could attach and differentiate on all the scaffolds. Moreover, the Eu2O3 doped scaffolds fluoresced well a red colour under ultraviolet, and a decrease in the emission intensities could be observed after the cell coculturing process.