The response of pre-osteoblasts and osteoclasts to gallium containing mesoporous bioactive glasses

TL;DR

This study investigates how gallium-containing mesoporous bioactive glasses influence bone cell behavior, showing potential for osteoporosis treatment by promoting osteoblast activity and inhibiting osteoclast formation.

Contribution

It introduces Ga-doped MBGs with characterized local environments and demonstrates their bioactivity and selective effects on bone cells, a novel approach for bone substitute materials.

Findings

Ga(III) is incorporated as network former and modifier.

Ga-containing MBGs promote apatite-like layer formation.

Ga enhances osteoblast differentiation and inhibits osteoclastogenesis.

Abstract

Mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) in the system SiO2-CaO-P2O5-Ga2O3 have been synthesized by the evaporation induced self-assembly method and subsequent impregnation with Ga cations. Two different compositions have been prepared and the local environment of Ga(III) has been characterized using 29Si, 71Ga and 31P NMR analysis, demonstrating that Ga(III) is efficiently incorporated as both, network former (GaO4 units) and network modifier (GaO6 units). In vitro bioactivity tests evidenced that Ga-containing MBGs retain their capability for nucleation and growth of an apatite-like layer in contact with a simulated body fluid with ion concentrations nearly equal to those of human blood plasma. Finally, in vitro cell culture tests evidenced that Ga incorporation results in a selective effect on osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Indeed, the presence of this element enhances the early differentiation towards osteoblast phenotype while disturbing osteoclastogenesis. Considering these results, Ga-doped MBGs might be proposed as bone substitutes, especially in osteoporosis scenarios.