Abstract:In order to study the influence of rubidium (Rb) addition on the phase composition, microstructure, mechanical properties and cell response of bioactive glass-ceramics, CaO-SiO₂-Na₂O-B₂O₃-MgO-ZnO-P₂O₅ glass system was designed with and without addition of Rb. The results show that hydroxyapatite (HA) and Mg-whitelockite (Ca₁₈Mg₂H₂(PO₄)₁₄) crystalline phases are formed in the glass matrix without Rb. After the addition of Rb, only HA phase is detected. The grain size of the crystals in the glass-ceramics is larger with the addition of Rb than that of samples without Rb. Rb addition can improve the bending strength of glass-ceramics. The cultivation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) on Rb-containing glass-ceramics demonstrates enhanced cell adhesion, proliferation and ALP activity. In conclusion, Rb-modified glass-ceramics exhibit good mechanical property, excellent bioactivity and biocompatibility, which have potential for bone regeneration application.

Key words: CaO-SiO₂-Na₂O-B₂O₃-MgO-ZnO-P₂O₅; rubidium; bioactive glass-ceramics; hydroxyapatite; human bone mesenchymal stem cells