Bioactive Glasses and Angiogenesis

Abstract

The incorporation of bioactive glass into tissue engineering scaffolds can be widely beneficial in regenerative medicine strategies based on the emerging evidence in the literature about the angiogenic potential of this material, in particular the composition 45S5 Bioglass®. In vitro studies have demonstrated increases in angiogenic indicators through both direct and indirect contact of cells with Bioglass® particles or with their dissolution products. Moreover studies have confirmed the ability of certain bioactive glasses to stimulate neovascularization. Further research should concentrate on assessing the specific effect of particular ion dissolution products from bioactive glasses and their relative concentration on angiogenesis. In addition, the possible effect of scaffold morphology on neovascularisation must be investigated, including porosity, pore size, interconnectivity and pore orientation. The recent availability of nanosized bioactive glass particles and the successful incorporation of such nanoparticles in biodegradable polymers to form TE scaffolds provides an opportunity to assess the effect of enhanced surface bioreactivity and degradation rate, exhibited by nanoparticles, on angiogenesis and neovascularisation.