Sol-gel derived RKKP bioactive glass-ceramic: synthesis, sintering behaviour and biological evaluation

In this work, RKKP bioactive glass was obtained using an aqueous sol-gel methodology. A complete microstructural, compositional and thermal characterisation was reported. In details, characteristic functional groups were evidenced by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, the thermal behaviour studied by thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), crystallization kinetics and phase evolution followed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. The elemental distribution was investigated on RKKP pellets, thermally treated at properly selected temperatures, by means of Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) mappings. Thermal dilatometry was performed on bars pressed at 400 MPa. Microstructure and density of sintered ceramics are also presented. Finally, preliminary results on cytocompatibility are reported, based on preosteoblast adhesion and proliferation assays as well as osteoclast bioresorption activity.