In this study, six solâgel copper/magnesium substituted derivatives of 58SâBG, that is, a mol% series of 60SiO2â4P2O5â5CuOâ(31âx) CaO/xMgO (where x = 0, 1, 3, 5, 8, and 10), were synthesized as new multifunctional bioactive glasses (BGs). Afterwards, the effect of MgO/CaO substitution on the in vitro formation of nanohydroxyapatite (HA), osteoblastâlike cell responses, and bioactive glasses antibacterial performance were studied. Xâray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results revealed that Cuâsubstituted 58SâBG consisting of 5 mol% MgO (BGâ5/5) had capability of the formation of HA on its surface while, Cuâsubstituted 58SâBGs consisting 8 mol% and 10 mol% MgO (BGâ5/8 and BGâ5/10) displayed lower bioactivity.
The In vitro investigations proved that the highest values of both differentiation and proliferation of MC3T3âE1 cells can be obtained from a 5Â mol% MgO substituted BG. Furthermore, these novel Cu/Mgâsubstituted 58SâBGs displayed antibacterial effect against methicillinâresistant staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Taken together, the results suggest the equally substituted BGâ5/5 (ie., the one consists of 5Â mol% of both CuO and MgO) as a promising candidate for bone tissue engineering, among all newly designed BGs in this work, owing to its desirable cell proliferation, ALP activity, and antibacterial properties.