Stimulation of Bone Repair by Gene Activating Glasses

摘要

Thirty-four years ago certain compositions of Si02-Na2O-Ca0-P205 glasses were discovered to bond to bone. These bioactive glasses are now widely used in dental and medical applications to enhance repair of bone defects. Recent molecular biology studies show that the ionic dissolution products of the glasses control the cell cycle of osteoprogenitor cells. Human osteoblasts that are not capable of differentiating into a mature osteoblast phenotype are eliminated by programmed cell death (apoptosis).