Antibacterial activity of silver-doped glasses and glass-ceramics

A glass (G) and a glass-ceramic (GC) of different composition were selected and studied to realize a biocompatible e/o bioactive material with antibacterial properties through the introduction of silver ions. The glass was produced in bulk form, instead glass-ceramic powders were sintered to abtain massive samples, which are characterized in terms of biocompatibility and subjected to ion- exchange technique [1] to allow the silver ions introduction and modify only the external surface layer of the materials, thus maintaining unchanged the bulk characteristics. The obtained samples were completely characterized to verify if the silver introduction leads to structural, morphological or in vitro behaviour change; silver release test was also carried out as well as antibacterial test with Staphylococcus Aureus and cytotoxicity test on human cells.