In Vitro Bioactivity Behavior of some Borate Glasses and their Glass-Ceramic Derivatives Containing Zn2+, Ag+ or Cu2+ by Immersion in Phosphate Solution and their Anti-Microbial Activity

Some soda lime borate glasses containing selected Zn2+, Ag+ or Cu2+ ions or all of them were prepared together with their glass ceramic derivatives by thermal heat-treatment two step regime. X-ray diffraction measurement was utilized to identify the precipitated crystalline phases upon thermal treatment. Fourier Transformer infrared (FTIR) spectra analyses were carried out for the parent glasses and glass-ceramics before and after immersion in phosphate solution for two weeks. The FTIR spectra indicate the presence of IR peaks characteristic for the formation of calcium phosphate (hydroxyapatite) after the immersion process. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) studies confirm the formation of characteristic rounded or nodular micro-crystals due to hydroxyapatite indicating the bioactivity behavior of the prepared glasses and glass ceramics. The glasses and glass-ceramics were investigated for their antibacterial and antifungal efficiency and the results were observed to be varied with the constituting additional introduced dopant oxides and with the degree of crystallinity in the glass-ceramic samples.