Engineered Calcium Silicate-Hexaboride Biocomposites: A Versatile Platform for Personalized Orthopedic Therapies
摘要
Developing and evaluating enhanced biocomposites for medication delivery and bone regeneration is the main goal of this research. A unique wet precipitation chemical process was used to create calcium silicate (CaO–SiO₂) biocomposites, with different amounts of calcium hexaboride (CaB₆) incorporated as an additive. The biocomposite samples were subjected to varying compositions, and their physicochemical properties were assessed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and zeta potential tests. The samples' microstructures show submicron and nanoscale particles scattered or arranged in regular or irregular clusters. After adding CaB6, the tested biocomposites' negative zeta potential dropped because of the positively charged Ca2+ ions from the compound on the material's surface. The biocomposites' drug loading and release capacities were assessed using the anti-cancer medication of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The biocomposites were evaluated for their capacity to regenerate bone through in vivo experiments conducted on a rat model. The healing score (7 for the WB7.5 sample) and the degree of bone formation were compared with the concentration of CaB₆ in the bio-composites. The findings revealed that the presence of CaB₆ had a substantial impact on both the healing score and bone formation. Increased amounts of CaB₆ resulted in higher healing scores and better bone production. Moreover, the bio-composites demonstrated prolonged drug release profiles (up to 45% after 30 days of immersion), indicating their potential as efficient drug carriers for localized bone treatments. The results emphasize the vital importance of CaB₆ in facilitating the process of bone repair and production using calcium silicate bio-composites. The biocomposites that have been produced show promise for bone regeneration applications. Patient outcomes may benefit from their ability to encourage bone growth and aid in healing.
Graphical Abstract