Microwave-assisted tailoring of bredigite nanoparticles with strontium for superior bioactivity and bone regeneration applications

Abstract

Biomaterials with exceptional biofunctionality are increasingly in demand. This study aimed to enhance the biofunctionality of bredigite, a well-established bioceramic, by substituting strontium (Sr) into its structure, owing to the ability of Sr to promote bone regeneration, stimulate osteoblast differentiation, and increase alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. Bredigite and Sr-substituted bredigite nanoparticles were synthesized via a microwave-assisted method. The results demonstrated that Sr substitution altered the nanocrystal morphology and increased crystallite size. Pure bredigite (Br-0S), 5 Sr-substituted bredigite (Br-5S), and 10 Srsubstituted bredigite (Br-10S) exhibited cuboidal, irregular, and spherical shapes, respectively. The crystallite size increased from 40 nm for Br-0S to 60 nm and 90 nm for Br-5S and Br-10S, respectively. Sr substitution significantly improved the bioactivity of bredigite by accelerating apatite formation and increasing its amount. The MTT assay confirmed the good viability and proliferation of MG-63 osteoblast-like cells on Sr-substituted bredigite specimens. Cell adhesion studies demonstrated strong adhesion and proliferation on Sr-substituted specimens. ALP activity assays revealed higher ALP levels with increasing Sr content, facilitating osteogenic differentiation. These findings highlight two synergistic effects of Sr substitution in bredigite: enhanced bioactivity and increased ALP activity, both of which are critical for osteogenic differentiation and bone regeneration. Sr-substituted bredigite nanoparticles show significant promise for addressing challenges in bone tissue engineering, offering enhanced bioactivity and osteogenic potential for improved bone regeneration therapies.