Controllable dissolution of sol-gel derived borate glasses for accelerating wound healing

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Aldo Boccaccini
• Subject Area: Biomaterials
• Term: from 2019 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 419186269

Borate bioactive glasses (borate BGs) have shown impressive healing effects on chronic wounds clinically. Their dissolution behavior, in terms of the release profile of ionic dissolution products and dissolution rate, determines wound healing effects. A well-controlled dissolution behavior of borate BGs can accelerate wound healing. However, there has been no previous comprehensive study aiming at establishing the relationship between the dissolution behavior of borate BGs and wound healing effects.The final objective of this research project is to achieve accelerated wound healing by controlling the dissolution behavior of sol-gel derived borate BG through tuning glass compositions. The relationship between glass composition and wound healing effects, which is of paramount importance to be able to elucidate the mechanisms involved of borate BGs healing wounds, indeed the dissolution behavior of borate BGs, will be investigated and established in this project. Specifically, a series of B2O3-CaO-CuO borate glasses, considering the composition containing biologically active ions Ca2+ (hemostatic activity), B3+ (angiogenic activity), and Cu2+ (antibacterial and angiogenic activities), will be synthesized and characterized. Sol-gel based approaches will be used to synthesize borate BGs, given the better control in the morphology of synthesized BGs in the sol-gel approaches. Since the dissolution behavior (dissolution rates, ion release) of borate glasses is closely related to their composition and structure, it is expected to be able to tune and control glass dissolution behavior by tailoring the composition. To achieve the understanding of the compositional dependence of the complex wound healing process, the effects of the dissolution products of the glasses on the biological activities related to wound healing, i.e., hemostatic activity, antibacterial effect, and angiogenic potential, will be evaluated.By completing the project, accelerated wound healing effects are expected to be achieved by controlling the glass’s dissolution behavior. A deeper understanding of the composition-dissolution behavior relationship in borate BGs will be gained from the experimental program of this project. Such understanding will contribute to elucidating the mechanisms underlying the effects of borate BGs on wound healing. The development of sol-gel methods for producing borate BGs will be beneficial for developing advanced wound healing dressing, considering a better control in morphology and composition of BGs in the sol-gel approaches.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants