Biosilica source converted into mesoporous bioactive glass implanted for tendon-bone healing

In this study, mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG) has been synthesized using a natural material, diatom. Then, the surface morphology, such as pore size and dimension, was observed by transmission electron microscope. The physical properties of MBG were quantitatively analyzed by X-ray diffraction. Thermal properties were analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis. The cytotoxicity test was carried out by the MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthaizol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay to ensure biocompatibility. After that, MBG was mixed with gelatin to synthesize nanofiber matrix by an electrospinning process. The growth factors of platelet-rich plasma have been activated by ethyl(dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide/N-hydroxysuccinimide grafting on the surface of nanofiber matrix. Nanofiber structure of MBG has been observed by scanning electron microscope. In vivo biocompatibility and the situation of bone healing were analyzed by animal experiment; the histology result was observation by H&E and Masson's trichrome staining. The results show that the MBG has no residue of organic matter, pore size was around 10 nm. MBG nanofiber matrix can significantly improve the bone healing compared with control group (without MBG nanofiber matrix). In general, MBG nanofiber matrix can significantly enhance bone-tendon healing and has great potential to be applied in the orthopedic field.