New ceramic material combines strength with germ-killing and bone-healing properties
Researchers have engineered a glass ceramic that simultaneously resists bacterial infection, promotes bone growth, and maintains structural durability—addressing three critical challenges in orthopedic and dental implants. The material could reduce post-surgery complications and revision surgeries, lowering healthcare costs while improving patient outcomes.
Originaltitel: Structural Si<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>-SiO<sub>2</sub> glass ceramics with bioactive and anti-bacterial properties
<p>Silicon nitride-based bioceramics have been investigated for biomedical applications due to their good thermo-mechanical, tribological and antibacterial properties. However, biological properties, such as bioactivity that promotes the interaction with tissue, are also important. Silicon dioxide has been found to promote bioactivity. With the aim of combining both advantages, a new Si<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>-SiO<sub>2</sub> glass ceramic was developed. Three different compositions were synthesized and sintered by spark plasma sintering. The results showed that β-Si<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> crystalline is well distributed in the SiO<sub>2</sub> matrix. 70SiN samples exhibited the highest mechanical properties with a flexural strength of 452 ± 33 MPa and a toughness of 6.4 ± 0.5 MPa∙m<sup>1/2</sup>. 50SiN samples exhibited the best bacteriostatic effect due to the synergistic effect of surface chemistry and topography. Apatite was observed on the surfaces of all groups. This study shows that the newly developed Si<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>-SiO<sub>2</sub> glass ceramics exhibit promising mechanical and biological properties for biomedical applications.</p>