Bio-templated synthesis of mesoporous bioactive glass with a hierarchical pore structure

Abstract: The bimodal porous structured mesporous bioactive glass (MBG) materials consisting of macropores were prepared using the natural Mediterranean sea sponge as macropored hard templates and P123 as mesopore soft templates, respectively. The macroporous structures of the natural Mediterranean sea sponge as macropored were replicated with the walls containing highly ordered MBG as well. Dexamethasone (DEX) was employed as a model drug and the release profiles showed that the dual porous materials had a sustained drug delivery capability. In addition, the materials had higher ability to induce hydroxycarbonate apatite (HAp) formation. Therefore, such highly ordered dual pore MBG materials might be used as a bioactive drug release system for preparation of bone implant materials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]