An element composed of glass displaying reduced electrostatic charging is provided. The element is suitable as a housing component for electronic elements, an element implantable in the human or animal body including glass tubes for reed switches or transponders and/or implants. The glass includes at least one alkali metal and/or an alkali metal oxide and has a surface. The concentration of at least one alkali metal and/or the alkali metal oxide increases from the surface in a direction of an interior of the element in such a way that a maximum concentration of the alkali metal and/or the alkali metal oxide occurs at a distance of not more than 60 nanometres, measured perpendicularly from the surface.

A borophosphate glass composition including B.sub.2O.sub.3, P.sub.2O.sub.5, and CaO, and optionally a source additive selected from: Li.sub.2O, Na.sub.2O, K.sub.2O, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, ZnO, MgO, Fe.sub.2O.sub.3/FeO, CuO/Cu.sub.2O, and mixtures thereof, as defined herein. Also disclosed are bioactive compositions or substrates including the disclosed borophosphate glass composition, and at least one live cell. Also disclosed are methods of inhibiting or increasing the relative amount of species containing boron, phosphorous, or both, being released into an aqueous solution from aborophosphate glass composition defined herein. Also disclosed is a method of proliferating cells on a bioactive substrate as defined herein. Also disclosed are related glass compositions that exclude one of B.sub.2O.sub.3, P.sub.2O.sub.5, and CaO.

The subject-matter of the present invention is the use of an aluminosilicate glass to provide a plant with silicon in assimilable form, a method for treating a plant using this glass and a new powder of said glass.

According to the invention, this aluminosilicate glass comprises the following constituents in a weight content varying within the limits defined below: SiO.sub.2 30-60% Al.sub.2O.sub.3 10-26% CaO+MgO+Na.sub.2O+K.sub.2O 15-45%.

The invention finds applications in particular in the agricultural field.

A silicate-based glass composition includes: 50-70 wt. % SiO.sub.2, 0.01-10 wt. % P.sub.2O.sub.5, 10-30 wt. % Na.sub.2O, 0.01-10 wt. % CaO, 0.01-10 wt. % MO, and 15-30 wt. % R.sub.2O, such that MO is the sum of MgO, CaO, SrO, BeO, and BaO, and R.sub.2O is the sum of Na.sub.2O, K.sub.2O, Li.sub.2O, Rb.sub.2O, and Cs.sub.2O.

A bioactive glass composition for use in treating bone cancer includes 0.5-10 mol % gallium oxide or 1.0-20 mol % gallium nitrate/halide; 25 to 75 mol % silicon dioxide; 10 to 30 mol % calcium oxide and/or strontium oxide; up to 30 mol % sodium oxide; and up to 15 mol % phosphorous pentoxide. It may further comprise magnesium and/or potassium oxide. The bioactive glass composition may be positioned within a patient's bone post-surgery to promote apatite formation and to release gallium ions having a toxic effect on any remaining cancerous cells.

A method of manufacturing a resorbable, macroporous bioactive glass scaffold comprising approximately 15-45% CaO, 30-70% SiO.sub.2, 0-25% Na.sub.2O, 0-17% P.sub.2O.sub.5, 0-10% MgO and 0-5% CaF.sub.2 by mass percent, produced by mixing with pore forming agents and specified heat treatments.

A material that is less populated by biofilms than known materials and is well tolerated by the body is provided. The material is an element introducible into or attachable on a human or animal body and includes a glass and/or glass ceramic and/or ceramic material at least in some areas thereof, which inhibits the formation of biofilms and/or on which human or animal cells grow if the element is introduced into the human or animal body or attached thereto, wherein the glass and/or glass ceramic material comprises at least: SiO.sub.2 in a range from 60 to 75 wt % and ZnO in a range from 1 to 7 wt %.

An element composed of glass displaying reduced electrostatic charging is provided. The element is suitable as a housing component for electronic elements, an element implantable in the human or animal body including glass tubes for reed switches or transponders and/or implants. The glass includes at least one alkali metal and/or an alkali metal oxide and has a surface. The concentration of at least one alkali metal and/or the alkali metal oxide increases from the surface in a direction of an interior of the element in such a way that a maximum concentration of the alkali metal and/or the alkali metal oxide occurs at a distance of not more than 60 nanometres, measured perpendicularly from the surface.

A composition for a FDM 3D printer is disclosed. The composition contains bioglass and a biocompatible polymer resin. In addition, a FDM 3D printer molded article having a laminated strut structure, in which the composition for the FDM 3D printer is injected into four layers, is disclosed.

A material that is less populated by biofilms than known materials and is well tolerated by the body is provided. The material is an element introducible into or attachable on a human or animal body and includes a glass and/or glass ceramic and/or ceramic material at least in some areas thereof, which inhibits the formation of biofilms and/or on which human or animal cells grow if the element is introduced into the human or animal body or attached thereto, wherein the glass and/or glass ceramic material comprises at least: SiO.sub.2 in a range from 60 to 75 wt % and ZnO in a range from 1 to 7 wt %.