A method of forming a dissolvable part of amorphous borate includes: preparing a mixture comprising one or more boron compounds and one or more alkali compounds, at least one of the one or more boron compounds and the one or more alkali compounds being hydrous; heating the mixture to a melting temperature for a predetermined time to melt the mixture and release water from the mixture to form an anhydrous boron compound that is moldable, wherein the amount of alkali compound being selected to achieve an alkali oxide content of between about 10 to 25%; with the anhydrous boron compound at a molding temperature, molding the anhydrous boron compound in a mold; and cooling the anhydrous boron compound to form a solid.

A glass, glass ceramic, or ceramic bead is described, with an internal porous scaffold microstructure that is surrounded be an amorphous shield. The shield serves to protect the internal porous microstructure of the shield while increasing the overall strength of the porous microstructure and improve the flowability of the beads either by themselves or in devices such as biologically degradable putty that would be used in bone or soft tissue augmentation or regeneration. The open porosity present inside the bead will allow for enhanced degradability in-vivo as compared to solid particles or spheres and also promote the growth of tissues including but not limited to all types of bone, soft tissue, blood vessels and nerves.

The disclosure relates to bioactive glasses for use in biomedical applications. In particular, the glasses described herein are phosphate glasses that show fast filling rates of dentin tubules and have advantageous release rates of metal ions, which provide advantages in antibacterial applications and wound healing.

A bioactive glass-ceramic composition as defined herein. Also disclosed are methods of making and using the disclosed compositions.

The invention discloses porous, bioactive glass and glass ceramic morsels or pellets to be used as tissue graft substitute materials and processes for obtaining the same wherein the bioactive glass and glass ceramic morsels or pellets are made up of natural agents like phosphate, calcium, sodium and other elements which are not alien to the human or animal body. The said preparation process encompasses various steps like quenching sintering, foaming, and sol-gel casting which render the glass morsels or pellets unique bioactivity and enhanced porosity which may facilitate tissue repair and augmentation during tissue graft replacement.

The present invention relates to inorganic fibres having a composition comprising: 61.0 to 70.8 wt % SiO.sub.2; 28.0 to 39.0 wt % CaO; 0.10 to 0.85 wt % MgO other components, if any, providing the balance up to 100 wt %, The sum of SiO.sub.2 and CaO is greater than or equal to 98.8 wt % and the other components comprise less than 0.70 wt % Al.sub.2O.sub.3, if any.

Methods of making a bioactive glass fiber include forming a melt of a glass composition including: 50 to 70% SiO.sub.2; 0.1 to 10% Al.sub.2O.sub.3, 5 to 30% Na.sub.2O, 0.1 to 15% K.sub.2O, 0.1 to 15% MgO, 0.1 to 20% CaO, and 5 to 10% P.sub.2O.sub.5, based on a 100 wt % of the glass composition. The melt has a viscosity of from 200 Poise to 2,000 Poise. Methods include drawing the melt into a drawn glass fiber. Bioactive glass compositions include: 60 to 70% SiO.sub.2; 15 to 30% Na.sub.2O, 5 to 15% K.sub.2O, 1 to 10% CaO, and 5 to 10% P.sub.2O.sub.5, based on a 100 wt % of the glass composition.

Disclosed herein are methods for functionalizing the surface of a biomedical implant. The biomedical implant may be a zirconia-toughened alumina implant surface functionalized with silicon nitride powder for promoting osteogenesis.

A silicate-based glass composition includes: 40-60 wt. % SiO.sub.2, 0-10 wt. % B.sub.2O.sub.3, 0.01-10 wt. % P.sub.2O.sub.5, 0-10 wt. % Al.sub.2O.sub.3, 0-5 wt. % Li.sub.2O, 10-30 wt. % Na.sub.2O, 0.01-15 wt. % K.sub.2O, 0.01-5 wt. % MgO, 15-30 wt. % CaO, 15-35 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 including: 50 to 70% SiO.sub.2; 0.1 to 10% Al.sub.2O.sub.3, 5 to 30% Na.sub.2O, 0.1 to 15% K.sub.2O, 0.1 to 15% MgO, 0.1 to 20% CaO, and 5 to 10% P.sub.2O.sub.5, based on a 100 wt % of the composition. Also disclosed is a method of making the bioactive glass composition.