A pH-switchable carrier composition includes a plurality of bioactive glass particles, wherein each of the bioactive glass particle is optionally at least a partially coated with a surface modifier; wherein the bioactive glass particles, with or without, the surface modifier can bind to a nucleic acid compound upon contact at pH in the range of about 7 to about 11, and exhibit controlled release of the nucleic acid compound at pH in the range of about 5 to 6.

Architectural structures including an inorganic material carrier including cement and particles or fibers of a glass including a plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions. In aspects, the glass may have a glass phase and a cuprite phase. In aspects, the glasses may include a plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions, a degradable phase including B.sub.2O.sub.3, P.sub.2O.sub.5 and K.sub.2O and a durable phase including SiO.sub.2. In other aspects, the glass can have a plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions disposed on the surface of the glass and in the glass network and/or the glass matrix. The glasses and articles disclosed herein can exhibit a 2 log reduction or greater in a concentration of at least one of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and E. coli, under the EPA Test Method for Efficacy of Copper Alloy as a Sanitizer testing condition and under Modified JIS Z 2801 for Bacteria testing conditions.

Embodiments of the present invention pertain to antimicrobial glass compositions, glasses, and articles. The articles include a glass, which may include a glass phase and a cuprite phase. In other embodiments, the glasses include a plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions, a degradable phase including B.sub.2O.sub.3, P.sub.2O.sub.5 and K.sub.2O, and a durable phase including SiO.sub.2. Other embodiments include glasses having a plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions disposed on the surface of the glass and in the glass network and/or the glass matrix. The article may also include a polymer. The glasses and articles disclosed herein exhibit a 2 log reduction or greater in a concentration of at least one of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and E. coli, under the EPA Test Method for Efficacy of Copper Alloy as a Sanitizer testing condition and under Modified JIS Z 2801 for Bacteria testing conditions.

A glass powder composite includes a first glass powder, and a second glass powder having a different solubility from that of the first glass powder depending on pH, wherein both the first glass powder and the second glass powder have ion sustained-release properties.

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.

An aluminoborate glass composition, including B.sub.2O.sub.3, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, P.sub.2O.sub.5, Na.sub.2O, and CaO, as defined herein. Also disclosed are bioactive compositions including the disclosed aluminoborate glass composition, a suitable fluid, and at least one live cell. Also disclosed is method of limiting the amount of boron released into an aqueous solution from a disclosed aluminoborate-containing glass composition as defined herein. Also disclosed is a method of proliferating cells on a bioactive substrate as defined herein.

A gallium silica glass composition is described. The glass can be used in variety of biomedical applications

A method of making a surface-active glass as regenerative anti-fouling material comprising mixing Na.sub.2O and B.sub.2O.sub.3, creating a surface-active glass with a water-soluble glass matrix, wherein the surface-active glass comprises a sodium borate glass consisting of 25 mol % Na.sub.2O and 75 mol % B.sub.2O.sub.3 or wherein the surface-active glass comprises a sodium aluminoborate glass consisting of 10-30 mol % Al.sub.2O.sub.3, 10-30 mol % Na.sub.2O and 70-40 mol % B.sub.2O.sub.3.

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.

The present invention relates to a fertilizing composition comprising a glass matrix, wherein said glass matrix comprises: at least three forming oxides, wherein said at least three forming oxides are SiO.sub.2, P.sub.2O.sub.5 and B.sub.2O.sub.3, and have a ratio by weight between SiO.sub.2/P.sub.2O.sub.5 comprised from 1 to 5 and a ratio by weight between SiO.sub.2/B.sub.2O.sub.3 comprised from 5 to 25;—at least one microelement; said fertilizing composition optionally also comprising citric acid and/or at least one humic substance. The subject matter of the present invention further relates to an aggregate comprising said fertilizing composition, at least one thickening agent and optionally at least one further microelement that is identical to or different from the at least one microelement present within the glass matrix of the fertilizing composition. The present invention also relates to a method for fertilizing herbaceous and/or arboreal crops which comprises administering said composition or said aggregate to the crops. Finally, the present invention regards the use of the fertilizing composition or of the aggregate comprising said composition to fertilize herbaceous and/or arboreal crops.