Bioglass and bioactive glasses and their impact on healthcare

Abstract

Glass caused a revolution in healthcare when Bioglass was discovered by Larry Hench. It was the first material to bond with bone, rather than be encapsulated by fibrous tissue, launching the field of bioactive ceramics . Bioglass is also biodegradable. Almost 50 years on from its discovery that revolution continues. Bioactive glasses stimulate more bone regeneration than other bioactive ceramics , which is attributed to their dissolution products stimulating cells at the genetic level. This second discovery has changed the way clinicians, scientists and regulatory bodies think about medical devices and the concept of bioactivity. The original 45S5 Bioglass has only re cently found really widespread use in orthop a edics, having regenerated the bones of more than 1.5 million patients. Its full potential is still yet to be fulfilled. Th is article takes the reader from Hench’s Bioglass 45S5 to its clinical uses and products, before giving examples of non - surgical products that now use Bioglass, from consumer products , such as toothpaste, to cosmetics . Other glasses have also found important healthcare applications, such as borate based glasses that heal chronic wounds. The re volution looks set to continue as new healthcare applications are being found for bioactive glasses, contributing to extending the glass age.