• Brauer, Delia S.
• Hupa, Leena
• Jones, Julian R.
• Greenspan, David C.

Abstract

Glass caused a revolution in health care when Bioglass was discovered byLarry Hench. It was the first material to bond with bone, rather thanbe encapsulated by fibrous tissue, launching the field of bioactiveceramics. Bioglass is also biodegradable. Almost 50 years on from itsdiscovery that revolution continues. Bioactive glasses stimulate morebone regeneration than other bioactive ceramics, which is attributed totheir dissolution products stimulating cells at the genetic level. Thissecond discovery has changed the way clinicians, scientists, andregulatory bodies think about medical devices and the concept ofbioactivity. The original 45S5 Bioglass has only recently found reallywidespread use in orthopedics, having regenerated the bones of more than1.5 million patients. Its full potential is still yet to be fulfilled.This article takes the reader from Hench's Bioglass 45S5 to its clinicaluses and products, before giving examples of nonsurgical products thatnow use Bioglass, from consumer products, such as toothpaste, tocosmetics. Other glasses have also found important health careapplications, such as borate-based glasses that heal chronic wounds. Therevolution looks set to continue as new health care applications arebeing found for bioactive glasses, contributing to extending the glassage.

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy
• glass
• glass
• ceramic