Cerium-Zinc-Strontium-Doped Mesoporous Bioactive Glass Nanoparticles for Bone Regeneration Applications

Mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs) are widely used as biomaterials in bone tissue engineering due to their biocompatibility and excellent bioactivity. Their ability to form hydroxycarbonate apatite (HCAp) is particularly remarkable. During the bone-repairing process after surgery, inflammatory responses, infection, and increased levels of oxidative stress can prolong healing time. Cerium (Ce) exhibits antioxidant and antibacterial activity, while Zinc (Zn) has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. Furthermore, Strontium (Sr) has an osteogenic effect. Therefore, this study aims to incorporate therapeutic ions, including Ce, Zn, and Sr, into MBGNs (Ce-Zn-Sr-MBGNs) using microemulsion-assisted sol-gel and post-functionalization methods based on the binary SiO2-CaO system. The results showed that all samples had a spherical shape with a porous structure. The 2.5Ce had a smaller size $(115\pm 12\ \text{nm})$ compared to 0Ce $(175\pm 16\ \text{nm})$. Moreover, the particle sizes of 2.5Ce and 2.5Ce-2.5Zn were not significantly different. Additionally, the FTIR results were consistent across all samples, indicating that while Ce influences particle size, it does not affect chemical bonding.