Bioactive Glass: Chronology, Characterization, and Genetic Control of Tissue Regeneration

This chapter reviews the discovery and chronology of the development of bioactive glasses and the recent findings that controlled release of biologically active Ca and Si ions from bioactive glasses leads to the upregulation and activation of seven families of genes in osteoprogenitor cells leading to rapid bone regeneration. This finding offers the possibility of creating a new generation of gene-activating glasses designed for patient-specific in situ regeneration of tissues. Studies also indicate that controlled release of lower concentrations of ionic dissolution products from bioactive glasses can be used to induce angiogenesis and thereby offer potential for design of gene-activating glasses for soft tissue and cardiovascular system regeneration.