Scientists from the Silicate Department, Faculty of Chemical Technology, Hanoi University of Science and Technology have successfully produced a bioglass ceramic material for permanent implants, designed to replace bone in medical orthopedics, with a strength comparable to that of human bone.
This achievement is the result of a state-level project conducted from 2003 to 2005, led by Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Anh Dung.
Produced using Vietnamese technology, bioglass ceramic is a material with significantly higher biological properties compared to traditional biomaterials (such as titanium, special alloys, carbon materials, and silicon). When implanted into the body, this material does not trigger rejection, irritation, or disrupt the biological processes of living organisms. Notably, this material has the ability to biochemically bond with living cells, enabling cells that have been damaged to continue regenerating and directly bond with the implant surface like the bones in the body.
After successful implantation trials in animals, the research team tested the material on human patients at the Central Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital, Bach Mai Hospital, the Central Dental Hospital, and the Cancer Hospital. The trials included using the material to replace parts of the auditory ossicles, replace middle ear bones, repair dental roots, and reconstruct facial bones, as well as patching areas of bone that had been removed.
In all surgeries involving the implantation of bioglass ceramic material in patients, there were no cases of rejection. Patients healed quickly, showed good recovery, and especially demonstrated a high capacity for restoring the function of the treated areas.
The principle behind the fabrication of bioglass ceramic material follows the technology used in glass ceramic production. The main raw materials for synthesizing the material include natural resources (white sand) and other clean chemicals (calcium phosphate, aluminum hydroxide, boric acid, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, potassium, and calcium fluoride).
These materials are weighed and then evenly mixed in a grinder. After that, they are subjected to raw material cooking in a gas furnace, followed by fine cooking in an electric furnace, with the addition of a catalyst to initiate crystallization, before being fully melted according to glass production technology under suitable conditions to facilitate crystallization.
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Anh Dung noted that this represents a new material direction that meets various technical and economic requirements to address the demand for high-quality orthopedic and reconstructive materials in healthcare, replacing imported products and potentially leading to exports. It is essential for the state to invest in the development of this production.
