| Abstract Scope |
Applied research is often driven by the practical needs to develop new or better and affordable solution for progression of our ecosystem. The discovery of bioactive glasses in the late 1960s is a classic example of a new class of materials intended to replace inert metal and plastic implants. Hence, bioactive glasses were the first synthetic materials to show bonding to bone, and since then have been instrumental in pushing the boundaries in tissue engineering applications. Through a simultaneous action of apatite crystallizations and ion release upon controlled dissolution, they stimulate bone cell proliferation, which results in the formation of new bone. Despite their excellent properties and although they have been in clinical use for nearly thirty years, their current range of clinical applications is still small and carries immense potential. Latest research focuses on developing new compositions to address old and emerging clinical needs using structure-based design. In this talk, I will discuss the past which inspires us and future which is opens to opportunities that bioactive glasses can offer in creating an accessible and affordable health care. |