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. 2025 Nov 14;36(1):105.
doi: 10.1007/s10856-025-06960-w.

Zn containing mesoporous bioglasses with enhanced textural and antibacterial properties produced by three modifications of the sol-gel method

Anastasia Beketova  1   2 , Georgia K Pouroutzidou  3 , Eleana Kontonasaki  3 , Veronica Giourieva  4   5 , Krisjanis Smits  6   7 , Valentina Stepanova  6   7 , Ioannis Tsamesidis  3 , Rajan Choudhary  8 , Kristaps Rubenis  6   7 , Toms Valdemars Eiduks  9 , Maria Bousnaki  3 , Dagnija Loca  6   7 , Rigini Papi  4 , Athanasia Pylostomou  6   7 , Janis Locs  10   11
Affiliations

Zn containing mesoporous bioglasses with enhanced textural and antibacterial properties produced by three modifications of the sol-gel method

Anastasia Beketova et al. J Mater Sci Mater Med. .

Abstract

Mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) have potential applications in bone tissue regeneration around tooth implant and local drug delivery. Small amounts of zinc added to their composition could additionally provide antibacterial and ossteoinductive and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, zinc-containing mesoporous bioactive glasses (5ZnO-25CaO-70SiO₂) were synthesised using three modified surfactant-assisted sol-gel methods: dilute water (MZ1), Stöber (MZ2), and microemulsion-assisted (MZ3). X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed that MZ1 and MZ3 were amorphous, while MZ2 exhibited a ZnO crystalline phase. The synthesised particles showed uniform morphology with sizes ranging from 10 to 500 nm. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis revealed that MZ1 had the highest specific surface area (726 m²/g), approximately 4.1 times higher than MZ3 (176 m²/g). Haemolysis testing showed that MZ1 and MZ2 were non-haemolytic, whereas MZ3 caused lysis of erythrocytes. All samples were biocompatible with periodontal ligament fibroblasts, maintaining cell viability above 80% after three days of incubation. Antibacterial assays indicated that MZ2 exhibited over 60% inhibition of P. intermedia in a dose-dependent manner, but only ~20% inhibition of P. gingivalis. MZ2 demonstrated a bacteriostatic effect and was most effective in reducing anaerobic bacterial populations among all tested groups. These results highlight the potential of Zn-containing mesoporous bioactive glasses as multifunctional biomaterials for periodontal tissue engineering, suitable for such applications as scaffolds, bone cements, bone-filling granules, and antibacterial implant coatings. Furthermore, MZ2 material due to its antimicrobial properties, can potentially be a material of choice in periodontitis/peri-implantitis therapy applications.

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Conflict of interest statement

Compliance with ethical standards. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
a FTIR spectra of the synthesised powders, initial spectra and after 21 days in SBF b XRD analysis of the Zn-MBGs before and after immersion to SBF
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms of MZ1, MZ2 and MZ3 powders
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
SEM/STEM images of the synthesised materials
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
SEM-EDS analysis of the Zn-MBGs before and after immersion to SBF
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
a Diagram representing the percentage of haemolysis of human RBCs upon incubation with Zn-MBGs at different concentrations (1 (C1), 0.5 (C2), 0.25 (C3), 0.06 (C4) mg/ml) at 37 °C after 24 h of incubation. b MTT cell viability assay of PDLCs treated with various concentrations of Zn-MBGs. The symbol * represents the statistically significant difference, at p < 0.05, between each concentration and the control group. Different letters represent the statistically significant intergroup differences (concentrations and days)
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Investigation of antibacterial activity of Zn-MBGs with liquid broth dilution assay against P. intermedia and P. gingivalis. MZ2 has the most consistent and dose dependent antibacterial activity against both P. gingivalis and P. intermedia
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Determination of inhibitory activity of Zn-MBGs against P. intermedia and P. gingivalis by CFU assay. The CFU assay further verified the antibacterial activity of MZ2
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