Papers by Author: Priya Saravanapavan

Abstract: In dentistry, chronic periodontitis often leads to bone resorption together with an increasing risk of bacteremia. Bioactive glass has found extensive application as dental graft material. A successful antimicrobial bactericidal effect has been shown from the introduction of Ag2O into the glass composition. In this study, the cytotoxicity of soluble silver, calcium and silica ions on primary human osteoblasts was investigated by measurements of mitochondrial activity and neutral red dye uptake. Silver concentrations of 4 - 6 ppm (1 mg/ml conc.) and 6 - 9 ppm (2 mg/ml conc.) have been measured in complete culture medium. It was found that the bioactive gel-glass extract with an initial concentration of 1 mg/ml (1mg glass per ml of culture medium) has no negative effect, whereas increased gel-glass concentration of 2 mg/ml seemed to have a toxic effect on the cell viability of human osteoblasts. It might be concluded that a reduction of the rate of silver dissolution from the bioactive gel-glass might preserve a maximum cell viability.

Abstract: Bioactive gel-glasses, such as the silver-doped Ag-S70C30 glass, can be used to modify the inflammatory response in a local body compartment such as in acne lesions and in nonhealing dermal wounds. In this study, the cytotoxicity of soluble silver, calcium and silica ions on human epidermal keratinocytes was investigated by measurements of mitochondrial activity (MTT assay) and neutral red dye uptake (NR assay). Ag-S70C30 extracts were prepared by soaking glass powder in complete culture medium at concentrations of 1 mg/ml and 2 mg/ml (mg of glass powder per ml of culture medium). Silver concentrations for both concentrations of approximately 1 ppm were detected by inductive coupled plasma analysis (ICP). No negative effect on the cell viability was measured for an initial gel-glass concentration of 1 mg/ml and for the two shortest extraction times at a concentration of 2 mg/ml. Based on the results from MTT/ NR assays, a pH rise of approximately one unit had no negative effect on the NHEK-A cell viability. This preliminary study on keratinocyte viability merits future investigations on silver bioglass as a novel antimicrobial wound healing agent.

Abstract: The formation of a carbonate-containing hydroxyapatite, HCAp, layer on bioactive calcium silicate sol-gel glass of the formula (CaO)0.3(SiO2)0.7 has been studied in-vitro in Simulated Body Fluid (SBF). Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS), X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements have been performed with results showing the formation of a significantly amorphous HCAp layer after less than 5 hours in solution.