Evaluation of the behaviour of fluorine-containing bioactive glasses: reactivity in a simulated body fluid solution assistedby multivariate data analysis

Potentially bioactive fluorine-containing glassesof formula 46.2SiO224.3Na2O(26.9-x)CaO2.6P2O5xCaF2 [x = (0), 5, 10, 15] have been studied: the study wascarried out as a function of fluorine percentage, dimensionsand time of soaking in SBF. The results are compared tothose obtained in the same conditions for Bioglass 45S5.Due to the high number and different kind of variables/conditions explored by this set of data, the results arerationalized for the first time by means of multivariate dataanalysis (MDA); in this way it is possible to classify thebehaviour of bioglasses toward bioactivity. The presence offluorine does not inhibit the formation of HA; in particular,for a fast bioactivity (in term of HA crystallization) it willbe better to have large particle size or slabs, while for a fastdissolution fine particle sizes should be preferred.