Ferrimagnetic devitrified glass doped with copper by ion exchange: Microstructure, bioactivity and antibacterial properties

In this work, the ion-exchange technique in molten salts was investigated to introduce copper ions in a bioactive and ferrimagnetic devitrified glass. This approach aimed to develop a magnetic and bioactive material for oncologic bone implants, able to join the ability to promote bone bonding to hyperthermic therapy while simultaneously lowering the risk of developing post-surgery infections. The ion-exchange approach was developed in order to overcome experimental critical issues related to the influence of copper introduction as a starting reagent, during the material synthesis, on magnetite nucleation. The magnetic devitrified glass was prepared by melt and quenching route, followed by ion exchange in a mixture of molten sodium and copper nitrates, in three different Na/Cu molar ratios (20, 200, 2000). The obtained samples were analysed in terms of morphology, composition, ability to release heat, bioactivity and antibacterial properties. The results revealed that copper ion-exchange involved both sodium and calcium ions and the precipitation of few amounts of copper oxide aggregates occurred. The crystalline nature of the starting material and its ability to reach the temperature needed for hyperthermia, under exposition to an alternating magnetic field, were not affected. A bacteriostatic effect was obtained by samples with the highest copper amount and the copper doping did not affect the bioactivity of the glass ceramic.