Synthesis of SiO2 system via sol-gel process: Biocompatibility tests with a fibroblast strain and release kinetics

SiO2 glass has been synthesized via sol-gel process and enriched with 5 wt % sodium ampicillin. To verify the biocompatibility of the obtained biomaterial, fibroblasts have been grown on a glass surface and were tested for viability after 24 h. The results of the Water-Soluble Tetrazolium (WST)-8 analysis suggest that SiO2 glass has an adequate biocompatibility. The amorphous nature of the gels has been ascertained by X-ray diffraction analysis. Release kinetics have been subsequently investigated in a simulated body fluid. The amount of sodium ampicillin released has been detected by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The release kinetics seems to occur in more than one stage. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis has also been carried out to ensure the integrity of ampicillin after the synthesis treatment. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 102A: 1677-1680, 2014.