Cerium-doped mesoporous bioactive glasses with enhanced antioxidant, antibacterial and bioactive properties

Cerium-doped mesoporous bioactive glass (Ce-MBG) was synthesized via a sol-gel method. • Ce incorporation enhances antioxidant activity and SOD-like catalytic performance. • Ce-MBG exhibits strong antibacterial effects against both E. coli and S. aureus . • Ce doping preserves apatite-forming ability and maintains bioactivity of MBG. • The materials show good cytocompatibility and hemocompatibility. Mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) have attracted considerable attention in biomedical applications due to their high surface area and bioactivity. In this study, cerium-doped MBGs (Ce-MBGs) with varying Ce contents were synthesized via a sol-gel method. The obtained Ce-MBGs exhibited uniform morphology and well-developed mesoporous structures, as confirmed by electron microscopy and nitrogen adsorption–desorption analysis. X-ray diffraction results revealed the amorphous nature of the glass matrix, while formation of CeO 2 nanocrystals was observed with increasing cerium content. All Ce-MBGs demonstrated in vitro bioactivity after immersion in simulated body fluid, as evidenced by the formation of hydroxyapatite on their surfaces. In addition, cerium incorporation conferred concentration-dependent antioxidant activity and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like behavior that increased with Ce content. The antibacterial efficacy against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was markedly enhanced upon Ce doping, with all Ce-MBGs showing comparable high activity compared to pristine MBG. Cytocompatibility evaluation indicated no significant cytotoxicity, and hemolysis tests confirmed good blood compatibility. These findings demonstrate that cerium incorporation endows MBGs with multifunctional properties, making them promising candidates for applications in tissue engineering and related biomedical fields. Download: Download high-res image (209KB) Download: Download full-size image