Optimizing the synthesis of bioactive glass for endodontic applications
Tahir Yusuf Noorani, Eyas Abuhijleh, Matheel AL-Rawas, Sohaib Fadhil Mohammed, Manahil Maqbool, Mohmed Isaqali KarobariAbstract
Objective:
The objective of the study was to optimize the sol-gel synthesis of bioactive glass (BG) 58S by evaluating the influence of an ammonia catalyst on its textural, morphological, and structural properties.
Materials and Methods:
BG 58S was synthesized using a modified sol-gel technique. Two groups were prepared: Group I (0 mL ammonia) and Group II (1.5 mL ammonia). Following aging and calcination at 600°C, both powders were characterized using scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analyses.
Results:
SEM images of Group I revealed highly irregular, angular, and plate-like microparticles with smooth surfaces. In contrast, Group II demonstrated loosely packed, fine, spherical nanoparticles aggregated into clusters. EDX and FTIR confirmed the presence of a silicate network in both groups. XRD confirmed that amorphous glass phase was present in both groups, with Group II having a broader halo. BET analysis showed that both materials were type IV mesoporous structures, and a more homogeneous pore network with fewer large mesopores was present in Group II.
Conclusion:
The addition of ammonia solution improved the morphology and structural homogeneity of sol-gel-derived BG 58S without affecting its chemical composition. This study lays the basis for the synthesis of BG 58S for incorporation into novel endodontic sealers, pulp capping agents, and retrograde filling materials.