Background and Aim: Europium (Eu) is the most reactive and volatile rare-earth element. This study aimed to develop Eu-doped bioglass for applications in bone regeneration.
Materials and Methods: To synthesize Eu-doped bioglass, 1.3 g of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide was dissolved in 40 mL of ethanol to form a homogeneous surfactant solution. Europium nitrate, tetraethyl orthosilicate, calcium nitrate, and orthophosphoric acid were then sequentially added under continuous stirring. The mixture was stirred for 24 hours at room temperature to allow complete reaction and precursor integration. Next, 50 mL of acetone was added to induce precipitation, followed by centrifugation at 12,000 rpm for 6 minutes. The supernatant was discarded, and the collected precipitate was sintered to obtain the final bioglass. The fabricated Eu-doped bioglass was subsequently characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflectance–infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR), and antimicrobial analysis to evaluate its morphological, structural, and biological properties.
Results: The ATR-IR spectra revealed typical silicate bands, and SEM images displayed a hollow-shaped structure. The superior crystallinity of Eu contributed to the bioglass network’s enhanced mechanical properties. Antimicrobial evaluation revealed a notable reduction in the number of colonies for both Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).
Conclusion: The synthesized Eu-doped bioglass exhibited notable antimicrobial activity and favorable characteristics for bone tissue engineering. Incorporation of Eu ions into the bioglass matrix enhanced biological performance, suggesting its potential applicability in bone regeneration. These findings indicate that Eu-doped bioglass could serve as a promising material for biomedical applications, particularly for promoting bone healing.