Abstract Although bioactive glass (BG) exhibits excellent bioactivity and strong potential for bone-grafting applications, its inherent brittleness limits its use in load-bearing conditions. This study focuses on improving the mechanical performance of bioactive glass by incorporating reinforcing phases and natural biopolymers to expand its biomedical applicability. The bioactive glass (46S19) and fluorapatite (FA) powders were synthesized via the sol–gel method using an organic acid as a catalyst. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the amorphous nature of BG and the crystalline structure of FA, providing essential insights into their phase composition and potential bioactivity. Hybrid bio-nanocomposite samples were fabricated by uniaxial pressing at 624 MPa followed by heat treatment at 1,000 °C for 2 h. Three reinforced composites containing 5, 15, and 25 wt% FA were prepared, along with a pure BG sample. A natural biopolymer coating composed of gum arabic (GA) and Ajwa date-seed (DS) powder was applied using the dip-coating technique to improve surface integrity and biocompatibility. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (FE-SEM/EDS) analyses were used to evaluate morphology, bonding, porosity, and crystallization behavior. Mechanical characterization through Vickers microhardness and splitting tensile strength tests revealed that FA incorporation enhanced both hardness and strength by promoting microstructural densification and grain growth during heat treatment. The 25 wt% FA composite exhibited the best performance, with tensile strength values ranging between 10.5 MPa and 12.5 MPa – comparable to natural bone. These findings confirm that fluorapatite reinforcement combined with DS–GA coating provides a cost-effective and biofunctional route to develop hybrid bio-nanocomposites suitable for bone-graft and load-bearing biomedical applications.
Ahmed et al. (Thu,) studied this question.