Histochemical responses at a biomaterial's interface

A series of nonporous glasses and glass materials designed with controlled surface ion activities to allow chemical bonding to bone are described. Surface reactivities of these materials in vitro are correlated with biological activities in vivo and in tissue culture. Direct chemical bonding of the materials to bone is demonstrated. The mechanism for development of this bond is through the production of an amorphous ion surface gel on the bioglass. This gel induces osteogenesis by a chemotactic response of osteoblasts.