Glass and Glass-Ceramics at Fraunhofer ISC
Glass and Glass-Ceramics at Fraunhofer ISC
Bioactive glass implantology
© freepik / Fraunhofer ISC

© freepik / Fraunhofer ISC

Bioactive glasses and glass ceramics

Cell on porous glass substrate
© Fraunhofer ISC
SEM Image: a (colored) cell on a porous glass substrate.

Bioactive glasses are innovative materials that are increasingly being used in biomedicine due to their special properties. Unlike conventional glass materials, bioactive glasses actively interact with biological tissues and promote their regeneration. For example, they can be used for bone regeneration and to improve the integration of implants. Glass and glass ceramics also offer high biocompatibility and, if desired, high chemical resistance, making them a promising alternative material for medical applications.

Wide Range of Applications in Implantology

The Fraunhofer ISC has a long history of research into the diverse applications of glass in implantology. Due to the traditional variety of shapes in combination with newer processes such as 3D printing, glass as a starting material offers ideal possibilities for individual implants. We are continuously expanding our range of biocompatible and bioactive glasses to open up new perspectives in biomedical applications. We use not only pure glass materials, but also composites through innovative technologies such as 3D printing. Targeted crystallization opens up additional exciting application possibilities, allowing an optimal combination of the formability of glass with the mechanical and optical properties of ceramics.

Possible Areas of Application for Glass Systems developed by us are, for example

  • 3D Scaffolds
  • Particulate Cell Growth Substrates
  • Customized implants for tissue regeneration
  • Lenses for therapeutic use in and on humans
  • Dental restorations

These are just a few of the possibilities. We are open to your innovative ideas and look forward to working with you to develop the optimum solution for your or your customers' material requirements.

Let us show you the benefits of bioglass, such as

  • Diversity of shapes
  • Variable functional porosity
  • Customizable chemical composition
  • Microstructurability
  • Targeted biodegradability

in your specific application.