Lithium disilicate glass-ceramic compositions and methods thereof

Abstract

A bioactive glass-ceramic composition as defined herein. Also disclosed are methods of making and using the disclosed compositions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A glass-ceramic composition, comprising:
 a first crystalline phase comprised of lithium disilicate; and   a second crystalline phase selected from the group consisting of at least one of: wollastonite, fluoroapatite, cristobalite, β-quartz, lithiophosphate, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The glass-ceramic composition of  claim 1  wherein the first crystalline phase and the second crystalline phase, in combination, comprise a source of:
 50 to 75 wt % SiO 2 , 
 1 to 5 wt % Al 2 O 3 , 
 1 to 8 wt % P 2 O 5 , 
 2 to 10 wt % CaO, 
 5 to 20 wt % Li 2 O, 
 0.5 to 5 wt % Na 2 O, 
 0.5 to 8 wt % ZrO 2 , and 
 0.1 to 1.0 wt % F − , based on a 100 wt % total of the composition. 
 
     
     
         3 . The glass-ceramic composition of  claim 1  further comprising a source of 0.1 to 10 wt % B 2 O 3 , based on a 100 wt % total of the composition. 
     
     
         4 . The glass-ceramic composition of  claim 1  wherein the first crystalline phase and the second crystalline phase, in combination, comprise a source of:
 50 to 60 wt % SiO 2 , 
 1 to 3 wt % Al 2 O 3 , 
 2 to 6 wt % P 2 O 5 , 
 4 to 8 wt % CaO, 
 7.5 to 12.5 wt % Li 2 O, 
 0.5 to 2 wt % Na 2 O, 
 1 to 4 wt % ZrO 2 , and 
 0.2 to 0.8 wt % F − , based on a 100 wt % total of the composition. 
 
     
     
         5 . The glass-ceramic composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition has a high strength of from 200 MPa to 500 MPa. 
     
     
         6 . The glass-ceramic composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition has a high fracture toughness of from 1.4 to 2.0 MPa·m 1/2 . 
     
     
         7 . The glass-ceramic composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition has a combination of high strength of from 200 MPa to 500 MPa, and high fracture toughness of from 1.4 to 2.0 MPa·m 1/2 . 
     
     
         8 . The glass-ceramic composition of  claim 1  wherein the first crystalline phase comprises lithium disilicate and the second crystalline phase comprises apatite, wollastonite, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         9 . A glass-ceramic precursor glass composition comprising a source of:
 50 to 75 wt % SiO 2 ,   1 to 5 wt % Al 2 O 3 ,   1 to 8 wt % P 2 O 5 ,   2 to 10 wt % CaO,   5 to 20 wt % Li 2 O,   0.5 to 5 wt % Na 2 O,   0.5 to 8 wt % ZrO 2 , and   0.1 to 1.0 wt % F − , based on a 100 wt % total of the composition.   
     
     
         10 . A method of making the glass-ceramic composition of  claim 1  comprising:
 ceramming a precursor glass mixture comprising a source of: 
 50 to 75 wt % SiO 2 , 
 1 to 5 wt % Al 2 O 3 , 
 1 to 8 wt % P 2 O 5 , 
 2 to 10 wt % CaO, 
 5 to 20 wt % Li 2 O, 
 0.5 to 5 wt % Na 2 O, 
 0.5 to 8 wt % ZrO 2 , and 
 0.1 to 1.0 wt % F − , based on a 100 wt % total of the composition, by heating the mixture at 650 to 750° C. for 0.5 to 10 hrs and then heating at 750 to 850° C. for 0.5 to 20 hrs. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising ion exchanging the resulting glass-ceramic composition to create at least one compressive stress layer on at least one surface of the article to increase mechanical strength. 
     
     
         12 . A bioactive composition, comprising:
 a glass-ceramic comprised of:
 a first crystalline phase comprised of lithium disilicate; and 
 a second crystalline phase selected from the group consisting of at least one of: wollastonite, fluoroapatite, cristobalite, β-quartz, lithiophosphate, or a combination thereof; and 
   at least one live osteoblast cell.   
     
     
         13 . The bioactive composition of  claim 12  wherein the glass-ceramic composition comprises a source of:
 50 to 75 wt % SiO 2 , 
 1 to 5 wt % Al 2 O 3 , 
 1 to 8 wt % P 2 O 5 , 
 2 to 10 wt % CaO, 
 5 to 20 wt % Li 2 O, 
 0.5 to 5 wt % Na 2 O, 
 0.5 to 8 wt % ZrO 2 , and 
 0.1 to 1.0 wt % F − , based on a 100 wt % total of the composition. 
 
     
     
         14 . The bioactive composition of  claim 12  wherein the glass-ceramic composition comprises a source of:
 50 to 60 wt % SiO 2 , 
 1 to 3 wt % Al 2 O 3 , 
 2 to 6 wt % P 2 O 5 , 
 4 to 8 wt % CaO, 
 7.5 to 12.5 wt % Li 2 O, 
 0.5 to 2 wt % Na 2 O, 
 1 to 4 wt % ZrO 2 , and 
 0.2 to 0.8 wt % F − , based on a 100 wt % total of the composition. 
 
     
     
         15 . The bioactive composition of  claim 14  further comprising a source of 0.1 to 10 wt % B 2 O 3 , based on a 100 wt % total of the composition. 
     
     
         16 . A method of culturing osteoblast cells comprising:
 contacting the bioactive composition of  claim 12  with a suitable liquid medium.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the contacting produces a proliferation of the osteoblast cells on the surface of the bioactive composition. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the contacting produces a proliferation of the osteoblast cells in the suitable liquid medium. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the suitable liquid medium includes a simulated body fluid composition. 
     
     
         20 . An article comprising the glass-ceramic composition of  claim 1 .