Processing and Characterization of Gallium-Modified Bioactive Glass Nanoparticles for Controlled Delivery of 5-Fluorouracil and Vitamin D3: an Advanced Approach to Osteoporosis and Bone cancer Treatment

Ga-modified bioactive glass nanoparticles were sol-gel processed and tested for 5-Fluorouracil (5-Fu) and vitamin D3 controlled delivery. Samples of 0, 1 and 2 mol% gallium oxide contents; (G1, G2 and G3, respectively), were characterized using TEM, EDX, FT-IR, and Raman spectroscopy. The specific surface areas of the nanoparticles increased by gallium addition (55.11, 107.96 and 180.39 m2/g for G1, G2, and G3, respectively). In contrast, the samples’ average pore size decreased with gallium increment (3.82, 2.68, and 2.64 nm, for G1, G2, and G3, respectively). Anti-cancer effect of samples was tested against osteosarcoma MG-63 cell line to address the ability of using glass samples for bone cancer treatment. The highest gallium oxide content sample, G3, induced a significant anti-cancer effect. Also, gallium ions were found to release from G3 through a diffusion-controlled mechanism. Drug release tests indicated that the release profiles and rates were significantly improved by gallium loading. The respective cumulative percentages of 5-Fu and vitamin D3 released from sample G3 were 52.44 and 52.63% of the total amount of each drug, separately loaded. Different mathematical models indicated diffusion-controlled and/or dissolution-controlled approaches of release of both drugs from sample G3. We provide promising preliminary results regarding the usage of Ga-modified glass nanoparticles, loaded with either vitamin D3 or 5-Fu as a potential approach for osteoporosis and bone cancer treatment. Finally, Ga-modified glass nanoparticles showed positive photoluminescence properties suggesting the possibility to use them for bio-imaging.