SiNtx Technologies Inc (SINT)

[SmokerX]

FIBERGRAFT® BG Morsels, 100% synthetic bone graft substitute, made from 45S5 bioactive glass fibers.

Bioglass 45S5, one of the most important formulations, is composed of SiO2, Na2O, CaO and P2O5

Silicon Dioxide + Sodium oxide + Calcium oxide and Phosphorus pentoxide

lets look at Silicon dioxide

In the body, crystalline silica particles do not dissolve over clinically relevant periods

Silicon dioxide is the glass in bioglass. Compare Si3N4 to SiO2. I cant find my source(I believe somewhere in pezzotti) but I believe the chemical reaction on silicon nitride implants cleaves off Nitrides to create peroxynitrites. The silicon nitride then scavenges oxygen(away from peek) to form a Silicon dioxide surface film on the implant (SiO2 in the bioglass)

Scan down to mechanism of action:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioglass

The silanol groups at the material surface condense and re-polymerize to form a silica-gel layer at the surface of Bioglass.

4. Amorphous Ca2+ and PO43- gather at the silica-rich layer (created in step 3) from both the surrounding bodily fluid and the bulk of the Bioglass. This creates a layer composed primarily of CaO?P2O5 on top of the silica layer

The CaO?P2O5 film created in step 4 incorporates OH- and CO32- from the bodily solution, causing it to crystallize. This layer is called a mixed carbonated hydroxyl apatite (HCA).

So from this we can see that SiO2 is not only a scaffold for the other ingredients in this bioglass preparation but Silicon is a key nutrient that both reduces bone breakdown and stimulates new bone. You might think of it as a scaffold loaded with vitamins to promote bone healing but silicon is also part of the vitamin package as well as scaffold, best guess.

So let's look at some possibilities:

Bioglass 45S5 composed of Si3N4, Na2O, CaO and P2O5 -> peroxynitrite -> leaches oxygen and you get -> all the goodies in Bioglass 45S5 + antibacterial and increased strength of the scaffold. Again best guess.

Will a cortical mimic of the SiNi cage and a cancellous mimic of solely bioglass 45S5, such as Valeo C+ bioglass, show better osteoconductivity and the cage alone impart antibacterial effect, solely by being in the direct presence of Sini. My guess, yes and no. You would see the antibacterial effect imparted but I dont see a reason for better osteoconductivity here just based on Silicon Dioxide vs. Silicon Nitride.

It's the other "bone vitamins" at work.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26646669

Hydroxyapatite + Tricalcium phosphates composites with bioglass. Seems to cut out some middle men in the mechanism of action of bioglass 45S5 in my opinion. But look at my above example. Why not go HA+ tricalcium phosphate composites with Silicon Nitride(all the fun of bioglass plus some.)

Needs more research to compare and validate osteogenesis and antibacterial abilities against these ponies at the pony races. What I`m doing here is speculating.

Someone who has a deeper understanding and insight is Sonny bal's understanding of bioglass. I think he may be more adept at understanding rather than explaining. Bring in Ashok. A ceramic material scientist with experience as a Professor practicing his explaining ability.