Investigating the structure of novel germanium zinc-silicate glass for injectable bone cement applications

A range of germanium zinc calcium silicates glasses have recently been developed for use as injectable bone cements. The substitution of GeO2 for SiO2 has been found to increase the working time from 1 to 6 minutes and increase the setting time from 2 to 16 minutes. In order to model and predict the behaviour of these materials and optimise setting and working times it is important to understand the connections between the glass composition, its atomic structure and relevant macroscopic properties such as the surface charge, setting characteristics, and glass degradation rate. We therefore propose to undertake a detailed study of these materials using a combination of neutron and X-ray diffraction and computer modelling.