Eu3+ ion as a luminescent structural probe for studying the biomineralization processes in sol-gel derived bioactive glasses: a preliminary study

In this thesis we describe the first steps in the development of a novel characterization method, meant to shed some new light on the biomineralization processes that take place on the surfaces of bioactive glasses when they are implanted into biological tissues. In particular, this method relies on the use of Eu3+ doping ions as a luminescent structural probe to detect and quantify via site selective spectroscopy measurements the biologically induced formation of the interfacial hydroxyl-carbonate-apatite layer, characteristic feature of bioglasses immersed in body fluids. The validity of the method is proved by experimental evidences arising from XRD, FTIR, micro-Raman, ICP-AES and nitrogen adsorption measurements, as well as by comparisons with literature reported data.