What Is Bioactive Glass? The Real Science Behind a Deadly Tattoo
Is the bioactive glass in my book ICY BETRAYALS real?
Yes – and no.
Bioactive glass – also called bioglass – is a glass-ceramic biomaterial that doesn’t just sit passively in the body. It bonds with living tissue and helps it heal.
The original formula, 45S5 Bioglass, was invented in 1969 by Dr. Hench and his team. They created a silicate-based glass made from silica, calcium, sodium, and phosphorus that could fuse with bone and act as a scaffold while the tissue rebuilt itself.
When this bioactive glass touches body fluid, it slowly dissolves, releasing minerals. Those minerals encourage a thin layer of hydroxyapatite (the same mineral that makes up bone) to form on the surface of the graft. Your cells then recognize it as “self” and begin rebuilding tissue until the bioactive glass is (mostly) replaced with your own bone.
Today, doctors sometimes use bioactive glass to fill bone defects, speed up slow-healing fractures, and even restore bone around teeth. Bioactive glass is used in some dental treatments, while related toothpastes containing nano-hydroxyapatite can be purchased to help repair microscopic cavities and reduce tooth sensitivity, though fluoride-based toothpastes remain the gold standard.
Beyond bone repair, researchers are now discovering that bioactive glass can also help heal soft tissues like skin wounds by regulating inflammation and promoting blood vessel growth. Early studies show promise for treating chronic wounds, burns, and even post-surgical healing.
And in ICY BETRAYALS? I take this very real science, twist it, and reinvent bioactive glass as a fictional substrate for a glowing, living tattoo…
What Is Bioactive Glass? The Real Science Behind a Deadly Tattoo
