The aim of the present study was to examine the cellular functionality and antimicrobial properties of SiO2–MgO–Al2O3–K2O–B2O3–F glass ceramics (GC) containing fluorophlogopite as major crystalline phase. The cellular morphology and cell adhesion study
using human osteoblast-like Saos-2 cells and mouse fibroblast L929 cells reveals good in vitro cytocompatibility of GC. The
potential use of the GC for biomedical application was also assessed by in vitro synthesis of the alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
activity of Saos-2 cells. It is proposed that B2O3 actively enhances the cell adhesion and supports osteoconduction process, whereas, fluorine component significantly influences
cell viability. The Saos-2 and L929 cells on GC shows extensive multidirectional network of actin cytoskeleton. The in vitro
results of this study illustrate how small variation in fluorine and boron in base glass composition influences significantly
the biocompatibility and antimicrobial bactericidal property, as evaluated using a range of biochemical assays. Importantly,
it shows that the cell viability and osteoconduction can be promoted in glass ceramics with lower fluorine content. The underlying
reasons for difference in biological properties are analyzed and reported. It is suggested that oriented crystalline morphology
in the lowest fluorine containing glass ceramic enhanced cellular spreading. Overall, the in vitro cell adhesion, cell flattening,
cytocompatibility and antimicrobial study of the three different compositions of glass ceramic clearly reveals that microstructure
and base glass composition play an important role in enhancing the cellular functionality and antimicrobial property.