The bioactive glasses can lead to the promotion of growth of granulation tissue, while the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) can induce the acceleration of wound healing including tissue regeneration, connective tissue formation, and angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of using the bioactive glass (BG) and BG-AuNPs composites on skin wound healing in experimental rat models for 14 days. Sol–gel derived BGs and BG-AuNPs composites mixed with Vaseline at 6, 12 and 18 wt% were used to evaluate the repair response of the skin. During the process of healing, granulomatous reaction was observed in the wound treated with 12 and 18 wt% BG-Vaseline ointments. Furthermore, a strong vascular proliferation and complete wound regeneration were found in 18%BG-AuNPs-Vaseline treated groups. The results derived from the performed investigations revealed that the 18% BG-AuNPs-Vaseline ointment is a promising candidate for wound healing applications.

Metal and in particular noble metal nanoparticles represent a very special class of materials which can be applied as prepared or as composite materials. In most of the cases, two main properties are exploited in a vast number of publications: biocompatibility and surface plasmon resonance (SPR). For instance, these two important properties are exploitable in plasmonic diagnostics, bioactive glasses/glass ceramics and catalysis. The most frequently applied noble metal nanoparticle that is universally applicable in all the previously mentioned research areas is gold, although in the case of bioactive glasses/glass ceramics, silver and copper nanoparticles are more frequently applied. The composite partners/supports/matrix/scaffolds for these nanoparticles can vary depending on the chosen application (biopolymers, semiconductor-based composites: TiO₂, WO₃, Bi₂WO₆, biomaterials: SiO₂ or P₂O₅-based glasses and glass ceramics, polymers: polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), Gelatin, polyethylene glycol (PEG), polylactic acid (PLA), etc.). The scientific works on these materials’ applicability and the development of new approaches will be targeted in the present review, focusing in several cases on the functioning mechanism and on the role of the noble metal.

The efficiency of 60SiO ₂ ·(32 − x ) CaO·8P ₂ O ₅ · x CuO (mol%) glass-ceramics were proved, and was determined the most appropriate composition for further in vivo trials.