The synthesis of SiO(2)-CaO-MgO-P(2)O(5) bioactive glass was carried out by the sol-gel method. Sol-gel derived bioglass material was crushed into powder to produce pellet disks by uniaxial pressing, followed by sintering at 900 degrees C. The biocompatibility evaluation of the formed glass was assessed through in vitro cell culture experiments and immersion studies in simulated body fluid (SBF) for different time intervals while monitoring the pH changes and the concentration of calcium and magnesium in the SBF medium. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and FT-IR spectroscopy studies were conducted before and after contact of the material with SBF. At first, an amorphous calcium phosphate was formed; after 21 days this surface consisted of deposited crystalline spheres of apatite. The present investigation also revealed that the sol-gel derived quaternary bioglass system has the ability to support the growth of osteoblast-like cells in vitro and to promote osteoblast differentiation by stimulating the expression of major phenotypic markers.