The development and study of new synthetic biomaterials, to restore lost bone tissue and improve implant integration, is a major aim in biomaterials science and tissue engineering. For this purpose, there is an increase in research regarding Bioactive Glasses (BGs) systems, with different morphologies and compositions, using therapeutic inorganic ions (TIIs). These TIIs increase the functionality of the BG with antibacterial, haemostatic or immunomodulatory capacity. Composites incorporating BGs particles need to have a macro structure that allows scaffolds implantation and does not hamper the effectiveness of their therapeutic properties. For this purpose, several PCL scaffolds containing 45S5 BG and Zn doped 45S5 BG were produced by solvent casting, hot pressing, and salt-leaching.

The use of BGs did not alter the morphology of the scaffolds resulting in structures similar to trabecular bone. Cell studies show that all membranes supported and allowed cell proliferation. Of all samples studied, that doped with 2 mol% ZnO, ZnBG/PCL presented the highest cell proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. Overall, the most promising scaffold for application in bone tissue regeneration is the composite containing 2 mol% Zn doped BG.