Synthesis, characterisation and in vitro testing of macroporous zinc containing scaffolds obtained by sol–gel and sacrificial template methods

• Zn containing scaffolds prepared by combined sol–gel & sacrificial template methods
• PEG addition during sol–gel synthesis increases porosity pore interconnectivity.
• PEG favours pseudowollastonite and hydroxyapatite nanocrystal growth by calcinations.
• PEG enhances the bioactivity tested in simulated body fluid.
• Increase of zinc content prevents the hydroxyapatite formation.

The aim of the present study was to produce and characterize three-dimensional (3D) interconnected macroporous glass-ceramic scaffolds with different amounts of zinc for tissue engineering applications. The scaffolds were obtained using sol–gel method without and with addition of polyethylene-glycol (PEG) combined with sacrificial template method. The structural and morphological properties of these samples were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM). PEG addition during scaffold synthesis produced changes on their structural properties that after heat treatment led to an increased crystalline phase content as compared to the sample prepared without PEG addition. At the same time, the scaffolds prepared with PEG showed higher pore interconnectivity and greater apatite-forming ability, as evidenced by the bioactivity test in simulated body fluid.