**4. Conclusion and final remarks**

Innovative research on bone tissue engineering has made considerable strides over the few decades in the development of new materials, processing techniques and their evaluation and applications. Bioresorbable scaffolds with controlled porosity and tailored properties are of paramount necessity in the successful outcome of bone healing. Silicate bioactive glasses have been extensively investigated over last 40 years. Borate and borosilicate bioactive glass compositions are promising and currently being used in tissue engineering. Although the ability of bioactive glass to support osteogenesis has been proved, recent work has shown the angiogenic potential which may be utilised for the benefits of bioactive glass to soft tissue repair. Due to its biodegradable properties, it may release ions during the degradation process. Apart from doping the bioactive glass with several metallic ions, the degrading ions of its own are known to have a beneficial effect on osteogenesis and on angiogenesis. Current findings show that they may also have a favourable effect on chondrogenesis. Metallic ion doping with the presently available bioactive glass may further improve the biological performance of the material that may open a new vista in bone tissue engineering. Future research will take benefit of the advantageous properties of doped bioactive glass in bone healing as well as coating of several metallic implants.
