This review focuses on recent advances in the development and use of nanoscale silicate bioactive glasses for medical applications. In the context of materials for bone substitution, dental applications, and bone tissue engineering, nanoscale bioactive glasses have been gaining attention due to their expected superior osteoconductivity when compared with conventional (micrometer-sized) bioactive glass materials. A detailed overview of recent developments in the field of nanoscale bioactive glasses will be given, including a summary of common fabrication methods and diverse application areas which include tissue engineering scaffolds and coatings, drug delivery devices, and dentistry. The nanofeatures characteristic of this type of bioactive glasses and the possibilities to expand their use in biomedical applications (nanomedicine) are highlighted.

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Nanosized bioactive glass (NBG) particles are attractive materials for bone repair because of their ability to enhance bone formation and to chemically bond to the surrounding bone tissue. In recent years, composites of biopolymers and NBG particles have been developed for bone tissue engineering due to their increased bioactivity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. In this paper, the authors review current knowledge regarding polymer/NBG composites, including nanoscale‐related features and ion‐release effects of bioactive glass (BG) with respect to osteogenic and angiogenic responses in vivo and in vitro; the authors also focus on the techniques used to fabricate these nanocomposites. Additionally, this review discusses recent developments in the use of nanocomposites for tissue engineering and represents a literature update, as well an expansion, of previously published articles on this topic.

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