ZnO-doped β-TCP ceramic-based scaffold promotes osteogenic and antibacterial activity

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β-Tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) scaffolds, which are synthetic bone graft materials, have been explored as a potential solution in the healing of bone deformities due to their acceptable degradation rate and ability to support bone growth. However, these scaffolds have limitations such as poor mechanical properties, to stimulate bone growth, which increases the risk of infection after implantation. To overcome these issues, a new type of biomedical scaffold was developed that incorporated zinc oxide (ZnO) particles into β-TCP using wet chemical techniques. The scaffolds were created using sintering to produce porous β-TCP scaffolds with good connectivity. The addition of zinc oxide as a dopant significantly improved the biophysical properties of the scaffolds, with higher concentrations of zinc oxide, leading to better cell adhesion and proliferation. The scaffolds placed in simulated body fluid demonstrated exceptional ability to promote bone growth and regeneration by developing a bone-like apatite layer on their surfaces. The mechanical and physical properties of the scaffolds were effectively assessed using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analyses. To validate the efficacy of the specimen in preventing microbial growth and promoting bone growth, a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) test and gene expression investigation were conducted. Zinc oxide-doped β-TCP scaffolds are envisaged to show enormous potential for use in future bone-healing applications.