Bioactive glasses in the new era: Technological advances and targeted therapies

Bioactive glasses (BGs) have emerged as multifunctional biomaterials with distinctive therapeutic and targeting capabilities, positioning them as promising candidates for regenerative medicine and disease treatment. This review traces the evolution of BGs from their conventional use in tissue regeneration to their integration into advanced therapeutic platforms. We first examine the intrinsic physicochemical properties that underpin their bioactivity and targeting functions. Recent technological innovations, including nanofibrous scaffolds, injectable formulations, nanostructured coatings, drug delivery systems, and 3D-printed bioinks, have significantly expanded the biomedical applications of BGs. Both in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate their capacity to promote tissue regeneration under various pathological conditions, stimulate osteogenesis while inhibiting osteoclastogenesis, and modulate inflammatory, infectious, and ischemic microenvironments. Furthermore, BG-based systems enable synergistic therapeutic outcomes through controlled drug release. Emerging research highlights their potential in cancer therapy via ion-mediated cytotoxicity, stimuli-responsive modalities such as photothermal/photodynamic therapy and hyperthermia, and combinatorial treatment approaches. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the therapeutic versatility and targeted functionalities of BGs, underscoring their potential in next-generation biomedical applications.