Considerable endeavors have been devoted to the synthesis of biocompatible
scaffolds with tunable new structures and improved bioactivities. Within the field of
bioceramics, silica-based ordered porous materials are receiving increasing attention by
the biomaterials scientific community because silica is the main constituent of many
biocompatible porous scaffold materials. In addition, dietary silicon plays an important
role in bone formation and is markedly present in active calcification sites, stimulating
the expression of genes involved in bone and cartilage formation and concurrently,
inducing osteogenic differentiation and cell mineralization. More importantly, silicabased
scaffolds hold their capability to host different guest molecules, representing a
new generation of structurally unique materials. This chapter collects and discusses the
current advances in silica-based scaffolds. The synthetic methods of tailoring
scaffolding chemical composition and architecture are highlighted.
Keywords: Biomaterials, scaffold, silica materials, tissue engineering.
