Repairing significant bone defects remains a critical challenge, raising the clinical demand to design novel bone biomaterials that incorporate osteogenic and angiogenic properties to support the regeneration of vascularized bone. Bioactive glass scaffolds can stimulate angiogenesis and osteogenesis. In addition, natural or synthetic polymers exhibit structural similarity with extracellular matrix (ECM) components and have superior biocompatibility and biodegradability. Thus, there is a need to prepare composite scaffolds of hydrogels for vascularized bone, which incorporate to improve the mechanical properties and bioactivity of natural polymers. In addition, those composites' 3-dimensional (3D) form offer regenerative benefits such as direct doping of the scaffold with ions. This review presents a comprehensive discussion of composite scaffolds incorporated with BaG, focusing on their effects on osteo-inductivity and angiogenic properties. Moreover, the adaptation of the ion-doped hydrogel composite scaffold into a 3D scaffold for the generation of vascularized bone tissue is exposed. Finally, we highlight the challenges and future of manufacturing such biomaterials.

Saussurea costus (S. costus) is a critically endangered medicinal plant that has been extensively studied for its chemical composition, significance, and therapeutic potential as traditional phytomedicine. This comprehensive review aims to provide a thorough understanding of S. costus, including its biological activities, chemical makeup, and potential therapeutic uses in biotechnology. This study investigated the pharmacological properties of S. costus, including its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antifungal properties, and its usefulness in treating conditions such as thyroid disorders and liver injury. This study also aimed to assess and improve the techniques used to extract bioactive compounds and to develop effective methods for harvesting these compounds from medicinal plants. This review analyzed the available literature on the phytochemical makeup and bioactivity of S. costus extract using techniques such as molecular docking against SARS-CoV-2 protease, green extraction methods, and phytochemical analysis. This review revealed that S. costus possesses various pharmacological properties, including antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. It is effective in combating fungal infections, reducing inflammation, treating cancer, and inhibiting viral replication, and has the potential to control Candida species. Moreover, S. costus has been explored for its capacity to synthesize nanoparticles with antimicrobial properties and for its potential in treating thyroid disorders and liver injury. Despite promising results, additional research is necessary to fully comprehend the benefits of S. costus and validate its effectiveness in clinical settings. Future research should focus on standardized methodologies and rigorous clinical trials to confirm the safety and effectiveness of S. costus in various medical fields as well as further investigate its biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications.