BACKGROUND: This work focuses on combining electrospun biodegradable poly-DL-Iactide (PDLLA) fibres and 4555 Bioglass (R) for tissue engineering applications. RESULTS: A variety of fibrous structures were produced upon application of an electric field to a flowing solution of PDLLA (5 wt/v%) in di-methyl carbonate (DMC). Electrospinning was achieved at an applied voltage of 8.5 kV for a fixed flow rate of 5 mu L min(-1). Scanning electron microscopy images of PDLLA fibres deposited on 45S5 Bioglass (R) sintered pellets revealed that the fibres had diameters in the range 100-200 nm, leading to increased surface roughness, as assessed by white light interferometry. Bioactivity studies on PDLLA fibre coated Bioglass (R) substrates were carried out in simulated body fluid (SBF) for 7, 14 and 28 days. It was found that mineralization of PDLLA fibres on 4555 Bioglass (R) substrate (formation of hydroxyapatite) occurred after 7 days of immersion in SBF and full coverage of PDLLA fibres with HA nanocrystals was achieved after 14 days in SBF. CONCLUSION: The approach investigated represents a convenient method to develop a controlled mineralized fibrous topography on bioactive glass substrates for improved cell attachment, which can be exploited in bone tissue engineering applications. (C) 2009 Society of Chemical Industry