Bone substitutes are required to repair osseous defects caused by a number of factors such as trauma, degenerative disease, cancer, and others.Bone tissue engineering seeks to overcome the limitations of conventional therapy by developing alternative therapies that combine three main factors cells, scaffold and growth factors. For bone tissue engineering the scaffold need to exhibit high biocompatibility, bioactivity, adequate mechanical strength and morphological characteristics to achieve bone tissue regeneration. Although several materials have been used in bone tissue engineering most of these materials are still far from completely fulfilling both the necessary biological and mechanical functions. Thus the aim of this study was to prepare and evaluate Portland cement based scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.In this study, scaffolds were fabricated by two different routes; the first route was based on producing porosity, through a chemical reaction between fine aluminum powder and calcium oxide in presence of water.The reaction produces hydrogen gas, forming small, finely dispersed, air spaces. Two concentrations of Portland cement were used using the first route (R1a and R1b). The second route was based on the salt particulate leaching method, where different percentages of sodium chloride crystals were added to the Portland cement slurry. The dissolution of sodium chloride crystals after soaking of the cured specimens in deionized water leaves finely dispersed pores. Two concentrations of Portland cement and sodium chloride salt were used for the preparation of specimens using the second route (R2a and R2b).The microstructure and porosity were examined by scanning electron micrograph (SEM) and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). The degradability was tested using the weight loss measurement, by simulation solution testing and extreme solution testing.The concentrations of ions leaked from the specimens were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometer and by using induced coupled plasma emission spectrophotometer (ICP). Changes in solution pH were also used to analyze the dissolution of scaffolds in simulated body fluid. X-ray diffraction and chemical analysis by (EDAX) were used to detect the formation of hydroxyapatite layer on the scaffold surface after immersion in simulated body fluid. Mechanical testing was done using a mechanical testing machine in dry and wet condition.SEM examination of the prepared specimens revealed an interconnected macro pores and micro pores matrix with pore diameter ranging between 50-1350 for specimens of the first route (R1) and from 50 μm to 470 μm for specimens of the second route (R2).MIP results showed insignificant difference in percentage porosity between specimens of the two routes. The degradability using simulation solution testing showed thatR1 (b) had the significant highest mean weight loss percentages for all the tested time intervals compared to the other tested groups. In extreme solution testing results showed that R1a had significantly highest mean weight loss percentage. The mean weight loss percentage through different immersion time periods in each group showed a continuous increase then decrease in weight loss percentage at different time intervals for the all tested groups. Results of pH analysis revealed a progressive increase in the pH value by increasing the immersion time.The ICP analysis after 7 days showed significant increase in calcium and silicon ions values and a significant decrease in phosphorus ion released from all specimens compared to values in simulated body fluid.Results also revealed the absence of Al ions release in R2 specimens. The ICP analysis revealed that as ions release from the specimens of the tested groups were very low below the toxic level. The X-ray diffraction and chemical analysis revealed the formation of a hydroxyapatite layer at the scaffold surface after 7days immersion in simulated body fluid.Mechanical characterization was done through compressive strength testing in dry and wet conditions. In dry and wet condition R 2 specimens revealed a significantly higher mean compressive strength value than R 1 specimens.