A scaffold for implantation into a mammal to facilitate vessel growth in repair, regeneration, and/or proliferation of bodily tissue, where the scaffold is based on a borate, silicate, or phosphate, glass-former and is biodegradable upon implantation in mammals. The scaffold includes one or more trace elements from the group consisting of Cu, F, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Sr, and Zn which are released into the host to support vessel growth. A method involves implantation of such scaffolds.