The main goal of this experimental project is to study the properties of three important biomaterials used for bone scaffold production in tissue engineering: polymer/glass composites, glass ceramics and calcium phosphate cements. The main topic of investigation is the permeability which depicts to what extent fluids are capable to pass through the material. This property is of major importance in tissue engineering applications, more specifically in cell seeding experiments, since it reflects the interconnectivity of the pores and determines the values of parameters, such as seeding velocity, pressure, etc., in order for cells to penetrate and attach to the scaffolds. Furthermore, porosity and compression characteristics are examined. First, a general introduction sets the context for the project. This introduction describes the state of the art in tissue engineering and some general concepts, such as applications of scaffolds, bioreactors, etc. Secondly, experimental set-up and methods are discussed which were necessary for measurement and analyses of the three types of biomaterials. Cements and ceramics are studied less extensively than composites because fewer samples were available for testing. Finally, the three biomaterials are compared and conclusions are drawn. The permeability results for composite scaffolds show a remarkable time dependency, i.e. permeability seems to decrease with perfusion time. In order to explain this phenomenon mechanical tests are done, porosity is measured and SEM-images are taken. These results exclude several possible causes, but they are not able to reveal the actual source of the occurring phenomenon. Statistical analysis of the permeability results proves the appearance of large variability between scaffolds made of the same material. Samples with similar porosity may display significantly different permeability behaviour since permeability is susceptible to various parameters. For instance, pore size and especially interconnectivity have a major influence on a material’s permeability. Glass cements show a similar decreasing permeability whereas cements show a different time course. When comparing the three materials on the basis of the examined properties, it is to be concluded that composite scaffolds offer the best prospects for use in cell seeding applications.