The examinations of a bacterial zone, the antibacterial activity of synthesized materials are analyzed using different bacterial pathogens. The phases and crystalline size of the synthesized materials are calculated and the roughness of the materials shown in atomic force microscopy (AFM) can be used in medical applications. Zinc is doped with ions as co-dopants into hydroxyapatite using the sol–gel method. The synthesized materials are analyzed using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, AFM, dielectric studies, ultra-violet–visible spectroscopy, mechanical strengths and antibacterial activity. This paper focuses on the mechanism of the dielectric properties analyzed for ion-doped hydroxyapatite which is used to enhance bone growth and various properties of materials which play a vital role in the medical field. © 2018, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.