Future of Bone Repair

Abstract

Bone can suffer from various conditions such as fractures and diseases such as osteoporosis, osteogenesis imperfecta and tumors. Osteoporosis globally causes >8.9 million fractures each year. Current epidemiological data relevant to this and other diseases urge us to focus critically on promising and efficacious treatments for bone injury. Because of the limitations of conventional treatments for bone fracture, such as limited quantity for autograft, there is a demand to investigate better alternatives for bone healing. The main aim of this review is to highlight repair of bone injury, particularly focusing on several new research methods studied in preclinical trials and in vitro. New research methods such as low-level laser therapy, mesenchymal stem cell-based therapy, nanomaterials, biodegradable hydrogels, extracellular matrix-mimetic materials, and controlled delivery of growth factors from polymer scaffolds look promising for bone healing, and further clinical studies are suggested that use them in routine bone repair treatment in the near future.