Bone tissue engineering

Abstract

Bone repair is a subject of intensive investigation in reconstructive surgery (for review, see [1]). Current approaches in skeletal reconstructive surgery use biomaterials, autografts or allografts, although restrictions on all these techniques exist. These restrictions include donor site morbidity and donor shortage for autografts [2], immunological barriers for allografts, and the risk of transmitting infectious diseases. Numerous artificial tissue substitutes containing metals, ceramics, and polymers were introduced to maintain skeletal function [3]. However, each material has specific disadvantages, and none of these can perfectly substitute for autografts in current clinical practice. The use of biomaterials is a common treatment option in clinical practice. One important reason for the priority of tissue grafts over nonliving biomaterials is that they contain living cells and tissue-inducing substances, thereby possessing biological plasticity. Research is currently in progress to develop cell-containing hybrid materials and to create replacement tissues that remain interactive after implantation, imparting physiological functions as well as structure to the tissue or organ damaged by disease or trauma [4]. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.