Materials for bone graft substitutes and osseous tissue regeneration

Abstract

Bone is the principal component of the skeletal system. It is comprised of an extracellular matrix that is characterized by a hierarchical and heterogeneous structure with features that span from the nanoscale to the macroscale and interact to perform the various functions of the tissue. For large defects, traditional therapies for bone repair include tissue grafts, which are limited by supply (autografts) and the potential for disease transmission (allografts). Alternatively, commercially available products used for bone reconstruction do not necessarily approximate the hierarchical nanoscale structure of the natural tissue. This chapter will focus on recent advances in the development of select biomimetic, self-assembled and nanocomposite materials for use in the repair and regeneration of osseous tissues. © 2011 Springer-Verlag/Wien.