ISSN: 2044-9038 (Print) 2044-9046 (Electronic)

Clinical Practice

Bone Tissue Engineering

The field of bone tissue engineering was initiated nearly three decades ago. Interest and progress in the BTE field has seen tremendous growth over the years, with an exponentially increasing number of studies and reviews published on the PubMed database since the mid-1980s. The field of BTE focuses on alternative treatment options which will ideally eliminate the previously described problems with current clinically used treatments. A biocompatible scaffold that closely mimics the natural bone extracellular matrix niche, osteo-genic cells to lay down the bone tissue matrix, morphogenic signals that help to direct the cells to the phenotypically desirable type, and sufficient vascularization to meet the growing tissue nutrient supply and clearance needs. Specifically, upon implantation, the construct may influence the host by releasing osteogenic and/or vasculo-genic growth factors or by housing cells that are genetically engineered to or naturally release growth factors. Although much progress has been made, many crucial hurdles remain to be cleared on the thanks to BTE becoming a real clinical reality. Intramembraneous bone formation involves mesenchymal progenitor cells differentiating directly into osteoblasts and therefore the subsequent development of parts of the mandible, clavicle, and lots of cranial bones. Most bones in the body (i.e., all long bones and vertebrae), however, are formed through endochondral bone formation. This process involves mesenchymal progenitor cells first differentiating into chondrocytes, which are responsible for depositing a cartilaginous template that is later mineralized and replaced by bone.

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