Tissue engineering for bone regeneration: stem cells and growth factors in biomaterial scaffolds

Background. Bone tissue engineering requires a scaffold conducive to cell attachment and maintenance of cell function, together with a rich source of osteoprogenitor cells in combination with osteoinductive growth factors. Bone loss as a result of trauma or disease is an increasingly serious health problem. The requirement for new bone to replace or restore the function of injured, damaged, or lost bone is a major clinical and socioeconomic need. Bone defects still represent a major challenge for orthopaedic and reconstructive surgeons. Objective: This review aims at outlining the role of stem cells and growth factors in scaffolds, focusing on the use of mesenchymal stem cells and bone morphogenetic proteins as applied to the research and practice of bone tissue engineering. Results and conclusion: Bone tissue engineering has been emerging as a valid approach to the current therapies for bone regeneration. Therefore, tissue engineering offers a number of possible strategies to the generation of living prosthesis that could integrate with host tissue reducing the need for further surgery or possible implant failure.