Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
limitations and have reported failure rates as high as 30%. Autol-
ogous bone harvesting has anatomical limitations, donor site pain
and morbidity due to infection, and excessive resorption.
5
,
6
The
limitationsofcurrentsurgicaltechniquesrevealtheneedforsignifi-
cantimprovementinmethodstopromoteboneregeneration.Devel-
opment of tissue engineering strategies that can be used to repair
critical-sizebonedefects wouldthusbe invaluable.
33.2 Bone Tissue Engineering
Engineered bone grafts provide a means to regenerate bone with-
out the complications associated with traditional transplants.
8
,
17
,
18
Tissue engineers attempt to repair or regenerate damaged tissue
by using living cells or attracting endogenous cells to aid in tis-
sue formation. In the traditional tissue engineering paradigm, cells
are seeded on a scaffold composed of a synthetic polymer or nat-
ural material and appropriate bioactive agents are added to aid
cell differentiation and tissue growth (Fig. 33.1).
19
Tissue engineers
utilize biomaterial scaffolds to sustain functionality during regener-
ation and to serve as a template for necessary cellular interactions.
In bone constructs, scaffolds are seeded with osteoblasts or mes-
enchymal cells prior to implantation to establish new centers for
Figure 33.1.
Tissue engineering paradigm.
Search WWH ::
Custom Search