The Components of Bone and What They Can Teach Us about Regeneration

Bach Quang Le, Victor Nurcombe, Simon McKenzie Cool, Clemens A. van Blitterswijk, Jan de Boer, Vanessa Lydia Simone LaPointe*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal(Systematic) Review article peer-review

Abstract

The problem of bone regeneration has engaged both physicians and scientists since the beginning of medicine. Not only can bone heal itself following most injuries, but when it does, the regenerated tissue is often indistinguishable from healthy bone. Problems arise, however, when bone does not heal properly, or when new tissue is needed, such as when two vertebrae are required to fuse to stabilize adjacent spine segments. Despite centuries of research, such procedures still require improved therapeutic methods to be devised. Autologous bone harvesting and grafting is currently still the accepted benchmark, despite drawbacks for clinicians and patients that include limited amounts, donor site morbidity, and variable quality. The necessity for an alternative to this "gold standard" has given rise to a bone-graft and substitute industry, with its central conundrum: what is the best way to regenerate bone? In this review, we dissect bone anatomy to summarize our current understanding of its constituents. We then look at how various components have been employed to improve bone regeneration. Evolving strategies for bone regeneration are then considered.

Original languageEnglish
Article number14
Number of pages16
JournalMaterials
Volume11
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2018

Keywords

  • bone healing
  • fracture healing
  • bone tissue engineering
  • bone anatomy
  • MESENCHYMAL STEM-CELLS
  • CALCIUM-PHOSPHATE CERAMICS
  • HEPARAN-SULFATE PROTEOGLYCANS
  • ACELLULAR DERMAL MATRIX
  • IN-VIVO
  • GROWTH-FACTORS
  • STROMAL CELLS
  • OSTEOGENESIS IMPERFECTA
  • TRANSGENIC MICE
  • TRABECULAR BONE

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