Orthopaedic surgery is currently in the midst of a transformation from bone grafting and the use of bone graft substitutes to bone tissue engineering. Bioactive bone growth factors likely will play a particularly important role in this emerging field. This article will review the three leading strategies for using bioactive factors for bone tissue engineering: extraction and partial purification of growth factors, recombinant protein synthesis, and gene therapy. Preclinical and early clinical trial results with bone morphogenetic protein-2, bone morphogenetic protein-7 (osteogenic protein-1), and NeOsteo bovine bone protein extract will be reviewed. In addition, the current obstacles to clinical implementation of bone tissue engineering will be reviewed.
Bioactive factors for bone tissue engineering. Publishing Authors By Initials
