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Le BQ, Nurcombe V, Cool SM, van Blitterswijk CA, de Boer J, LaPointe VLS. The Components of Bone and What They Can Teach Us about Regeneration. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2017; 11:E14. [PMID: 29271933 PMCID: PMC5793512 DOI: 10.3390/ma11010014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Revised: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bach Quang Le
- Institute of Medical Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 8A Biomedical Grove, #6-06 Immunos, Singapore 138648, Singapore.
| | - Victor Nurcombe
- Institute of Medical Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 8A Biomedical Grove, #6-06 Immunos, Singapore 138648, Singapore.
| | - Simon McKenzie Cool
- Institute of Medical Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 8A Biomedical Grove, #6-06 Immunos, Singapore 138648, Singapore.
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, NUHS Tower Block, Level 11, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119288, Singapore.
| | - Clemens A van Blitterswijk
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Jan de Boer
- Department of Cell Biology-Inspired Tissue Engineering, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Vanessa Lydia Simone LaPointe
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
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