Cell-Based Bone Tissue Engineering

The authors review the available data on bone tissue engineering and discuss possible new research areas that could help to make bone tissue engineering a clinical success

Gap junction intercellular communication: A review of a potential platform to modulate craniofacial tissue engineering

Defects in craniofacial tissues, resulting from trauma, congenital abnormalities, oncologic resection or progressive deforming diseases, may result in aesthetic deformity, pain and reduced function. Restoring the structure, function and aesthetics of craniofacial tissues represents a substantial clinical problem in need of new solutions. More biologically-interactive biomaterials could potentially improve the treatment of craniofacial defects, and an understanding of developmental processes may help identify strategies and materials that can be used in tissue engineering. One such strategy that can potentially advance tissue engineering is cell–cell communication. Gap junction intercellular communication is the most direct way of achieving such signaling. Gap junction communication through connexin-mediated junctions, in particular connexin 43 (Cx43), plays a major role bone development. Given the important role of Cx43 in controlling development and differentiation, especially in bone cells, controlling the expression of Cx43 may provide control over cell-to-cell communication and may help overcome some of the challenges in craniofacial tissue engineering. Following a review of gap junctions in bone cells, the ability to enhance cell–cell communication and osteogenic differentiation via control of gap junctions is discussed, as is the potential utility of this approach in craniofacial tissue engineering. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2009Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/61547/1/31127_ftp.pd

Tissue engineering: state of the art in oral rehabilitation

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/74998/1/j.1365-2842.2009.01939.x.pd

Porous Titanium Granules Used as Osteoconductive Material for Sinus Floor Augmentation: A Clinical Pilot Study

BACKGROUND: Resorption of grafting material may lead to unpredictable long-term results when rehabilitating the resorbed posterior maxilla. Nonresorbable, osteoconductive bone substitutes may therefore be an advantage over autogenous bone grafts. PURPOSE: The aim of the present pilot study was to test titanium granules as bone substitute in patients planned for augmentation of the sinus floor prior to or in conjunction with placement of dental implants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen patients with uni- or bilateral edentulism and need for augmentation of the sinus floor were included in the study. Residual bone height was 2 to 5 mm. Grafting and installation of the dental implants (18 fixtures) was carried out in the same session if primary stability of the implants could be achieved (12 patients). A staged protocol with implant placement 3 to 7 months after the augmentation procedure was used when primary implant stability was impossible to achieve (four patients). In all, 23 TiOblast (Astra Tech AB, Mölndal, Sweden) implants were installed. RESULTS: The patients have been followed 12 to 36 months after prosthetic loading. Three implants were found mobile and were removed (13.0%). Two of these were in patients where grafting and implant installation were carried out in separate procedures. The implants were found mobile at abutment connection and were removed. One patient in the single-stage group had a postoperative sinus infection, which was successfully treated with antibiotics. However, one out of two implants in this patient was found mobile and was removed after 1 year in function. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, titanium granules seem to function as augmentation material in the sinus floor. It is, however, not clear if the material can be safely used for two-stage procedures. Further investigations with longer healing time before implant installation are required. Also, the possible risk of granule displacement during preparation of the fixture site should be further investigated. Additionally, biopsies from patients are requested to confirm any bone ingrowth between the granules

Clinical Utility of Allogeneic Skull Discs in Human Craniotomy

Abstract One hundred fifteen burr hole defects were filled with sterilized human cadaver skull in 45 patients ranging in age between 10 and 88 years. One to 6 allogeneic skull discs per patient were placed in all areas of the calvaria. The length of postoperative observation ranges between 6 months and 5 years. No instances of infection, resorption, or rejection have occurred. Discs became incorporated and were osteoconductive, with new bone formed by “creeping substitution.” In contrast to frozen autogeneic skull, these allogeneic discs were not resorbed. Allogeneic skull may be used safely and effectively to fill small discontinuity defects in the human calvaria.</jats:p