Regeneration concerns in craniofacial cartilage and bone defects

Abstract Autologous bone and rib cartilage are considered the gold standard for bone and cartilage reconstruction of craniofacial defects. However, there may be insufficient donor tissue for effective reconstruction of large and/or complex shaped defects. Tissue engineering technologies offer real potential to provide engineered autologous cartilage and bone tissues for transplantation. Tissue engineering tissue grafts requires: (1) an appropriate source of autologous cells (such as primary cells or mesenchymal cells); (2) a biomimetic scaffold to provide a three-dimensional shaped support for the cells and “biological instructions” to promote appropriate cell differentiation and good tissue formation; (3) an effective bioreactor culture system to provide the appropriate nutrient and gaseoues exchange and physical stimulation of the developing tissue. This review will consider the current position of tissue engineering to generate bone and cartilage grafts and the current hurdles and problems which need to be overcome.