Stem cells and tissue scaffolds for bone repair

This chapter discusses how cells and biomaterials interact to regenerate a functional tissue. Natural processes of bone repair are sufficient to restore the skeletal integrity for most fractures. However, the bone auto-regenerative potential cannot handle ‘critical size’ lesions. Therefore, manipulation of natural mechanisms to regenerate larger bone segments is required in reconstructive surgery. Biomaterials are not simple bio-inert ‘cell carriers’, but they have the task of driving tissue regeneration, being ‘informative’ for cells. The challenge is obtaining biomaterials mimicking a specific microenvironment and inducing cells to differentiate in a predetermined manner regenerating the desired tissue according to physiological pathways.