Expedited strategies for the restoration of bone

INTRODUCTION: We are trying to devise expedited technologies for the repair and regeneration of connective tissues that obviate the need for cell culture, bioreactors and other expensive components [1]. For bone healing, a basic strategy aims to develop intra-operative procedures in which tissue is harvested, modified and returned to the individual in one surgery. We have concentrated on the use of bone marrow, fat and muscle as tissues that can be readily harvested, and which contain osteoprogenitor cells. Gene transfer is one way in which the osteogenic differentiation of the resident progenitor cells can be initiated and sustained once the tissues are retuned to the body. Here we describe data obtained using muscle and bone marrow as sources of osteoprogenitors.