Advances in skeletal tissue engineering with hydrogels

OBJECTIVES: Tissue engineering has the potential to make a significant impact on improving tissue repair in the craniofacial system. The general strategy for tissue engineering includes seeding cells on a biomaterial scaffold. The number of scaffold and cell choices for tissue engineering systems is continually increasing and will be reviewed. DESIGN: Multilayered hydrogel systems were developed to coculture different cell types and develop osteochondral tissues for applications including the temporomandibular joint. EXPERIMENTAL VARIABLE: Hydrogels are one form of scaffold that can be applied to cartilage and bone repair using fully differentiated cells, adult and embryonic stem cells. OUTCOME MEASURE: Case studies represent an overview of our laboratory's investigations. RESULTS: Bilayered scaffolds to promote tissue development and the formation of more complex osteochondral tissues were developed and proved to be effective. CONCLUSION: Tissue engineering provides a venue to investigate tissue development of mutant or diseased cells and potential therapeutics.