Advances in skeletal tissue engineering with hydrogels.
OBJECTIVE
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.


METHODS
Multilayered hydrogel systems were developed to coculture different cell types and develop osteochondral tissues for applications including the temporomandibular joint.


METHODS
Hydrogels are one form of scaffold that can be applied to cartilage and bone repair using fully differentiated cells, adult and embryonic stem cells.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
Tissue engineering provides a venue to investigate tissue development of mutant or diseased cells and potential therapeutics.
Elisseeff
J
J
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA. jhe@bme.jhu.edu
Puleo
C
C
Yang
F
F
Sharma
B
B
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000502:physiology*; D002356:Cartilage / Q000502:physiology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels