title: Tissue engineering of bone: Clinical observations with adipose-derived stem cells, resorbable scaffolds, and growth factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tissue engineering offers a simple, nonallergenic, and viable solution for the reconstruction of human tissues such as bone. With deeper understanding of the stem cell's pathobiology, the unique properties of these tissues can be effectively harnessed for the benefit of the patients. A primary source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for bone regeneration is from adipose tissue to provide adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs). The interdependency between adipogenesis and osteogenesis has been well established. The objective of this article is to present the preliminary clinical observation with reconstruction of craniofacial osseous defects larger than critical size with ASC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with large craniofacial osseous defects only were included in this study. Autogenous fat from the anterior abdominal wall of the patients was harvested from 23 patients, taken to a central tissue banking laboratory and prepared. All patients were reconstructed with ASCs, resorbable scaffolds, and growth factor as required. Vascularized soft tissue beds were prepared for ectopic bone formation and later microvascular translocation as indicated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  23 ASC seeded resorbable scaffolds have been combined with rhBMP-2 and successfully implanted into humans to reconstruct their jaws except for three failures. The failures included one infection and two cases of inadequate bone formation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The technique of ASC-aided reconstruction of large defects still remains extremely sensitive as it takes longer duration and is costlier than the conventional standard immediate reconstruction. Preliminary results and clinical observations of these cases are extremely encouraging. In future, probably with evolving technological advances, ASC-aided reconstruction will be regularly used in clinical practise.
authors.affiliation: Professor of Tissue Engineering, Regea Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: George K B
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Sándor
keywords: Adipose-derived stem cells; growth factors; resorbable scaffold; tissue engineering