Tissue-engineered morphogenesis of cartilage and bone by means of cell transplantation using synthetic biodegradable polymer matrices.

This article discusses the development of a technology that allows the tissue-engineered generation of new bone and cartilage. This was accomplished by seeding a high density of functional, dissociated cells onto synthetic biocompatible, biodegradable polymers of different chemical compositions and physical configurations, and then transplanting these polymers into animals. The synthetic scaffolds act as a basement membrane providing for structural cues and enabling nutrition by diffusion until grafting occurs. The development of this field since its inception as well as several potential applications in plastic and reconstructive surgery and in the study of the mechanisms of morphogenesis of bone and cartilage are discussed.