Massachusetts General Hospital : Skeletal Biology Research Center
HomeAbout SBRCResearch AgendaSBRC AdministrationAdditional Resources |
Tissue engineering
From left to right: cadaver mandible, PLGA scaffold, tissue engineered condyle One of the leading causes of morbidity in OMF reconstructive surgeries is the need to harvest bone for from the patient’s rib, hip skull or tibia. Tissue engineering offers one of the most promising ways to eliminate autologous bone harvesting in patients requiring reconstruction of segment defects of the upper or lower jaw. Avoiding the donor site operation results in less morbidity, shorter lengths of stay, decreased infection rates, and perhaps, lower costs for reconstructive surgery.. The SBRC, in collaboration with the Mass General Tissue Engineering and Organ Fabrication Laboratory, has been successful in producing a mandibular condyle by seeding autologous mesenchymal stem cells in a biodegradable polymer scaffold using animal (porcine) models. Our effort at Mass General is one of the first reported examples of successful tissue-engineered portion of jaw bone (condyle) utilizing autologous stem cells. The road from lab to human subjects is a long one, and the SBRC continues to take steps forward in the advancement of tissue engineering as a viable tool in maxillofacial reconstruction. Our work with minipigs is helping to determine the optimal timing of implantation to maximize vascular in-growth and bone penetration of the polymer scaffold. We have also reported reconstruction of a mandibular defect in a large animal model using a scaffold seeded with autologous bone marrow precursor cells, another landmark in tissue engineering. On the horizon, SBRC’s goals are aggressive. We are working toward reconstruction of large continuity defects of the maxillofacial skeleton with tissue-engineered bone, and engineering of a mandibular condyle growth center. We are also collaborating with researchers at Harvard School of Dental Medicine and Forsyth Dental Research Institute on the engineering of a composite jaw bone and teeth using similar techniques. BibliographyAbukawa H, Zhang W, Young CS, Asrican R, Vacanti JP, Kaban LB, Troulis MJ, Yelick PC. Reconstructing mandibular defects using autologous tissue-engineered tooth and bone constructs. J Oral and Maxillofac Surg 62:335-47; 2009. Shin M, Abukawa H, Troulis MJ, Vacanti JP. Development of a biodegradable scaffold with interconnected pores by heat fusion and its application to bone tissue engineering. J Biomed Mater Res A 2007. Abukawa H, Papadaki M, Abulikemu M, Jeremy L, Vacanti J, Kaban LB, Troulis MJ. The engineering of craniofacial tissues in the laboratory: a review of biomaterials for scaffolds and implant coatings. Dental Clinics of North America 2006:50(2):205-16, viii. Young CS, Abukawa H, Asrican R, Ravens M, Troulis MJ, Kaban LB, Vacanti JP, Yelick PC. Tissue-engineered hybrid tooth and bone. Tis Eng 2005;11(9-10):1599-610. Nakagawa K, Abukawa H, Shin MY, Terai H, Troulis MJ, Vacanti JP. Osteoclastogenesis on tissue-engineered bone. Tissue Eng 2004;10(1):93-100. Abukawa H, Sin M, Williams WB, Vacanti JP, Kaban LB, Troulis MJ. Reconstruction of mandibular defects with autologous tissue engineered bone. J Oral Maxillfac Surg 2004;62:601-606. Abukawa H, Terau H, Kaban LB, Hannouch D, Tevoda S, Vacanti J, Troulis MJ. Formation of ramus/condyle unit by tissue engineering. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2003;61(1)94-100. |
“The ability to engineer vital replacement bone from autologous cells offers one of the greatest promises to transform the patient experience in our specialty.” Contact Us: Skeletal Biology |