Oncologic, Endocrine & Metabolic Overview: Recent advances in implants for bone growth promotion

Abstract

Devices intended for delivery of bone growth promoters should possess several properties. The device should have enough strength to hold the bone in place during the course of fixation, yet it should be biodegradable so that ultimately replacement by new bone will occur. This requires that the device has a certain level of porosity to allow for the ingrowth of new bone during the healing process. Many materials can be utilised for implants including naturally occurring materials (e.g., bone, fibrin, collagen) and synthetic materials (polymers, ceramics, metals). The appropriate material should be biocom-patible and not inhibit bone growth. Many approaches combining various active agents (e.g., bone morphogenic proteins, transforming growth factor, prostaglandins) with one of several synthetic or naturally occurring matrices have been examined. Several systems show promising initial results; however, the actual bone growth promoter release profiles required for efficacious treatment have not yet been established. In addition, the commercial viability of this type of device is highly dependent on the ability of the manufacturer to prepare the implants economically and reproducibly.