Decellularized tissue-derived scaffolds in bone tissue engineering

Abstract

Bone tissue engineering has received significant attention due to its enormous potential in ‎treating critical-sized bone defects and related diseases. The shortage of suitable autograft and ‎allograft materials for augmenting bone healing has accelerated research in developing clinically ‎viable tissue engineered bone constructs. Optimal scaffold for bone tissue engineering should be ‎osteoconductive, osteoinductive, biodegradable, sterilizable, provide adequate mechanical ‎support bioactivity and biocompatible, hence traditional materials such as polymers, polymer-‎composites, ceramics and metals have been widely researched as scaffolds, however clinical ‎applications have been limited due to different limitations. A three-dimensional scaffold that is ‎able to replicate the in vivo microenvironment is essential for bone tissue engineering and the use ‎of decellularized scaffolds is an approach that is generating interest especially the role of ‎cellulose from plant source. This review discusses the anatomy of bone with a focus on bone ‎physiology, bone defects and existing treatments, bone tissue engineering and then summarizes ‎the status of the use of decellularized plant and animal tissues, different types of decellularization ‎processes and clinical challenges.‎