ABSTRACT
Growth factors play an important role in both physiological and therapeutic tissue regeneration. In this review we will focus on skeletal regeneration and give a special emphasis to the delivery of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). Although it is now possible to generate large amounts of recombinant human (rh) BMPs for clinical use, we will argue that the major challenge remains the development of optimal local delivery systems for these proteins. In fact, BMP efficacy is highly dependent upon the carrier that acts both as a drug delivery system and a substratum for osteoprogenitor attachment, proliferation and dif ferentiation. In this review, we will give the rationale for designing an effective BMP carrier and will review the carriers currendy used to locally deliver BMPs.
