ABSTRACT
In reconstructive surgery, repair and regeneration of large bone defects is a major challenge. The use of autologous bone is still the gold standard, although concomitant problems as donor site morbidity and limited supply have resulted in worldwide endeavors for the development of bone graft substitutes. Each potential substitute, including tissue engineering approaches with delivery of osteogenic cells or osteoinductive macromolecules, or both is based on an appropriate scaffold biomaterial that is biocompatible, allows bone ingrowth and shows subsequent degradation of the material. In view of this, a biomaterial used for tissue replacement shows by preference a resemblance with the inorganic or organic components of the tissue, or both, to be substituted.
