SUSTAINED-RELEASE EMPHASIZING RECOMBINANT HUMAN BONE MORPHOGENETIC PROTEIN-2

Bone homeostasis is a dynamic process involving a myriad of cells and substrates modulated by regulatory signals such as hormones, growth an d differentiating factors. When this environment is damaged, the regen erative sequalae follows a programmed pattern, and the capacity for su ccessful recovery is often dependent on the extent of the injury. Many bony deficits that are excessively traumatic will not result in compl ete recovery and require therapeutic intervention(s) such as autograft ing or grafting from banked bone. However, for numerous reasons, an un acceptably high rate of failure is associated with these conventional therapies. Thus, alternative approaches are under investigation. A cla ss of osteogenic regulatory molecules, the bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), have been isolated, cloned and characterized as potent supple ments to augment bone regeneration. Optimizing a therapeutic applicati on for BMPs may be dependent upon localized sustained release which in kind relies on a safe and well characterized carrier system. This rev iew will discuss the current status of BMPs in bone regeneration and s pecifically will present the potential for a clinical therapeutic role of recombinant human BMP-2 sustained release carrier systems. (C) 199 8 Elsevier Science B.V.