Emerging strategies of bone and joint repair

The advances in biomedicine over the past decade have provided revolutionar y insights into molecules that mediate cell proliferation and differentiati on. Findings on the complex interplay of cells, growth factors, matrix mole cules and cell adhesion molecules in the process of tissue patterning have vitalized the revolutionary approach of bioregenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Here we review the impact of recent work in this interdiscipl inary field on the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. This novel conce pt combines the transplantation of pluripotent stem cells, and the use of s pecifically tailored biomaterials, arrays of bioactive molecules and gene t ransfer technologies to direct the regeneration of pathologically altered m usculoskeletal tissues.