Skeletal Regeneration: application of nanotopography and biomaterials for skeletal stem cell based bone repair

The application of selected skeletal progenitor cells and appropriate biomimetic microenvironments and nanotopographical surfaces offer the potential for innovative approaches to bone disease treatment and bone regeneration. Skeletal stem cells, commonly referred to as mesenchymal stem cells or human bone marrow stromal stem cells are multipotent progenitor cells with the ability to generate the stromal lineages of bone, cartilage, muscle, tendon, ligament and fat. This review will examine i) the application of innovative nanotopography surfaces that provide cues for human stem cell differentiation in the absence of chemical cues, ii) unique biomimetic microenvironments for skeletal tissue repair as well as iii) data from translational studies from the laboratory through to the clinic demonstrating the potential of skeletal cell based repair using impaction bone grafting as an exemplar. The development of protocols, tools and above all multidisciplinary approaches that integrate biomimetic materials, nanotopography, angiogenic, cell and clinical techniques for skeletal tissue regeneration for de novo tissue formation offers an opportunity to improve the quality of life of many.