Bone Morphogenetic Protein Applications in Tissue Engineering and Regeneration

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are a family of growth factors within the TGF-β superfamily that play a pivotal role in bone development, repair and regeneration. Their intrinsic osteoinductive capacity—namely the ability to recruit progenitor cells and direct their differentiation towards osteoblasts—has underpinned a broad spectrum of tissue-engineering strategies. In recent years, emphasis has fallen on optimising delivery systems to control BMP bioavailability, to minimise supraphysiological dosing and to overcome the limitations imposed by rapid protein degradation or antagonist binding. Common approaches include the design of biodegradable polymeric scaffolds and coatings, polyelectrolyte films or nanoparticle carriers that permit sustained, localised release. These platforms not only enhance the osteogenic potency of BMPs but also support vascular ingrowth and mechanical integration. Advances in material science—such as additive manufacturing of porous constructs, surface functionalisation with glycosaminoglycans or heparin derivatives, and ultralow-dose growth factor presentation—are converging with stem cell biology to create hybrid grafts capable of orchestrating bone repair in critical-sized defects. As translational models extend from rodent calvarial defects to large-animal studies and veterinary clinical cases, BMP-based interventions continue to mature towards routine application in orthopaedic and craniofacial surgery, spinal fusion and the management of non-union fractures.

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Bone Morphogenetic Protein Applications in Tissue Engineering and Regeneration publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in bone morphogenetic protein applications in tissue engineering and regeneration across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP): A osteoinductive growth factor that stimulates precursor cells to differentiate into bone-forming osteoblasts.

Scaffold: A three-dimensional biomaterial framework that supports cell attachment, proliferation and tissue formation.

Osteoinduction: The process by which bioactive signals recruit progenitor cells and induce their differentiation into bone-forming cells.

Osteoconduction: The facilitation of new bone growth along a surface or within a porous structure.

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC): A multipotent progenitor cell capable of differentiating into osteoblasts, chondrocytes and adipocytes.

Angiogenesis: The formation of new blood vessels, essential for nutrient delivery and integration of engineered bone tissue.

Ectopic bone formation: Bone growth induced at non-skeletal sites, often used as an assay for osteoinductive potential.

References

1. Surface delivery of tunable doses of BMP-2 from an adaptable polymeric scaffold induces volumetric bone regeneration. Biomaterials (2016).
2. Biodegradable Chitosan Nanoparticle Coatings on Titanium for the Delivery of BMP-2. Biomolecules (2015).
3. Nanoscale Coatings for Ultralow Dose BMP‐2‐Driven Regeneration of Critical‐Sized Bone Defects. Advanced Science (2018).