Bone Morphogenetic Proteins in Fracture Healing
Summary
Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are members of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily with potent osteoinductive properties. They orchestrate the repair process by recruiting mesenchymal progenitor cells, promoting chondrogenic and osteoblastic differentiation and regulating angiogenesis within the fracture callus. Endogenous BMP expression rises at sites of injury, driving the phases of inflammation, soft callus formation, hard callus mineralisation and eventual remodelling. Recombinant human BMPs, notably BMP-2 and BMP-7, have been incorporated into biomaterial carriers to augment healing in cases of delayed union and non-union, providing alternatives to autologous bone grafts. Key challenges include optimising carrier design for sustained release, balancing dose efficacy with safety and minimising ectopic bone formation. Emerging strategies integrating controlled‐release scaffolds, combinatorial signalling and cell-based delivery aim to refine clinical outcomes and broaden applications in complex fractures.
Research from Nature Portfolio
No recent Nature Portfolio content available.
Bone Morphogenetic Proteins in Fracture Healing publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in bone morphogenetic proteins in fracture healing across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP): Osteoinductive growth factor that directs progenitor cells to form bone tissue.
Non-union: A fracture that fails to heal within the expected time frame, necessitating further intervention.
Osteoinduction: The process by which growth factors stimulate undifferentiated cells to develop into bone-forming cells.
Carrier (scaffold): A biomaterial matrix used to deliver BMPs and support cell infiltration, vascularisation and tissue regeneration.
Recombinant human BMP-2 (rhBMP-2): Laboratory-produced BMP-2 employed clinically to enhance and accelerate bone repair.
References
- Bone morphogenetic proteins in fracture repair. International Orthopaedics (2018).
- Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 Promotes Bone Formation in Bone Defects in Which Bone Remodeling Is Suppressed by Long-Term and High-Dose Zoledronic Acid. Bioengineering (2023).
- Application of BMP in Bone Tissue Engineering. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology (2022).
- Effect of Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 in the Treatment of Long Bone Non-Unions. Journal of Clinical Medicine (2021).
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.