Optimisation des matériaux hybrides à base de cellules souches pour la réparation de grands défauts osseux

The limitations imposed to both autogenous and allogenous bone grafts led to the development of new strategies for the treatment of large bone defects. The approach of bone tissue engineering aims to restore damaged bone tissue by combining osteocompetent cells such as mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC), and material scaffolds like ceramics. However, the therapeutic effectiveness of cell constructs has not yet met that of autologous bone grafts, in part due to the high death rate of cells (loaded onto the material scaffold) upon their implantation into the injured site. In order to improve the therapeutic functionality of these cell constructs, different strategies can be implemented. In this context, the Glassbone project aimed to optimize the conditions for preparation of tissue engineered products by approaching three aspects: identification of optimal ceramic scaffold relevant to bone formation; survival of implanted cells post-implantation, and finally cell preconditioning to promote cell viability in vivo. Such project will pave the way for the development of new “pro-survival” tissue engineered materials for optimal tissue regeneration.