The joint has a complex structure which makes it difficult to repair by using grafts from bones elsewhere in the body. Problems with the joint can be the result of birth defects, arthritis or injury. The bone which has been created using the adult stem cells is known as the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). It is hoped that this technique could be used to treat disorders so as to correct problems with other bones also.
The joint has a complex structure which makes it difficult to repair by using grafts from bones elsewhere in the body.
The latest study used human stem cells taken from bone marrow which were seeded into a tissue scaffold and formed into the precise shape of the human jaw bone by using digital images from a patient. The cells were then cultured using a specially-designed bioreactor which was able to infuse the growing tissue with the exact level of nutrients found during natural bone development.
The joint has a complex structure which makes it difficult to repair by using grafts from bones elsewhere in the body. The Columbia team is already working on a new method for engineering hybrid grafts including bone and cartilage.
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