The role of Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs) in bone tissue engineering: a mini review

Bone tissue engineering is an emerging biomedical form to create a local environment which enables cells to promote the proliferation and differentiation for bone regeneration inductions. An essential contribution to bone formation and regeneration is given by growth factors such as platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), transforming growth factor (TGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP), contribute. The BMPs have been the most widely investigated proteins for bone regeneration, as they are currently the most potent and only factors able to induce ectopic bone formation. The aim of this mini review is to provide some information and references about BMPs and their applications in tissue engineering.