Advances in skeletal tissue engineering with hydrogels.

OBJECTIVES Tissue engineering has the potential to make a significant impact on improving tissue repair in the craniofacial system. The general strategy for tissue engineering includes seeding cells on a biomaterial scaffold. The number of scaffold and cell choices for tissue engineering systems is continually increasing and will be reviewed. DESIGN Multilayered hydrogel systems were developed to coculture different cell types and develop osteochondral tissues for applications including the temporomandibular joint. EXPERIMENTAL VARIABLE Hydrogels are one form of scaffold that can be applied to cartilage and bone repair using fully differentiated cells, adult and embryonic stem cells. OUTCOME MEASURE Case studies represent an overview of our laboratory's investigations. RESULTS Bilayered scaffolds to promote tissue development and the formation of more complex osteochondral tissues were developed and proved to be effective. CONCLUSION Tissue engineering provides a venue to investigate tissue development of mutant or diseased cells and potential therapeutics.