Analysis of Spontaneous and Induced Osteogenic Differentiation in 3D-micromasses of Human Multipotent Stem Cells.

Background/aim: Craniofacial reconstruction of extensive bone defects causes high morbidity to patients. Contemporary reconstructive surgery aims at restoring lost bone with either autogenous bone or substitutes. Multipotent unrestricted somatic stem cells (USSC) show a potential for osteoblast differentiation and are increasingly used in tissue engineering.