Carrier systems for bone morphogenetic proteins: An overview of biomaterials used for dentoalveolar and maxillofacial bone regeneration

Different types of biomaterials have been used to fabricate carriers to deliver bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) in both dentoalveolar and maxillofacial bone regeneration procedures. Despite that absorbable collagen sponge (ACS) is considered the gold standard for BMP delivery, there is still some concerns regarding its use mainly due to its poor mechanical properties. To overcome this, novel systems are being developed, however, due to the wide variety of biomaterial combination, the heterogeneous assessment of newly formed tissue, and the intended clinical applications, there is still no consensus regarding which is more efficient in a particular clinical scenario. The combination of two or more biomaterials in different topological configurations has allowed specific controlled-release patterns for BMPs, improving their biological and mechanical properties compared with classical single-material carriers. However, more basic research is needed. Since the BMPs can be used in multiple clinical scenarios having different biological and mechanical needs, novel carriers should be developed in a context-specific manner. Thus, the purpose of this review is to gather current knowledge about biomaterials used to fabricate delivery systems for BMPs in both dentoalveolar and maxillofacial contexts. Aspects related with the biological, physical and mechanical characteristics of each biomaterial are also presented and discussed.