ABSTRACT
@#Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) are two important signaling molecules for natural bone repair that are widely applied in the field of bone tissue engineering. BMP-2 accelerates the maturation and mineralization of osteoblasts, and bFGF exhibits significant effects on the promotion of cell division and angiogenesis. The osteogenesis mechanism of BMP-2 differs from that of bFGF, leading to a potentially complementary role between the two proteins. The use of a suitable dose of bFGF in combination with BMP-2 in bone tissue engineering synergistically promotes the formation of new bone and exhibits a better repair effect than either single growth factor. However, the suitable dose range of BMP-2 and bFGF in combination should be further clarified. The mechanism of the synergism and antagonism between BMP-2 and bFGF must be further delineated, and a drug delivery system that better simulates the growth factor release pattern during natural bone repair remains to be designed.