Stem cells continue to receive widespread attention due to their potential to revolutionise treatments in the fields of both tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Adult stem cells, specifically mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) play a vital role in the natural events surrounding bone healing and osseointegration through being stimulated to differentiate along their osteogenic linage and in doing so, form new cortical and trabecular bone tissue. Understanding how to control, manipulate and enhance the intrinsic healing events modulated through osteogenic differentiation of MSCs by the use of modified surfaces and biomaterials, could potentially advance the fields of both orthopaedics and dentistry. This could be by either using surface modification to generate greater implant stability and more rapid healing following implantation, or the stimulation of MSCs ex-vivo for re-implantation. This review aims to gather publications targeted at promoting, enhancing and controlling the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs through biomaterials, nanotopographies and modified surfaces for use in implant procedures
