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Future Pharmacology
Special Issues
Drugs, Growth Factors and Active Molecules for Tissue Engineering and...
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Drugs, Growth Factors and Active Molecules for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

A special issue of Future Pharmacology (ISSN 2673-9879).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 1045

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Natasha Maurmann

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Hematology and Stem Cell Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
2. Faculty of Pharmacy, Regional Integrated University of the Alto Uruguai and Missões (URI), Santo Ângelo, Brazil
Interests: biomaterials; nanotechnology; bioinks; pharmacy; tissue engineering; regenerative medicine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Tissue engineering strategies based on active compounds represent promising approaches to the regeneration of damaged or diseased tissues and organs. In this context, regenerative medicine holds immense potential for both the treatment of diseases and the improvement of quality of life. This Special Issue, titled “Drugs, Growth Factors and Active Molecules for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine”, is dedicated to examining the effects of drugs, growth factors, and bioactive molecules with the aim of optimizing progress in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

This collection aims to disseminate innovative research, methodologies, and advances at the interface of pharmaceuticals, biomaterials, and cells, with particular emphasis on cutting-edge aspects of drug-loaded carriers, bioactive scaffold formulations, and in vivo evaluations.

The convergence of pharmaceuticals and regenerative medicine offers significant potential to tackle complex healthcare challenges. With this initiative, we aim to foster transformative progress, establishing a foundation for innovative pharmaceutical strategies that enhance the regenerative potential of drugs.

Dr. Natasha Maurmann
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Future Pharmacology is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biomaterials
  • biomedical engineering
  • bioprinting
  • drug delivery
  • organ regeneration
  • regenerative medicine
  • scaffolds

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

29 pages, 10928 KB  
Review
A Narrative Review on Preclinical Small Molecules for Bone Regeneration: Mechanisms, Delivery Strategies, and Translational Gaps
by Abdurahman A. Niazy
Future Pharmacol. 2026, 6(2), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/futurepharmacol6020023 - 10 Apr 2026
Viewed by 505
Abstract
Treatment for large critical-sized bone defects and impaired fracture healing remain challenging. Clinically used protein-based osteoinductive factors, such as recombinant bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), can be effective; however, they are costly and limited by stability, dose-delivery issues, and safety concerns. Preclinical small molecules [...] Read more.
Treatment for large critical-sized bone defects and impaired fracture healing remain challenging. Clinically used protein-based osteoinductive factors, such as recombinant bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), can be effective; however, they are costly and limited by stability, dose-delivery issues, and safety concerns. Preclinical small molecules offer an alternative because they are chemically stable, scalable to manufacture, and readily integrated for systemic administration or localized release from scaffolds, hydrogels, cements, and implant coatings. With an emphasis on delivery formats and mechanistic themes, this review examines small molecules that have been shown to improve bone regeneration in preclinical models, contrasting those of biological origin with synthetic and repurposed compounds. Across studies, these selected compounds promote osteoblast commitment, differentiation, and matrix mineralization via BMP/Smad signaling and Wnt/beta-catenin (β-catenin) activation, often through glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β) inhibition or relief of pathway antagonism or Hedgehog (Hh) pathway stimulation. Beyond osteoinduction, several candidates address issues that commonly limit repair, including angiogenesis, oxidative stress, inflammatory tone, osteoimmune regulation, and suppression of osteoclast-mediated resorption. Direct head-to-head comparisons are rare across both classes and reporting heterogeneity complicates interpretation. Key translational gaps include limited cytotoxicity and immunologic profiling, dose and release optimization, durability of benefit, and insufficient evaluation of rational combinations. More rigorous in vivo studies, including larger animal models and standardized outcome metrics, are needed to prioritize promising candidates and guide clinical development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Drugs, Growth Factors and Active Molecules for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine)
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