Nanomaterials in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine: Recent Advances and Future Prospects
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Nanoscience".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 11
Special Issue Editor
Interests: nanomaterials; drug delivery; tissue engineering; biomaterial; mechanobiology; cancer theranostics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Nanomaterials have emerged as robust components in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine due to their ability to mimic the structural, mechanical, and biochemical features of native extracellular matrices (ECMs). Their nanoscale dimensions allow precise modulation of cell adhesion, proliferation, differentiation, and signaling, making them ideal candidates for engineering functional tissues and promoting the repair of damaged organs. Recent advances highlight diverse classes of nanomaterials, including nanoparticles, nanofibers, nanotubes, nanocomposites, and nanostructured hydrogels, tailored to support cellular processes. Electrospun nanofiber scaffolds, for example, provide high surface area and topographical cues that direct stem cell fate and enhance tissue regeneration. Carbon-based nanomaterials such as graphene and carbon nanotubes have been incorporated into scaffolds to improve electrical conductivity, which is particularly valuable for neural and cardiac tissue engineering. Inorganic nanomaterials, including bioactive ceramics and metallic nanoparticles, are increasingly used to reinforce mechanical strength and impart osteoinductive and antimicrobial properties, especially in bone regeneration. Nanostructured hydrogels and self-assembling peptide nanomaterials offer tunable porosity and bioactivity, enabling controlled delivery of growth factors, genes, and therapeutic agents at injury sites.
Despite these promising developments, several challenges remain before clinical translation can be achieved. Key concerns include long-term biocompatibility, potential cytotoxicity, immune responses, and the reproducibility of large-scale synthesis. Regulatory hurdles surrounding safety evaluation also slow clinical progress. Furthermore, the integration of nanomaterials into complex 3D-bioprinted constructs and organoid systems is still in an early stage, and better strategies are required to couple nanoscale cues with macroscale tissue organization. Looking forward, the convergence of nanotechnology with advanced fabrication techniques, such as 3D bioprinting, microfluidics, and organ-on-chip platforms, is expected to revolutionize the field. Smart nanomaterials capable of responding to physiological stimuli, releasing therapeutic factors in a spatiotemporally controlled manner, and integrating with host vasculature and immune systems will play a central role in next-generation therapies. By addressing current safety and translational barriers, nanomaterials hold the potential to transform regenerative medicine from experimental models to clinically viable solutions for repairing and replacing damaged tissues.
Dr. Kapil D. Patel
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- nanoparticles
- nanofibers
- nanotubes
- nanocomposites
- hydrogels
- ceramics
- bioactive glass nanoparticles
- tissue engineering
- regenerative medicine
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