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Review Papers in Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
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Review Papers in Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

A special issue of Journal of Functional Biomaterials (ISSN 2079-4983).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 13709

Editors

Dr. Joana Silva-Correia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
3B's Research Group‐Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University of Minho, Barco, 4805‐017 Guimarães, Portugal
Interests: hydrogels; tissue engineering; regenerative medicine; bioprinting; angiogenesis; intervertebral disc; meniscus; personalized medicine; in vitro models
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Vassilios Sikavitsas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Chemical Biological and Materials Engineering, The University of Oklahoma, 100 E Boyd Str SEC T301, Norman, OK 73019, USA
Interests: biomedical materials; orthopedic tissue engineering; biocompatibility; mechanostimulation; bioreactors; adult stem cells; in vitro cancer models

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biomaterials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine represent a groundbreaking field poised to revolutionize healthcare by enabling the restoration and replacement of damaged tissues and organs. This multidisciplinary field integrates principles from biology, materials science, and engineering to develop biocompatible materials that support cellular activities, promote tissue regeneration, and restore biological functions. Key advancements in biomaterial design include the development of biodegradable polymers, bioactive ceramics, and composite materials that mimic the extracellular matrix, providing structural support and biochemical cues which are essential for cell proliferation, differentiation, and tissue integration. Innovations such as 3D printing and nanotechnology further enhance the precision and functionality of biomaterials, enabling the fabrication of complex tissue constructs with tailored properties. Despite significant progress, challenges remain in achieving long-term biocompatibility, preventing immune rejection, and ensuring the scalability of biomaterial production. Future research is focused on creating smart biomaterials with responsive properties, integrating stem cell technology, and developing personalized medicine approaches to optimize tissue repair and regeneration. The continuous evolution of biomaterials holds promise for addressing critical medical needs and improving patient outcomes in a wide array of clinical applications.

This Special Issue aims to collect high-quality review papers focusing on the latest developments in biomaterials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Full-length comprehensive reviews will be preferred.

Dr. Joana Silva-Correia
Prof. Dr. Vassilios Sikavitsas
Guest Editors

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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Functional Biomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2700 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
  • tissue engineering
  • regenerative medicine
  • bone regeneration
  • soft tissue regeneration
  • wound healing
  • scaffolds
  • biofabrication
  • bioprinting

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Review

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42 pages, 11753 KB  
Review
Integrating Additive and Traditional Manufacturing for Multiscale Bone Tissue Engineering Scaffolds
by Yixuan Zhu, Haotian Gao, Qingchen Qiao, Yafei Yuan, Dongyu Fang, Yuxing Bai and Qingsong Jiang
J. Funct. Biomater. 2025, 16(9), 349; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb16090349 - 16 Sep 2025
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3326
Abstract
Additive manufacturing (AM) has emerged as a cutting-edge technology for fabricating biomimetic scaffolds with controllable architectures and compositional diversity, showing great promise in the fields of bone tissue engineering (BTE) and regenerative medicine. However, due to limitations in printing resolution and single-process capabilities, [...] Read more.
Additive manufacturing (AM) has emerged as a cutting-edge technology for fabricating biomimetic scaffolds with controllable architectures and compositional diversity, showing great promise in the fields of bone tissue engineering (BTE) and regenerative medicine. However, due to limitations in printing resolution and single-process capabilities, AM alone struggles to replicate the complex multiscale hierarchical structures inherent in native bone. Traditional fabrication techniques provide valuable complementary strategies to address these limitations. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in the construction of heterogeneous scaffolds from a multiscale design perspective, encompassing macro-, meso-, and microscale approaches. Emphasis is placed on the integration of major AM techniques—such as extrusion-based and light-based printing—with conventional methods including freeze-drying, gas foaming, and electrospinning. Particular attention is given to emerging in situ fabrication strategies, such as in situ foaming and mineralization, which enable spatially resolved and functionally graded architectures. Furthermore, this review explores pathways for constructing multiscale-integrated scaffolds and examines the current challenges and opportunities in clinical translation. Collectively, this work provides a comprehensive framework to guide the development of next-generation bone tissue scaffolds with enhanced biological performance and translational potential. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Review Papers in Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine)
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28 pages, 5311 KB  
Review
Modified Polysaccharides: Potential Biomaterials for Bioprinting
by Tao Jiang, Yun Yang, Zening Lin, Yang Hong and Zirong Luo
J. Funct. Biomater. 2025, 16(9), 338; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb16090338 - 9 Sep 2025
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2599
Abstract
Polysaccharides have emerged as promising biomaterials for 3D bioprinting due to their inherent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and structural diversity. However, their limited mechanical strength, insufficient bioactivity, and suboptimal printability hinder their direct application in fabricating complex tissue constructs. This review systematically summarizes universal modification [...] Read more.
Polysaccharides have emerged as promising biomaterials for 3D bioprinting due to their inherent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and structural diversity. However, their limited mechanical strength, insufficient bioactivity, and suboptimal printability hinder their direct application in fabricating complex tissue constructs. This review systematically summarizes universal modification strategies to address these challenges by tailoring polysaccharides’ physicochemical and biological properties. We first analyse the fundamental requirements of bioprinting materials, emphasising on the critical role of shear-thinning behaviours, post-printing structural fidelity, and cell-instructive functions. Subsequently, we highlight the advantages and limitations of representative polysaccharides, including chitosan, alginate, and hyaluronic acid. Chemical functionalisation, physical reinforcement, and biological hybridisation are proposed as versatile approaches to synergistically enhance printability, mechanical robustness, and bioactivity to tackle the limitations. Furthermore, dynamic crosslinking mechanisms enabling self-healing and stimuli-responsive behaviours are discussed as emerging solutions for constructing biomimetic architectures. Finally, we outline future directions in balancing material processability with cellular viability and scaling up modified polysaccharides for clinical translation. This review aims to provide a design blueprint for engineering polysaccharide-based bioinks toward next-generation regenerative medicine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Review Papers in Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine)
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14 pages, 1860 KB  
Review
Optimizing Flexor Digitorum Profundus Tendon Repair: A Narrative Review
by Rishith R. Mereddy, Emily E. Zona, Camille J. LaLiberte and Aaron M. Dingle
J. Funct. Biomater. 2025, 16(3), 97; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb16030097 - 11 Mar 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 5340
Abstract
Zone II flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendon injuries are complex, and present significant challenges in hand surgery, due to the need to balance strength and flexibility during repair. Traditional suture techniques often lead to complications such as adhesions or tendon rupture, prompting the [...] Read more.
Zone II flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendon injuries are complex, and present significant challenges in hand surgery, due to the need to balance strength and flexibility during repair. Traditional suture techniques often lead to complications such as adhesions or tendon rupture, prompting the exploration of novel strategies to improve outcomes. This review investigates the use of flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) tendon autografts to reinforce FDP repairs, alongside the integration of biomaterials to enhance mechanical strength without sacrificing FDS tissue. Key biomaterials, including collagen–polycaprolactone (PCL) composites, are evaluated for their biocompatibility, mechanical integrity, and controlled degradation properties. Collagen-PCL emerges as a leading candidate, offering the potential to reduce adhesions and promote tendon healing. Although nanomaterials such as nanofibers and nanoparticles show promise in preventing adhesions and supporting cellular proliferation, their application remains limited by manufacturing challenges. By combining advanced repair techniques with biomaterials like collagen-PCL, this approach aims to improve surgical outcomes and minimize complications. Future research will focus on validating these findings in biological models, assessing tendon healing through imaging, and comparing the cost-effectiveness of biomaterial-enhanced repairs with traditional methods. This review underscores the potential for biomaterial-based approaches to transform FDP tendon repair. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Review Papers in Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine)
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Other

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24 pages, 7974 KB  
Systematic Review
Scaffold-Based Biomaterials for Periodontal Regeneration in Periodontitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Felicia Gabriela Beresescu, Simona Mucenic, Adriana Monea, Andrea Bors and Liana Beresescu
J. Funct. Biomater. 2026, 17(6), 286; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb17060286 - 8 Jun 2026
Viewed by 811
Abstract
Background: Periodontitis is characterized by loss of the periodontal ligament, cementum, and alveolar bone. Scaffold-based biomaterials are intended to provide a three-dimensional framework for periodontal wound stabilization and tissue regeneration, but their incremental clinical benefit over conventional regenerative therapy remains uncertain. This systematic [...] Read more.
Background: Periodontitis is characterized by loss of the periodontal ligament, cementum, and alveolar bone. Scaffold-based biomaterials are intended to provide a three-dimensional framework for periodontal wound stabilization and tissue regeneration, but their incremental clinical benefit over conventional regenerative therapy remains uncertain. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated scaffold-based periodontal regenerative procedures for probing depth (PD) reduction, clinical attachment level (CAL) gain, and radiographic defect fill compared with conventional treatment. Methods: Original randomized controlled trials published from January 2020 to 1 March 2026 were searched in MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase, CENTRAL, and Web of Science, screened in Rayyan, and meta-analyzed in RevMan v5.4. Certainty was evaluated using GRADE. Results: Thirty-one studies were included. Scaffold-based interventions produced statistically significant but clinically modest PD reductions at 6 months (MD = −0.27 mm; 95% CI: −0.43 to −0.10; p = 0.001; I2 = 34%) and 12 months (MD = −0.21 mm; 95% CI: −0.41 to −0.01; p = 0.04; I2 = 22%), but not at 24 months. The overall PD effect was small (MD = −0.26 mm; p < 0.0001). CAL gain was not significant at 6 or 12 months but was significant at 24 months (MD = 1.00 mm; p < 0.0001; I2 = 0%). Defect fill improved at 12 months (MD = 0.51 mm; p = 0.02) but not at 6 months. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses did not identify significant effects of scaffold type or PRF/PRP enrichment (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Scaffold-based biomaterials may provide limited, time-dependent clinical and radiographic benefits as adjuncts to conventional periodontal regenerative therapy. The evidence remains constrained by heterogeneous interventions, modest effect sizes, low-to-very-low certainty for several outcomes, and a paucity of histologic confirmation of true periodontal regeneration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Review Papers in Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine)
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