Recent Studies on Biomaterials for Tissue Repair and Regeneration

Dear Colleagues,

Ever since the inception of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, biomaterials have evolved from being bioinert materials devised for replacing structural body parts and essentially fulfilling the role of mere mechanical support to being third-generation materials with bioactivity and resorbability, also known as regenerative biomaterials. With cell-instructive abilities, these materials are tailored with biophysical and biochemical cues that can trigger biomaterial–host interactions and drive tissue regeneration from the innate healing ability of the body via the recruitment of cell populations of interest, the control of cell fate, the modulation of the cellular microenvironment, and the activation of specific signalling pathways at various levels, including gene expression regulation. Thus, they enable in situ tissue regeneration, contrary to ex vivo tissue engineering that combines scaffolds with cells and signalling molecules outside the body to achieve bioconstructs serving as functional implantable tissue replacements or simple cell delivery vehicles. Despite offering the advantage of mitigating the limitations of previous-generation biomaterials, notably the challenge of ex vivo cell manipulation and the failure of cell therapies due to diseased and suboptimal host extracellular matrices upon cell delivery, regenerative biomaterials have been confronted with various challenges, notably the knowledge gap in the understanding of cell–biomaterial interactions, and the failure of current manufacturing techniques to fine-tune material properties with precise spatiotemporal control and thus impart bioresponsiveness and cell modulation properties. Moreover, clinical translation has been delayed due to complex and demanding regulatory processes to ensure safety and performance in both the short and long term post-application. In fact, the different aspects requiring consideration include host tissue receptivity, effects on cell signalling and gene expression, and the fate of the degradation products. Hence, the development of instructive biomaterials has remained quite an active research area, with the aim of addressing the above limitations and achieving optimal in situ tissue regeneration. The current Special Issue aims at summarizing the latest advancements in this field.

Focus is given to the design and fabrication of innovative materials built to enhance tissue repair and regeneration. Contents span from the development, characterization, and application of biomaterials in regenerative medicine to studies on biomaterial interaction with biological systems. By providing a comprehensive overview of current research, the Special Issue aspires to highlight breakthroughs in the research field and identify challenges in the application of tissue-reparative biomaterials. By bringing together cutting-edge studies, we aim to promote innovation by fostering collaboration among researchers, clinicians, and industry professionals, who all contribute at different levels to the successful development of biomaterials. Overall, the objective here is not only to contribute to the academic discourse but also to propose practical solutions for clinical applications, improving patient outcomes in tissue repair and regeneration being the ultimate target.

All work on regenerative biomaterials at various scales of material development are welcome to this Special Issue. We invite contributions from researchers, industry professionals, and clinicians to help revolutionize the field of regenerative medicine. To all potential authors of this Special Issue, the JFB looks forward to receiving your submissions and working with you.

Dr. Lallepak Lamboni
Dr. Lin Xiao
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• biomaterials
• tissue repair
• tissue regeneration
• tissue engineering
• regenerative medicine
• host–material interactions
• new material development
• clinical applications
• advanced biomaterial manufacturing techniques
• in vivo biomaterial monitoring