Nanotechnology for Regenerative Medicine

Dear Colleagues,

The journey of regenerative medicine began with the landmark bone marrow transplant in 1968, followed by the realization of cultured artificial skin grafts in 1981, establishing a new medical paradigm for tissue restoration. Subsequent breakthroughs in cell biology—ranging from the discovery of tissue stem cells to the establishment of human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)—have opened endless possibilities for treating severe diseases and organ failures.

However, translating these cells into clinical therapies requires more than simple transplantation. In vivo, cells are governed by a complex nanoscale microenvironment, or niche, shaped by the extracellular matrix (ECM). Since the 2000s, the rapid convergence of biotechnology and materials science has driven dramatic advancements in the synthesis, functional control, and fabrication of materials from the micro- to the nanoscale. Nanotechnology now empowers researchers to mimic and manipulate these microenvironments at the molecular level, transforming regenerative medicine from cellular transplantation into high-precision tissue engineering.

This Special Issue focuses on the latest paradigm shifts driven by the integration of nanotechnology, regenerative medicine, and clinical practice. We invite high-quality original research and review articles spanning from fundamental nanomaterial development to translational research and safety evaluations.

Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Biomimetic nano-scaffolds: ECM-mimicking nanofibers/hydrogels and nanotopographical control for stem cell differentiation.
• Smart nanomaterials and nanoengineering: Stimuli-responsive materials reacting to local signals (pH, temperature).
• Advanced nano-DDS: targeted delivery and spatiotemporal release of growth factors, nucleic acids, and exosomes for tissue regeneration.
• Organ-on-a-chip and microfluidics: Disease modeling and drug screening using microfluidic platforms to replicate vascular networks.
• Spheroids, organoids and 3D bioprinting: development of nanoparticle-enhanced bioinks for high-resolution tissue fabrication.
• Nanotoxicology: medical assessment of biocompatibility, degradation kinetics, and long-term safety of transplanted nanomaterials.
• Decellularized Tissues and Biomaterials: clinical applications of decellularized matrices in regenerative and transplantation medicine.
• Theranostic nanoplatforms and smart implants: next-generation biomaterials embedded with wireless nanosensors and imaging agents for real-time, non-invasive monitoring of tissue regeneration progress and microenvironmental changes (pH, oxygenation).
• AI-driven nanomaterial design: Utilization of machine learning and computational modeling for the predictive synthesis, structural optimization, and high-throughput screening of regenerative nanomaterials.

Dr. Yoshitaka Miyamoto
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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nanomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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.

• biomimetic nanomaterials
• smart nanomaterials and nanoengineering
• organ-on-a-chip and microfluidics
• nano-DDS
• spheroids, organoids and 3D bioprinting
• decellularized tissues and biomaterials
• nanotoxicology
• theranostic nanoplatforms
• smart implants
• AI-driven nanomaterials