Bridging Mechanobiology and Engineering: Recent Advances in Nano-based Materials and Devices for Therapeutics and Tissue Regeneration

Abstract

Forces experienced or generated by cells have enormous molecular biological implications in determining cellular fate, from the changing expression of signaling moieties to altering cell differentiation fate. Therefore, mechanobiology- the study of how mechanical forces regulate cellular behavior- has emerged as a pivotal field for advancing tissue engineering and understanding disease progression. This review explores cutting-edge developments in mechano-active nanomaterials and systems, including ferrogels, nanofiber hydrogel composites, magneto-mechanical devices, and stretchable platforms, which enable harnessing the mechanical aspects of cellular microenvironments. Recent progress in developing in-vitro disease models and cardiac-, vascular-, and neural tissue engineering platforms has also been highlighted, where mechanical actuation and mechano-responsive scaffolds show promising outcomes. However, challenges persist in scalability, long-term stability of materials, and safety hurdles for clinical translation. This review has also discussed emerging trends, including multimodal stimulation technologies, and future perspectives, providing a holistic study of recent developments and trends in mechanobiological platforms for different biomedical applications.