Themed collection Biomaterials Science Open Access Spotlight

This review highlights emerging strategies for lung-targeted mRNA delivery using non-viral vehicles, describing advances in bioinspired design and nanoparticle engineering.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) disrupts neural pathways, leading to sensory, motor, and autonomic dysfunctions, with no fully restorative therapies currently available.

This review revisits key properties of the extracellular matrix to be replicated in hydrogels for 3D cell culture and summarizes the interplay between hydrogel structural and mechanical properties, as well as their combined impact on cell function.

Lipid adjuvants act as a fundamental element in mRNA vaccine technology by performing as diverse functional parts: augmenting immune responses, assisting genetic payload delivery to target cells, and optimizing antigen presentation.

Extracellular matrix mimicking bilayer wound dressings, combining hydrogels and electrospun nanofibers, offer a biomimetic approach for moisture retention, antibacterial activity, and pro-healing features for enhanced skin regeneration.

This review presents a multifaceted overview of how the biomanufacturing context including culture vessels, media, engineered surfaces, and workflows impact monocyte-derived dendritic cells for clinical applications.

This figure illustrates the role of electrical signals in load-bearing soft tissues. Leveraging conductive or piezoelectric biomaterials, the application of tissue engineering techniques for damage repair is explored (created with BioRender).

(a) Two primary mechanisms for cross-presentation of internalized antigens: cytosolic and vacuolar pathways. (b) To enhance antigen presentation and generate T cell responses, glycans are multivalently presented on a range of nanocarrier systems.

The potential of nanomaterials and nanocarriers to improve melatonin’s neurotherapeutic efficacy and targeted central nervous system delivery is highlighted in this review, which examines the intersection of melatonin research and nanomedicine.

This review introduces magnetic-based tissue engineering (MagTE) as an integrative approach that combines cell manipulation, remote stimulation, and maturation to streamline biofabrication and advance clinically relevant tissue constructs.

Versatile graphene oxide nanomaterials enable tumor microenvironment (TME) modulation and TME-responsive drug delivery for combinative cancer therapy.

Optimizing the physicochemical properties of engineered bone implants enhances osseointegration and promotes bone regeneration by regulating the local immune responses.

This review discusses recent progress in inorganic nanomaterials that respond to ultrasound to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) for antimicrobial applications, with the aim of inspiring the design of future novel antimicrobial agents.

This review provides a comprehensive overview of the advancements in the use of polydopamine-based materials for colorimetric and fluorescence-based biosensing.

Cartilage tissue engineering combines biomaterials, cells, and bioactive factors to create stable, functional neotissue. Scaffold-biomolecule interactions can be tuned to optimize tissue regeneration.

This review summarizes naïve extracellular vesicles (EVs) in clinical trials for central nervous system (CNS) diseases and updates recent translational preclinical research on EV-loaded drugs or genes for CNS treatments.

Biomaterial-based strategies, including ECM coatings and functionalized polymers, enable efficient expansion of primary human corneal endothelial cells, addressing donor shortages and advancing cell therapy for corneal transplantation.

In this work, a polydopamine-coated, camptothecin nanotube functionalized with a targeting anti-TAG-72 scFv exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity against TAG-72 positive, LS-174T colon cancer cells, compared with HT-29 cells negative for the antigen.

The influence of a pre-adsorbed human plasma protein corona on the exocytosis of silica nanoparticles (SiNP) is reported. SiNPs with a pre-adsorbed protein corona are exocytosed rapidly depending also on the composition of the adsorbed proteins.

PolySTAT crosslinks fibrin to strengthen clots and improve force transmission, increasing the rate and magnitude of platelet-driven contraction and enhancing clot stability in human blood.

PLGA oxygen nanobubbles were formulated for retinal hypoxia reversal, and ocular safety was ascertained in a rabbit model, indicating promise as an adjuvant in the mitigation of ischemic retinal diseases.

Development and optimization of erythromycin-loaded nanoliposomes as a versatile delivery platform to treat infections with coexisting bacterial resistance and oxidative stress, especially at mucosal sites.

Proteins, lipids and metabolites are adsorbed on the bio-functional surface of microparticles. These components at the bio-interface determine innate immune cell reactions.

Microparticles are loaded with peptides in distinct configurations, which result in comparable immune cell activity and enable flexible CMC development.

Ultrasound-responsive IMDQ nano-prodrug (IMDQ-N₃ NPs) enables spatiotemporal activation, enhancing the selectivity and safety of IMDQ. Combined with US, IMDQ-N₃ NPs achieved 95.7% tumor suppression in mice.

An optical clearing, light sheet microscopy and analysis pipeline was created for decellularized ECM (dECM)-based in vitro models. Our approach quantifies cell invasion in colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM) models engineered with dECM.

Using MTY probe, intracellular temperature was monitored under multi-mode thermal stimulation (incubator, FCCP, NIR laser). Heating/laser increased astrocytic Ca²⁺ spiking likely via TRPV4-dependent Ca²⁺ influx and/or mitochondrial/ER Ca²⁺ release.

Multifunctional composite coatings combining antibiotics and growth factors for bone tissue regeneration.

Alveolospheres derived from AT2 cells in 3D hydrogels enabled the development of a vascularized alveoli-on-chip model, which was applied to study pulmonary responses to chemical exposure.

Mannosylated peptide nanofibers (Man-PA) integrated with the MUC1 TnThr mimetic Tn-MIM stimulate DCs’ maturation-differentiation, inducing lymphocyte, iNKT and NK cell recruitment and directing the immune response towards the Th1 phenotype.

Porcine skin-derived hydrogels were obtained with tunable gelation kinetics and rheological properties, influencing printability and cell proliferation and migration. Created in BioRender. Persson, C. (2025) https://BioRender.com/qd39swt.

Without complex fluoro-chemistry, a nitric oxide donor was incorporated into a fluoropolymer using nanoemulsion infusion to develop an antibacterial and anti-fouling material. It exhibited bacterial and protein reduction and remained cytocompatible.

Flame-made calcium phosphate nanoparticles with varying crystallinity and carbonate content were incorporated into electrospun PLGA fibers for bone tissue engineering.

A new double network hydrogel made of pullulan, dextran and alginate was developed for guided tissue repair.

Copper nanoparticles, when properly combined with vitamin C, can synergistically enhance antibacterial activity against broad spectrum of bacteria through the increased generation of ROS in bacterial cells.

The lattice plate with an ultra-low attachment (ULA) surface of N-hexanoyl glycol chitosan (HGC) layer enables 3D co-culture of CD40L-expressing stromal cells and human B cells that replicates features of the secondary lymphoid organs in vitro.

A series of cationic polyaspartamides (PASP_nDA_m) with different side chain lengths (m) and degrees of polymerization (n) were synthesized to systematically investigate their antibacterial activity and biocompatibility.

Stainless steel 316L (316L SS) is frequently used in implants and medical devices because of its low cost, high mechanical strength, and adequate biocompatibility.

Upon delivery to CD44(+) endometriotic cells, Au@P_AbCD44 was internalised via clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Laser exposure of cells, based on LSPR properties, increased the temperature and promoted apoptotic over necrotic cell death.

Surface functionalization of rare-earth nanoparticles, an emergent class of optical probes attractive for deep-tissue biological imaging, with bybrid silica-lipid shells for T-cell labeling.

Here we developed a new drug for treatment of atherosclerosis. It can clear 1/3 area of the plaque area targeting the aortic arch within three weeks. It brings hope for the rapid treatment of atherosclerosis.

A screening platform to identify new kinases involved in stiffness-induced directional cell migration of PAH cells.

Schematic illustrating bioactive scaffold with tunable mechanical, electrical, and chemical cues to facilitate tissue repair after injury. PVDF-TrFE scaffolds were functionalized with dECM, electrospun and tested to examine cell and tissue reaction.

The designed ionophore, gramicidin-inspired protease-stabilized peptide-based proton transporter, exhibited strong anti-cancer efficacy against metastatic, radioresistant kidney cancer and potentiated immunotherapy.

The development of synthetic glycoarchitectures for targeted bacterial adhesion represents a promising strategy in anti-adhesion therapy.

Integration of interleukin-10 to mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular nanovesicles effectively enhances anti-inflammatory responses in both macrophages and DCs, ultimately accelerating the skin wound healing in vivo.

A rapid in situ-forming, mucoadhesive PEG hydrogel was developed, offering prolonged retention in the nasal cavity and potentially other mucosal sites for drug delivery applications.

Light-assisted bioprinting of protein-derived hydrogels has been widely used for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Biomimetic double network hydrogels provide minimally invasive solution for treatment of cartilage defects.

An injectable peptide hydrogel was used for the sustained release of Erwinase®, an FDA-approved therapeutic enzyme against acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Cationic metallopolymers offer a promising strategy to combat multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria.

Cu-BTC mofs embedded, tannic acid loaded 3-D polymeric hydrogel composed of gellan gum, zein for deep wound healing.

This study utilizes a 3D bioprinted stromal model to obtain EVs that differ based on proximity to a tumor. A 3D tumor spheroid model displayed increased spheroid diameter after treatment with normal tumor adjacent fibroblast EVs.

This study developed a nitric oxide-releasing (NORel) hand sanitizer gel which demonstrated superior antimicrobial properties, achieving over 5-log reduction in bacteria, and maintained efficacy longer than commercial alcohol-based gels.

3D printed gelatin scaffolds incorporated with quarternary ammonium compounds are a promising effective and cytocompatible platform for root canal disinfection in regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs).

A microprinting approach is developed to fabricate uniform polymer microcages from microarray structures, enabling scalable production and tunable drug release through precise control over polymer composition.

Dry biomaterial scaffolds (Drydux) are a novel platform that enhances viral transduction ~10-fold while simplifying therapeutic cell production. Here, we systematically evaluate the biomaterial properties governing transduction enhancement.

Supramolecular hydrogels based on water-soluble quaternised chitosan/alginate polyelectrolyte complexes showed self-healing and injectable properties, a sustained release of bovine serum albumin, and enabled cell encapsulation at physiological pH.

A bioactive hyaluronic acid hydrogel is developed by conjugation of gelatin and antimicrobial peptides.

This study biofunctionalized silk grafts with domain V of human perlecan via linker-free plasma-based immobilization enhancing endothelial cell adhesion and angiogenesis while inhibiting smooth muscle proliferation—advancing vascular graft design.

Injectable hydrogels with self-healing properties, tissue adhesion, biocompatibility, and cancer therapeutic capabilities offer a promising solution for addressing bone loss and residual tumor cells following surgical resection of osteosarcoma.

Viscoelastic gels are functionalized with decellularized ECM microparticles for tissue regeneration. This approach would be a powerful method because functional scaffolds with sufficient mechanical and biological properties facilitate tissue regeneration.

This study reports decoupled control of mechanics and network connectivity in 3D, cell-laden hydrogels crosslinked with water soluble peptoids of various secondary structures.

We engineered SwellMA by combining gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) with sodium polyacrylate (SPA) to enable dynamic shape changes and enhanced performance in 4D bioprinting applications.

In osteoarthritic-like environments, cartilage formation was reduced and inflammatory response was higher, and including hyaluronic acid in hydrogels modulated this response.

An overview of the development of a vaccine for High-Grade Serous Carcinoma.

We demonstrated the implementation of a machine-learning-mediated approach to identify the secondary structures of proteins based on different spectral and structural descriptors.

Organ shortages for transplantation in the United States impact over 100 000 patients, with 17 dying daily due to the lack of available organs.

This study introduces a biocompatible, stimuli-responsive theranostic system with ultrasmall iron oxide nanoparticles (USPIONs) encapsulated within the hyaluronic acid-b-poly(lactic acid) (HA–PLA) polymersome membrane and a model protein in the core.

Identifying key physicochemical factors affecting SERS biosensing performance in 3D cell models using a library of thiol–ene photo-crosslinked plasmonic hydrogels.