Tissue Engineering. Part B, Reviews最新文献

The main objective of this research is to systematically summarize the characteristics of keratin-based materials and their current applications in the tissue engineering field, with a particular emphasis on highlighting their unique advantages over other traditional protein-based materials (such as collagen and silk fibroin). An electronic literature search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus was conducted, identifying publications related to keratin-based materials and their application in tissue engineering. The majority of literature was published between 2015 and 2025. The structure of keratins, which is rich in disulfide bonds, gives it unique advantages in the field of tissue engineering, such as sustainability, versatility, and controllable degradability. Future research in this area could focus on improving the brittleness of keratin, developing more stable extracting sources, such as marine-derived sources, and conducting long-term clinical trials.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease with limited treatment options. Nanomaterials have become attractive options for OA disease modification, regenerative healing, and medication administration. This study used bibliometric and knowledge mapping techniques to systematically assess the global OA-nanomaterials research landscape. Publications from 2010 to 2024 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection and analyzed with CiteSpace and VOSviewer. Global publication trends, country and institutional contributions, author productivity, core journals, cocited references, and keyword co-occurrence patterns were assessed. Citation bursts and dual-map overlays were further applied to explore research frontiers and interdisciplinary knowledge flow. A total of 264 publications were identified. China and the United States dominated in output and international collaboration, though South Korea showed higher citation impact. Three major knowledge clusters were identified: (A) clinical pharmacology and drug delivery, (B) OA pathogenesis and management, and (C) nanomaterials and regenerative medicine. Recent hotspots have shifted toward extracellular vesicles, mesenchymal stem cells, and gene-targeted therapies such as long noncoding RNAs (e.g., SNHG7). Citation burst analysis revealed three evolutionary stages: early drug delivery exploration, material innovations, and current precision and intelligent therapies. Research on nanomaterials in OA is rapidly expanding, with increasing interdisciplinary integration. Future breakthroughs are expected at the clinical translation frontier, where nanotechnology must bridge gaps with standardized evaluation models and patient-centered outcomes.

Corneal blindness has been a significant, in most cases, reversible cause of visual impairment worldwide due to donor deficiency and donor graft failure, which has encouraged the consideration of donor-independent techniques for regeneration. This review aims to discuss the advances in corneal organoid-based tissue engineering and its potential application in the translation to vision restoration. This review was conducted through an analysis of publications related to corneal organoids, biomaterials, bioprinting, preclinical models, and early human studies, published between 2005-2025 in Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed, and WHO. In vitro corneal organoids from iPSCs and ESCs have a multilayered epithelium, stroma-like extracellular matrix, and intermittent endothelial phenotypes. In animal models and in vitro, they show lineage, light transmittance, and functional analysis indicators. Printing and microfabrication work with dECM gelMA bioinks. Despite batch variation, graft-scale production, endothelial pumps, and relevant aspects of translation, such as GMP-grade production, repeatability, biosafety certification, etc. It exhibited close to physiological transparency and biomechanics in quantifying with the original cornea, and demonstrates translational potential. The use of induced pluripotent stem cells and bioengineered corneal constructs has shown good first-in-human and preclinical trials. In conclusion, it is possible to say that the corneal organoid procedures are the potential solution to lessening reliance on donors and making therapeutic modalities as personalized as possible, but they demand standardized methodologies, GMP-level upscaling, solid safety data, and clinical trials before they can be adopted widely. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the progress in iPSC-derived corneal organoids, bio printing, and the development of biomaterials, and presents their respective advancements on their way to translation into the clinical setting in the field of corneal engineering and donor-independent restoration of vision.

Atherosclerosis is the most recognized pathological basis of cardiovascular disease, and the rupture of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque is one of the most important factors leading to the end-stage event, myocardial infarction. Nanomedicine has emerged as a stratedgy to improve the diagnositic and therapeutic efficacy. The microenvironment has attracted great interest as the target of an intelligent drug delivery system to alter the pathological process. This review summarizes microenvironment-targeted nanomedicine for diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis. The pathological processes share similar characteristics of microenvironment, including high endogenous reactive oxygen species levels, acidic pH values, and high enzyme activity. Target cell population may include endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, macrophages, and foam cells. Lesion neovascularization also represents a potent target. Nanomaterials have been applied in fluorescence imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography imaging, and multimodal imaging for detecting atherosclerosis. The nanomaterial-based treatment approaches of atherosclerosis include microRNA-based therapy, photodynamic therapy, anti-inflammatory therapy, antioxidant therapy, and immunotherapy. Although nanomedicine expanded a promising avenue for more detailed diagnosis procedure and efficient treatment of atherosclerosis, the biosafety concerns still remain awaiting further investigation. The clinical application of microenvironment-targeted nanomedicine in atherosclerosis still represents a challenge.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as a promising therapeutic tool in stem cell-based therapy due to their immunomodulatory or regenerative characteristics. Nowadays, controlled application of nonpathogenic bacterial cells and their derivatives has shown promise in preconditioning and manipulating MSC behavior. This approach is being explored in various fields, including immunotherapy, tissue engineering, and cell therapy. However, recent discoveries have elucidated the complex interactions between MSCs and microorganisms, especially bacteria and viruses, raising concerns regarding the utility of MSCs in clinical applications. In this review, we discussed the interactions between MSCs and microorganisms and highlighted both positive and negative aspects. We also examined the use of bacterial-derived compounds in MSCs-mediated interventions. The balanced colonization of the microbiome in organs, such as the oral cavity, not only does not hinder therapeutic interventions but also could be crucial for achieving desirable outcomes. On the contrary, disturbances in the microbiome have been found to disturb the biological potential of MSCs, such as migration, osteogenic differentiation, and cell proliferation. Evidence also suggests that commensal bacteria, following certain interventions, can transition to a pathogenic state when interacting with MSCs, leading to acute inflammation. Indeed, the maintenance of homeostasis through various approaches, such as probiotic application, results in an optimal equilibrium during MSCs-based therapies. However, further investigation into this matter is imperative to identify efficacious interventions.

Severe skeletal muscle injuries involving substantial tissue loss can significantly impair muscle strength and functionality, reducing the quality of life for affected individuals. Such injuries, termed volumetric muscle loss, require extensive clinical intervention, as the body's innate healing mechanisms are insufficient to regenerate functional muscle. The current standard of care primarily involves autologous muscle tissue transfer, with some consideration of acellular synthetic constructs. However, both approaches have limited therapeutic efficacy, presenting challenges such as donor-site morbidity, infection risks, and suboptimal functional recovery. Over the past decade, skeletal muscle tissue engineering (SMTE) has emerged as a promising strategy for regenerating functional muscle through bioengineered constructs. Advanced biofabrication techniques, including bioprinting, have further enabled the development of synthetic constructs that closely mimic native muscle architecture. Given these advancements, a critical review of recent therapeutic strategies, their achievements, and limitations is necessary. This review examines the spectrum of bioengineered constructs developed from various biomaterials and evaluates their therapeutic potential. Special emphasis is placed on 3D bioprinting strategies and their role in creating physiologically relevant constructs for functional muscle restoration. In addition, the integration of machine learning in optimizing construct design, predicting cellular behavior, and enhancing tissue integration is discussed. The review indicates that despite significant progress in SMTE, key challenges remain, including replicating the complex structural organization of muscle tissue, minimizing fibrosis, and achieving vascularization and innervation to regenerate functional, strengthened muscle. Future research should address these barriers while prioritizing the development of translational, clinically relevant regenerative constructs. In addition, efforts should focus on advancing scalable, construct-based regenerative treatments that are readily available at the point of care and easily managed in surgical settings.

Autologous fat grafting is increasingly used in plastic, reconstructive, and esthetic surgery. Cryopreservation offers a promising solution for the long-term storage of adipose tissue, enabling multiple grafting sessions while minimizing patient discomfort associated with repeated liposuction for fat harvesting. This systematic review aims to analyze the current literature focusing on factors that influence the outcome of cryopreservation, including the use of cryoprotectants, the cooling and warming rate, the storage temperature, and the enrichment of cryopreserved fat grafts. A systematic search of the PubMed/MEDLINE database up to November 2024 was performed, including original preclinical and clinical studies written in English describing the cryopreservation of unprocessed or mechanically processed adipose tissue (macrofat, microfat, or nanofat). Eligible articles needed to describe the applied cryopreservation protocol, at least the storage temperature. Studies on cryopreservation of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), stromal vascular fraction, microvascular fragments, and other isolated components of adipose tissue were excluded. Data on cryoprotectants, cooling and warming rates, storage temperature, and eventual supplementation or enrichment of frozen fat were collected. Of the 679 records identified, 59 met the inclusion criteria. Adipose tissue cryopreservation at -80°C with a cryoprotectant, controlled slow cooling, and fast warming represented the most often applied protocol with encouraging outcomes in maintaining tissue survival and histological structure. Several studies indicated that the supplementation of frozen adipose tissue with ASCs improves tissue survival. Taken together, existing studies present diverse, and to some extent, conflicting results regarding cryopreservation protocols and their effects on adipose tissue viability. Hence, the ideal cryopreservation protocol for autologous fat remains to be established. Moreover, tailored protocols may be necessary for the cryopreservation of fat derivatives, such as nanofat.

Cartilage tissue engineering (CTE) has revolutionized the field of regenerative medicine, offering significant advancements in surgeries such as autologous chondrocyte transplantation. However, despite these advancements, infections associated with cartilage implants remain a persistent challenge, compromising the success of surgeries and patient recovery. To address these challenges, this review provides a comprehensive foundation for researchers interested in addressing infections in CTE. It begins by briefly outlining the major scaffolds currently used in CTE and distinguishing those with antimicrobial properties. Among the antimicrobial scaffolds identified, chitosan and chondroitin sulfate stand out for their promising compatibility and antibacterial properties. The review then explores additives that meet three essential criteria: compatibility with chondrocytes, suitability for use in CTE scaffolds, and antibacterial efficacy. Chitosan, zinc oxide, silver, and copper emerge as leading candidates due to their compatibility with chondrocytes and proven antibacterial capabilities. Importantly, the criteria used in this review were chosen to provide researchers with a practical and reliable starting point for immediate application. However, it is acknowledged that other promising antibacterial modifications such as fabrication processes and additives such as bioactive glass and graphene oxide, which may not fit these criteria, also hold potential for future research and innovation. This review underscores the need for further research and development to enhance infection control measures and improve patient outcomes.

Human decellularized adipose matrix (hDAM) has emerged as a promising, off-the-shelf option for soft tissue augmentation, providing a biocompatible scaffold that supports angiogenesis, adipogenesis, and volume retention with minimal immunogenicity. This systematic review synthesizes preclinical and clinical evidence on hDAM's regenerative potential, focusing on its capacity to integrate with host tissue and enhance volume retention. A comprehensive literature search was performed across multiple databases yielding 21 studies (14 preclinical, 6 clinical, and 1 combined) that met eligibility criteria. Risk of bias (RoB) was evaluated for animal and human studies using the Collaboration for the Assessment of Risks and Benefits of Anticancer Therapies (CAMARADES) and RoB In Nonrandomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tools, respectively. Key preclinical findings indicate that hDAM supports progressive angiogenesis and adipogenesis, with significant weekly increases in vessel formation and adipocyte development. Linear mixed models were used to quantify these rates, showing an increase of 0.366% per week (p < 0.001) in the percentage of CD31+ positive area, and a 3.88% rise in perilipin-positive area per week (p < 0.001), representing angiogenesis and adipogenesis, respectively. Variability in regeneration rates underscores the influence of different hDAM preparation methods, such as enzyme-free decellularization and ultrasonication, which have been shown to improve cell compatibility and volume retention. Clinical studies demonstrate that hDAM achieves notable volume retention and patient satisfaction, particularly in facial and body contouring applications, while also improving skin texture, tone, and functionality. Compared with traditional autologous fat transfer and synthetic fillers, hDAM offers advantages in integration, resorption rates, and low complication risks, without donor site morbidity. Limitations of current studies include variability in hDAM preparation techniques, inconsistent outcome measures, and a paucity of long-term follow-up data. This review establishes hDAM as a safe and effective scaffold for soft tissue regeneration and provides a quantitative analysis of its regenerative timeline. Standardizing preparation methods and outcome measures, coupled with more randomized clinical trials, will be essential for optimizing treatment protocols. Future directions include exploring patient-specific factors and combination therapies to enhance hDAM's applicability in reconstructive and aesthetic surgery.

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a glycoprotein hormone stimulating erythropoiesis. Over the last two decades, EPO has additionally gained attention as a therapeutic compound in plastic and reconstructive surgery. This is mainly due to its pleiotropic action profile, which promotes angiogenesis, suppresses apoptosis, and modulates inflammation, resulting in enhanced tissue regeneration. Accordingly, many studies have demonstrated the efficacy of EPO and its derivatives in the management of wound healing, flap surgery, peripheral nerve regeneration, fat grafting, and bone repair. However, for the broad clinical implementation of EPO as a therapeutic in these fields, several critical steps are yet to be taken. These include the development of standardized and safe treatment protocols and their evaluation in randomized multicenter clinical trials for the establishment of personalized, targeted therapies adapted to the specific needs of surgical patients. If this succeeds, EPO treatment may markedly improve the outcome of many different therapeutic approaches in regenerative medicine and reconstructive surgery.