Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine have shown significant potential for repairing and regenerating damaged tissues and can be used to provide personalized treatment plans, with broad application prospects. In this special issue, Bin Li’s team outlines the latest advances in minimally invasive implantable biomaterials for bone regeneration and different methods of achieving osteogenesis, with a focus on bioceramics and polymer materials and their applications in bone healing, vertebral augmentation, implant fixation, tumor treatment of bone, and treatment of infections related to bone defects. Xinquan Jiang’s team constructs a novel photo-responsive multifunctional polyetheretherketone (PEEK)-based implant material (sPEEK/BP/E7) through the self-assembly of black phosphorus (BP) nanoplatelets, bioinspired polydopamine (PDA), and the biologically active short peptide E7 on sPEEK. The material exhibits effective osteogenic effects and good sterilization performance, providing a new idea for clinical application.

In the field of biomaterials, this issue also introduces the current status of the application of artificial ligaments in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction from the perspectives of biocompatibility and bioactivity. Ling Qin’s team points out that ACL reconstruction (ACLR) surgery is the only way to restore the integrity of the ligament in complete rupture cases and summarizes attempts to improve the bioactivity of artificial ligaments, as such modifications may have good clinical translation potential and may improve the long-term effects of existing products. Ye Yang’s team investigates the active components of goji berry from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine and discovers miR162a for the first time, explaining from a mechanistic perspective how goji berry improves osteoporosis—a significant discovery that ushers in a new focus on small-molecule compounds in traditional Chinese medicine.

Advancements in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine can facilitate the effective realization of tissue regeneration and functional reconstruction. Spinal cord injury (SCI) is the most severe complication of spinal column injury, and advancements in tissue engineering theory and technology provide new possibilities for solving SCI-related issues with novel strategies and methods for repairing and restoring spinal cord function. Tissue engineering has evolved from the classic three elements of biomaterials, cells, and factors to the five elements of biomaterials, cells, factors, cell matrices, and the regenerative microenvironment, greatly advancing the field and discipline of tissue engineering. Zhaolian Ouyang’s team summarizes the latest advancements in tissue engineering and SCI repair, focusing on biomaterials, cells, active factors, and biomimetic tissue engineering theory. The authors propose nine key elements related to SCI and novel methods for repairing and restoring damaged spinal cord function.

Kam W. Leong’s team points out that the field of regenerative medicine is shifting toward genomic engineering technologies, particularly gene editing. The article explores the progress and prospects of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) technology in regenerative medicine, discussing how gene editing leads to advanced therapeutic applications and serves as a versatile research tool for understanding tissue development and disease progression. The research team led by Jin Chang explores the latest advancements in ultrasound-assisted nanomedicine, which involves the use of ultrasound to enhance the capabilities of engineered nanoscale systems, introducing innovative breakthroughs to traditional nanomedicine for diagnosis and treatment. The paper covers a range of topics, including tumor molecular imaging, tumor marker separation, physiological barrier penetration, cell membrane penetration, targeted drug release and activation strategies, and a series of sound therapies targeting tumor treatment, emphasizing the integration of design and fundamental theory in the application of ultrasound technology in nanomedicine, with the aim of stimulating advanced theoretical insights and introducing innovative design paradigms.

In the field of microfluidic barcode biochips, Lin Han’s team provides an overview of current high-throughput detection and analysis methods and the latest improvements in microfluidic devices for the detection of biomolecules and single cells. The authors emphasize the advantages and limitations of these devices and focus on the research and development of microfluidic barcode biochips, discussing the prospects and challenges of this technology.

Cite this article: Xiaosong Gu, Innovations and Progress in Tissue Engineering Theory and Technology, Engineering, Volume 46, 2025, Pages 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2025.01.007

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