Materials and Technology for Regenerative Medicine

Dear Colleagues,

The idea of regenerative medicine requires the conscious use of biological, medical, and material techniques aimed at repairing and restoring normal function of damaged cells or organs, preferably at the site of destruction (in situ). Currently used regenerative medicine strategies are mainly based on induced autoregeneration, somatic cell therapy, and tissue engineering (TE). Wherever there is a need to restore large defects (i.e., critical defects) or to introduce an induced response from the body (induced autoregeneration), biomaterials are used.

Biomaterials applied in the context of regenerative medicine play the role of an active agent in the regenerative process, which is intended to facilitate, imitate, and/or reinforce the biological processes involved. The essential role of biomaterial during the regeneration of the damage may be limited to a synthetic imitation of an extracellular matrix (ECM). This approach has provided an insight into the role and function of progenitor cells and stem cells. Biomimetic materials inspired by nature are intended to reproduce the natural tissue environment on both structural and functional levels. The success of self-regenerative strategies depends equally on the predictability of the material's in vivo behavior. The substrate is expected to perform its function in a predetermined way and then degrade (not only in uncontrolled hydrolysis), e.g., in response to local changes and regeneration or colonization with native ECM cells.

Successful treatment supported with the use of biomaterials cannot exist without technologies that facilitate the forming of biomimetic supports, which stimulate regenerative processes. Most of the techniques used for regenerative medicine are traditional ones, e.g., used in the textile industry, polymer processing or ceramics technology. Among them, there are new methods allowing to obtain nanocomposites or those with highly specialized surface properties which favor adhesion or proliferation of a specific group of cells (important for the damaged site). These techniques allow obtaining substrates in the form of both 2D and 3D structures. This increases the chances of clinical application of biomaterials, although these will only be possible if not only the characteristics of the material and its safety (including the sterilization technique) are known, but also repeatability is ensured using the suitable technology.

Dr. Ewa Stodolak-Zych
Dr. Maciej Boguń
Guest Editors

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