Revolutionizing Regenerative Medicine: Stem Cells Meet Next-Gen Biomaterials

Advances in stem cell biology have fundamentally transformed the landscape of regenerative medicine, offering unprecedented opportunities for the repair and replacement of damaged tissues. However, the clinical translation of stem cell-based therapies still faces significant challenges related to cell survival, integration, and controlled differentiation in vivo. Next-generation biomaterials—engineered to direct cellular behavior, mimic native extracellular matrix (ECM) environments, and respond dynamically to biological cues—have a strong potential to overcome many of these barriers. The combination of stem cell science with the rapidly evolving field of biomaterials promises novel therapeutic strategies that could revolutionize tissue regeneration and restore organ function more effectively than ever before.

This collection aims to elucidate the synergy between stem cells and advanced biomaterials and address long-standing limitations in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. We seek to highlight how the intelligent integration of recent innovations in biomaterial design with stem cell technologies can drive progress toward more effective, predictable, and clinically applicable regenerative therapies.

Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

o Stem Cell Fate Regulation by Bioinspired and Responsive Biomaterials: Investigations into how advanced biomaterials directly regulate stem cell behaviors, including proliferation, differentiation, migration, and cell-cell communication, ultimately enhancing tissue repair and functional restoration.

o Spatial Guidance and Niche Recreation through Advanced Biofabrication: Utilization of novel biofabrication techniques to precisely position stem cells and engineer hierarchical tissue structures, enabling studies of cell-matrix and cell-cell interactions in a controlled biological context.

o Modulating Immune-Stem Cell Cross-talk for Improved Engraftment: Research into biomaterial strategies that shape the immune microenvironment to support stem cell survival, minimize immunogenicity, promote vascularization, and foster long-term functional integration of transplanted cells within host tissues.

o Therapeutic Potential: Translational studies and therapeutic applications of stem cell–biomaterial composites in relevant models.

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Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: stem cell, biomaterial, biotechnology, regenerative medicine

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