Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine have made remarkable strides in developing strategies to repair and regenerate tissues affected by disease, trauma, or congenital anomalies. A key advance in these fields is the application of extracellular matrix (ECM)-based materials and approaches, which mimic or harness the body’s natural scaffolding to stimulate cellular activities essential for tissue healing. Despite the progress in "classical" tissue engineering—often relying on ex vivo expanded stem/progenitor cells—critical challenges persist in repairing large or complex tissue defects, particularly with respect to achieving seamless integration, promoting endogenous tissue regeneration, and ensuring clinical translation. Recent evidence highlights the value of ECM-derived scaffolds and materials in not only providing structural support but also delivering bioactive cues that orchestrate cell-matrix interactions, stimulate local stem cell mobilization, and modulate healing pathways in vivo.
Several studies have demonstrated promising outcomes using decellularized matrices, designer biomaterials, and hybrid scaffolds to treat otherwise intractable lesions. These ECM-based products can foster endogenous repair by influencing local microenvironments, activating resident progenitor cells, and modulating immune responses. However, a deeper understanding is still needed of how ECM composition, structural features, and bioactivity affect tissue integration and functional outcomes in clinical settings. Furthermore, debates remain regarding the reproducibility, safety, and regulatory standards for translating these innovations from preclinical models to widespread therapeutic use.
This Research Topic aims to highlight recent innovations and critical insights into the development and application of ECM-based strategies for translational tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The goal is to assemble cutting-edge research and comprehensive reviews that clarify how ECM constructs and cues can drive or enhance intrinsic tissue repair processes, optimize biomaterial design, and address clinical challenges associated with tissue defects and lesions. Researchers are encouraged to contribute work that bridges fundamental cell-matrix biology with translational approaches targeting repair and regeneration in vivo, including the stimulation of the body's endogenous potential for healing.
This Research Topic welcomes investigations centered on ECM-driven tissue repair and regeneration, specifically those advancing our understanding or clinical application for treating tissue defects and lesions. The scope excludes studies outside regenerative medicine or tissue engineering contexts. To gather further insights in this field, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Design, modification, and characterization of ECM-derived scaffolds and materials - ECM-cell interactions within the regenerative microenvironment - Mechanisms by which ECM-based products mobilize or activate endogenous stem/progenitor cells - Immune modulation and host integration of ECM implants - Preclinical and clinical evaluations of ECM-assisted tissue repair in various organ systems - Innovative drug or factor delivery through ECM matrices - Strategies for standardization, regulatory compliance, and clinical translation of ECM-based therapies.
Dr. Janaina de Andréa Dernowsek is co-founder of Quantis Biotechnology, which merges human biology with precision biofabrication to produce high-performance biomaterials and proteins that accelerate innovation in regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, and cosmetics.
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