Biomaterials science is at the forefront of transforming regenerative medicine by developing platforms that not only provide structural support but also deliver targeted biological functionality for tissue repair. A key challenge within the field is to devise materials that can protect and rejuvenate organs suffering from oxidative and inflammatory damage. Historically, matrices have been loaded with endogenous compounds. Nowadays, a focus has been done on exogenous, plant derived, extracts with a intrinsic high antioxidant power. Recent evidence highlights also the potential of extracellular vesicles to promote immunomodulation, mitigate stress-induced injury, and facilitate intercellular communication in healing environments. Concurrently, advances in regenerative matrices—especially those mimicking the natural extracellular matrix—have enabled the engineering of scaffolds capable of supporting tissue integration and controlled release of therapeutic agents. However, despite steady progress, the synergistic integration of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents within biomimetic matrices remains underexplored, particularly with respect to countering pathological stress and advancing toward clinical translation.

This Research Topic aims to bridge the latest developments in biomaterials science with cutting-edge insights into antioxidant and anti-inflammatory therapeutics (including extracellular vesicles, exogenous and endogenous antioxidants, and nano materials), with a focus on organ repair under oxidative and inflammatory conditions. It seeks to uncover how biohybrid materials —combined with functional matrices—can be engineered to optimize biological performance, resilience, and regenerative potential. The objectives are to elucidate design principles for these systems, assess their effectiveness in mitigating tissue damage under pathological stress, and chart pathways to successful bench-to-bedside translation. Critical questions include how advanced biomaterials shape tissue response, what material properties are most crucial for clinical success, and which engineering strategies yield the highest therapeutic efficacy.

The scope of this Research Topic is anchored in the biomaterials science domain, targeting innovations that integrate antioxidant and anti-inflammatory approaches with advanced scaffold design for improved regenerative outcomes. We welcome studies at the interface of material engineering, molecular biology, and preclinical or translational research. To gather further insights into the scope of this field, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Design and manufacturing of extracellular vesicle–matrix biohybrids
- Design and manufacturing of natural extracts–matrix biohybrids
- Design and manufacturing of endogenous agents–matrix biohybrids
- Biomaterial surface modifications to enhance bioactive compounds loading and delivery
- Mechanisms of bioactive compounds–matrix interactions in modulating immune and oxidative responses
- Experimental models assessing organ repair under oxidative and inflammatory stress
- Translational and clinical perspectives for next-generation regenerative biomaterials

Impact

Frontiers in Biomaterials Science

Biomaterials Science for Regenerative Therapies