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Regenerative Medicine logoLink to Regenerative Medicine
. 2016 Nov 25;11(8):849–858. doi: 10.2217/rme-2016-0120

Recreating composition, structure, functionalities of tissues at nanoscale for regenerative medicine

Emine Alarçin 1,1,2,2,3,3,, Xiaofei Guan 1,1,2,2,4,4,, Sara Saheb Kashaf 1,1,2,2, Khairat Elbaradie 5,5, Huazhe Yang 1,1,2,2, Hae Lin Jang 1,1,2,2,4,4,*, Ali Khademhosseini 1,1,2,2,4,4,6,6,7,7,**
PMCID: PMC5561804  PMID: 27885900

Abstract

Nanotechnology offers significant potential in regenerative medicine, specifically with the ability to mimic tissue architecture at the nanoscale. In this perspective, we highlight key achievements in the nanotechnology field for successfully mimicking the composition and structure of different tissues, and the development of bio-inspired nanotechnologies and functional nanomaterials to improve tissue regeneration. Numerous nanomaterials fabricated by electrospinning, nanolithography and self-assembly have been successfully applied to regenerate bone, cartilage, muscle, blood vessel, heart and bladder tissue. We also discuss nanotechnology-based regenerative medicine products in the clinic for tissue engineering applications, although so far most of them are focused on bone implants and fillers. We believe that recent advances in nanotechnologies will enable new applications for tissue regeneration in the near future.

Keywords: : biomimetic, drug delivery, FDA-approved products, nanomaterial, nanostructure, nanotechnology, regenerative medicine, tissue regeneration


Regenerative medicine aims to restore the function of human tissues and organs by stimulating the intrinsic regenerative capacity of the body by utilizing cells, biomaterials and growth factors [1,2]. Current advances in regenerative medicine have led to the creation of bioengineered tissues and organs that can perform key biological functions. For example, biomimetic tissues including bone, blood vessels, urethra, skin, liver, lung, bladder and trachea transplants have been successfully engineered and implanted in vivo [3–10]. Bioengineered tissue constructs can grow and remodel in vivo since they are composed of living cells, or can stimulate body cells to migrate and integrate into scaffolding materials.

Currently, by virtue of recent achievements in nanotechnology, the composition and structure of bioengineered tissues are becoming more analogous to natural tissues at the nanoscale, providing a biomimetic niche for cells. The activities of cells depend on biochemical and physical signals from surrounding tissues, and since cells dynamically interact with their local microenvironment at the nanoscale, it is necessary to control properties of engineered tissues at these scale lengths. In addition, nanostructured biomaterials can decrease inflammatory response and increase wound healing in comparison to conventional biomaterials, possibly due to their high surface energy affecting protein adsorption and cell adhesion [11]. In this sense, advanced nanotechnologies for mimicking native tissues can also overcome the disadvantages of using autografts or allografts, such as the risk of immune reaction, infection and disease transmission.

In this paper, we highlight key achievements in the nanotechnology field to recreate the composition, structure and functionality of major tissues and organs, using biomimetic and bio-inspired approaches to improve tissue regeneration. In addition, we report on clinically approved nanotechnology-based regenerative medicine products for tissue engineering applications. By providing an overall view of the recent status of nanotechnology applications in the regeneration of various tissues, we expect that this article will be particularly helpful for those who are investigating the regeneration of complex tissues.

Biomimicking tissue composition at nanoscale

Every tissue in the body has its own nanoscale composition which provides a suitable microenvironment to direct cellular differentiation toward a particular lineage. Since engineered nano-architecture features a high surface area to volume ratio, it can systematically expose cells to multiple biological components with different functionalities. The ability to control the spatial distribution of materials at the nanoscale can also enhance tissue regeneration by enabling better integration with host tissue [12]. For example, bone tissue is mainly composed of inorganic calcium phosphate nanocrystals and organic components (mainly collagen type I) [13–15]. It is reported that a nanocomposite scaffold that is composed of both organic and inorganic components of bone tissues can promote bone regeneration [16,17]. In addition, the inorganic phase of human bone tissue is composed of two major bone minerals: hydroxyapatite (HAP: Ca10[PO4]6[OH]2) and whitlockite (WH: Ca18Mg2[HPO4]2[PO4]12) nanocrystallites, with different physicochemical properties [14,15]. For example, Mg2+ ions are too small in size to maintain a HAP crystal structure, and so are mostly incorporated in the WH crystal structure [14,18]. Furthermore, it is reported that these two bone crystals are distributed in different ratios depending on certain regions of bone tissue [14], implying that HAP and WH have distinguished biological roles. Therefore, controlling their spatial distribution at the nanoscale is important for mimicking native bone tissue.

In Table 1, we have listed representative examples of recent research achievements to recreate the nanoscale composition of each tissue type. However, despite many outstanding achievements in both the nanotechnology and tissue engineering fields, so far, most bioengineered tissues are still dependent on the usage of bulk materials with micrometer scale designs or larger, which have limited tissue functions. Therefore, there remains a strong need to further develop nanomaterials that mimic the major components of tissues at the nanoscale and apply them for tissue regeneration.

Table 1. . Examples of biomimicking composition of tissues at nanoscale.

Tissue Nanotechnologies Functionality Tissue regeneration capacity Ref.
Bone Hydroxyapatite composite sponge with concentrated collagen nanofibers Mimicking bone chemistry based on osteoconductive scaffolds composed of inorganic material and natural polymers Induced continuous deposition of lamellar bone tissue while maintaining osteoblast activity [17]
  Synthesis of the two major bone crystals: hydroxyapatite and whitlockite nanoparticles Mimicking inorganic composition of bone, providing mechanical stability and stimulating osteogenic differentiation of stem cells Enhanced proliferation and differentiation of bone cells and induced rapid regeneration of bone tissues [19,20]
 
Self-assembled peptide amphiphile nanofibrous matrices to induce biomimetic nucleation of hydroxyapatite crystals
Mimicking bone mineralization with collagen-like fibril structure and nucleation of hydroxyapatite crystals
Promoted new bone formation in a rat femoral defect model
[21]
Cartilage Peptide amphiphilic nanofibers functionalized with chemical groups of GAG molecules Mimicking composition, structure and function of the ECM Enhanced aggregation of MSCs and deposition of cartilage-specific matrix elements [22]
 
Self-assembled supramolecular GAGs like glycopeptide nanofibers
Mimicking composition and functions of HA, the major component of cartilage
Induced chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs and enhanced formation of hyaline-like cartilage
[23]
Heart Nanofibrous collagen scaffold made by electrospinning and crosslinking for cardiac tissue regeneration Mimicking composition of myocardial connective stroma and delivery of cardiomyocytes Improved vascularization of scaffold with upregulation of gene expression related to ECM remodeling, after implanted in vivo [24]
 
MSC seeded polycaprolactone nanofiber cardiac patch by fibronectin immobilization
Mimicking ECM of heart by using fibronectin, which is a major component of normal heart for cell adhesion and activity
Enhanced cellular adhesion increased angiogenesis, and improved cardiac function
[25]
Skin
Multilayer nanofilm composed of HA and poly-L-lysine on top of a HA scaffold by using layer-by-layer assembly for skin tissue engineering
Mimicking epidermal–dermal composition and structure of skin at nanometer scale
Promoted adhesion of keratinocytes, enhancing epidermal protective barrier function of skin
[26]
Muscle Laminin mimetic peptide nanofibrous network Mimicking composition and structure of skeletal muscle basal lamina Enhanced cellular gene expression related to skeletal muscle specific marker [27]

ECM: Extracellular matrix; GAG: Glycosaminoglycan; HA: Hyaluronic acid; MSC: Mesenchymal stem cell.

Mimicking nanoscale tissue structure

Human tissues have complex topographical features at the nanoscale that can physically influence the behavior of cells by directly modulating their migration, orientation, differentiation and proliferation. For example, skeletal and cardiac muscles are composed of perpendicularly interwoven collagen strips and elastin bundles at the nanometer scale [28]. Also, bone tissue is composed of HAP nanocrystals that form nanopatterns along collagen fibers [29]. In addition, highly connected nanopores/channels in tissues can continuously supply a sufficient level of oxygen and nutrients to cells, and allow for intercommunication between different cell types. For example, there exist three levels of hierarchical pore architectures within cortical and cancellous bone, ranging from 10 to 20 μm in radii, which support blood or interstitial fluid transportation [30].

To mimic the nanoscale structure of each tissue type to stimulate cells with the proper topographical cues, nanofibrous and nanocomposite structures, nanoscale surface topographies and nanoporous/nanochannel networks in the scaffold have been engineered by nanotechnologies such as electrospinning, nanolithography, self-assembly, phase separation and sacrificial template methods (Table 2).

Table 2. . Examples of mimicking nanoscale tissue structure for tissue regeneration.

Nanostructure Tissue Nanotechnology Tissue regeneration capacity Ref.
Nanofibrous structures Heart Electrospun aligned poly(lactide)- and poly(glycolide)-based scaffold Demonstrated directionally dependent mature contractile machinery of cardiomyocytes and increased their synchronized beating [31]
    Highly aligned nanofiber engineered by rotary jet spinning Induced alignment of rat ventricular myocytes along with the nanofiber [32,33]
  Tendon Electrospun aligned PLLA nanofibers Upregulated tendon-specific genes [34]
  Cartilage Nanofibrous hollow microspheres with ECM mimetic architecture as an injectable cell carrier Induced successful cartilage regeneration in a critical-size osteochondral defect in a rabbit model [35]
 
Skin
3D Multilayered nanofibrous scaffold
Produced dermal-like tissues or bilayer skin tissues with both epidermal and dermal layers
[36]
Nanocomposite structures
Bone
Nanocomposite made from poly(ethylene oxide) and silicate nanoparticles
Induced direction-dependent mechanical properties with increased mechanical strength and extensibility, enhancing cellular activities and mineralization
[37,38]
Nanotopographies Heart Myocardium model with controlled nanoscale surface topographies mimicking function of mayocardial tissue and ECM architecture Displayed anisotropic action potential conduction and contraction of native cardiac tissues [39]
 
Bone
Nanostructured surfaces with symmetry or disorder to modulate stem cell differentiation
Enabled to control MSCs to maintain multipotency or to produce bone minerals depending on nanopatterns
[40,41]
Nanoporous/nanochannel structures Bone Self-assembled hierarchical nanochannel network in bone ceramic Provided both sufficient mechanical strength and efficient nutrient supply for bone cell growth and differentiation [42]
  Vessel Nanopores in the vessel wall mimicking a vascular bed Enhanced permeability and intercellular crosstalk [4]

ECM: Extracellular matrix; MSC: Mesenchymal stem cell; PLLA: Poly (L-lactic acid).

Since the cellular microenvironment includes ECM components such as fibril structured proteins and polysaccharides [43], engineered nanofiber networks can support cellular growth and regulate cellular behaviors in a physiologically similar manner [44]. Aligned nanofibers are especially useful in guiding cellular orientation to mimic the anisotropy of natural tissues, including heart, nerve, tendon and blood vessels. For example, when human tendon progenitor cells were seeded on aligned poly (L-lactic acid) nanofibers that recapitulated parallel collagen fibers in tendon, these cells expressed higher level of tendon specific genes compared with cells grown on random fibers [34].

Nanocomposite structures are used widely, as they can enhance the mechanical strength of hybrid organic/inorganic composites, and thus influence cellular proliferation and differentiation. To mimic the organization of bone tissue that is composed of inorganic minerals and organic collagen matrix, silicate nanoparticles were incorporated into organic materials, enhancing mechanical properties (i.e., compressive strength, tensile strength and elastic modulus) and further promoting cellular proliferation [37–38,45]. In fact, stiffness is one of the key parameters for altering cell growth and differentiation [46,47]. Recently, Alakpa et al. fabricated supramolecular nanofiber hydrogels and controlled their stiffness to direct the differentiation of stem cells without any biochemical functionalization [47].

Nanopatterns play an important role in directing various cellular behaviors, due to their structural consistency with many vital components of native ECM, such as basement membrane and focal adhesion complexes, ranging from a few to a hundred nanometers [48,49]. Patterning techniques at the nanoscale allow for the mimicking of native ECM, thus modulating cell-matrix interactions [50]. Interestingly, nanoscale disorders can direct osteogenic differentiation of human MSCs in the absence of osteogenic supplements [40]. On the other hand, when the pattern contains absolute square lattice symmetry, nanoscale patterning can also promote the growth of stem cells and the retention of multipotency, indicating that nanoscale surface topographies can determine cell fate and functions [41]. Likewise, since cell orientation strongly correlates with the direction of underneath patterns, nanoscale structural cues can further control the macroscopic function of tissue constructs. For example, nanotopographically controlled heart tissue constructs that mimic the ECM structure of myocardium have successfully demonstrated anisotropic action potential conduction and contractility characteristics of native cardiac tissue [39].

Nanopores/channels in natural tissues are also vital for maintaining the activity of cells, as they provide transport paths for oxygen and nutrients [51,52]. While it seems that the two concepts of permeability and mechanical strength are contradictory, as they are directly or inversely correlated with the porosity of the structures, nanoporous/channel structures can simultaneously satisfy these properties due to their enhanced permeability compared with microporous/channel structures. In fact, the amount of nutrients that are delivered by nanochannels is known to be sufficient to sustain cellular vital activities. Nanopores/channels have been incorporated in vascularized cardiac or hepatic tissue constructs and bone scaffolds by using self-assembled and porogen methods to enhance permeability and permit cellular crosstalk, while maintaining mechanical properties [4,42].

Developing bioinspired nanotechnologies & functional nanomaterials

The function of human tissue occurs based on the localized microenvironment where cells interact with specific types of ECM at the nanoscale. In this respect, nanoscale delivery systems and functional nanomaterials have been applied for directing cellular differentiation and tissue specific activities to restore function of damaged tissues.

In the past two decades, nanoscale delivery systems have attracted a great deal of attention by researchers in the field of regenerative medicine based on their unique features, such as high surface area and easiness of surface functionalization, which can promote the adsorption of growth factors and drugs [53,54]. For example, nanofibers are one of the most widely used nanoscale delivery platforms based on their similarity with the physical structure of ECM [55,56]. Hartgerink et al. developed an injectable, self-assembled peptide-based nanofibrous hydrogel that contains peptides for pro-angiogenic moieties which can rapidly form mature vascular networks and induce tissue integration after subcutaneous delivery in vivo via a syringe needle [56].

Functional nanomaterials can actively support damaged tissues with functional loss, and thus can enhance their regeneration. For example, electroconductive nanomaterials have been applied for the treatment of cardiac tissues to generate electrical function of these tissues. The incorporation of electrically conductive silicon nanowires in cardiac spheroids can provide an endogenous electrical microenvironment for cardiomyocytes, and synergize with exogenous electrical stimulation, enhancing cardiac microtissue development [57]. In addition, when carbon nanotubes are integrated into hydrogels and oriented in an aligned manner, the cardiac differentiation of embryoid bodies and their beating activities are enhanced. The incorporation of carbon nanotubes in a hydrogel scaffold has been reported to further enhance the mechanical properties of tissue constructs [58]. The functionalization of biomaterials by the internalization of biological motifs can also control cellular behavior; for instance, Gouveia et al. incorporated peptide amphiphile composed of the N-(fluorenyl-9-methoxycarbonyl) (Fmoc) molecule linked to the cell-adhesion Arg–Gly–Asp–Ser (RGDS) motif into biomimetic collagen gels. These functionalized hydrogels promoted attachment and proliferation of human corneal stromal fibroblasts [59].

In Table 3, we have listed representative examples of the current use of nanotechnologies and nanomaterials to enhance tissue regeneration.

Table 3. . Developing bioinspired nanotechnologies and functional nanomaterials for tissue regeneration.

Tissue Nanotechnologies Functionality Tissue regeneration capacity Ref.
Bone Biomimetic ECM nanostructures constructed through layer-by-layer self-assembly of biodegradable nanoparticles and polysaccharides Preservation of the activity of osteoinductive growth factors and induced their sustained release Promoted the attachment, proliferation and differentiation of BMSCs and enhanced new bone formation by sustained release of biomolecules [60]
 
Intermediate precursors-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles as delivery devices for biomineralization
Sustained release of amorphous calcium phosphate precursors
Induced biomimetic intrafibrillar mineralization of collagen
[61]
Cartilage ECM mimetic chondroitin sulfate/polyethylene glycol/GO hybrid nanocomposite scaffold for cartilage engineering Improvement of overall mechanical properties and electrical conductivity of scaffold by GO Enhanced regeneration of cartilage tissue with improved subchondral bone reconstruction [62]
  Bioprinted nanoliter droplets encapsulating stem cells and growth factors to mimic native fibrocartilage microenvironment Mimicking the complex anisotropic fibrocartilage tissue by 3D printing nanoliter droplets encapsulating MSCs along with biochemical gradient and ECM components Upregulated osteogenic and chondrogenic related genes in the 3D fibrocartilage model [63]
 
Self-assembled supramolecular peptide amphiphile nanofibers containing binding epitopes to TGF-β-1 for cartilage regeneration
Prolonged release of TGF-β-1 from PA gels containing high density of TGFβ-1 binding sites
Promoted articular cartilage regeneration in a rabbit chondral defect model without any exogenous growth factor
[64]
Vessels VEGF-loaded heparin-functionalized PLGA nanoparticle–fibrin gel complex Localized and sustained delivery of growth factor Improved the therapeutic angiogenic effect in an ischemic hind limb model by increasing blood pressure, angiographic score and the capillary density [65]
  Biodegradable porous silicon nanoneedles for local intracellular delivery of nucleic acids to induce tissue neovascularization Codelivery of DNA and siRNA into cell cytosol by nano-injection Induced localized neovascularization and increased blood perfusion in vivo [66]
 
Peptide amphiphile nanostructures that display VEGF mimetic peptide on the surface of nanofibers
Mimicking the activity of VEGF by generating phosphorylation of VEGF receptors
Enhanced proangiogenic activities of endothelial cells and microcirculatory angiogenesis in the ischemic tissue
[67]
Heart Pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte spheroids that incorporate electrically conductive silicon nanowires Formation of electrically conductive microenvironment in cardiac spheroids which can synergize with exogenous electrical stimulation Enhanced cell–cell junction formation, increased contractile machinery expression, while regulating the endogenous spontaneous beating of pluripotent stem-cell-derived cardiac spheroids [57]
 
Hybrid hydrogel scaffold incorporating aligned carbon nanotubes
Tunable and anisotropic mechanical and electrical characteristics
Enhanced cardiac differentiation of embryoid bodies with increased beating activity
[58]
Bladder
PLGA nanoparticle thermo-sensitive gel scaffold for bladder tissue regeneration
Codelivery of growth factors by a PLGA nanoparticle carrier
Promoted bladder tissue regeneration with rapid vascularization while inhibiting graft contracture in a rabbit model
[9]
Nerves PLGA nanoparticles including LIF as a cargo with surface modification to target OPCs for myelin repair Sustained and controlled release of LIF by PLGA nanoparticles after selectively attached to OPCs Induced remyelination with increased myelinated axon numbers and myelin thickness per axon [68]

BMSC: Bone marrow stem cell; ECM: Extracellular matrix; GO: Graphene oxide; MSC: Mesenchymal stem cell; OPC: Oligodendrocyte precursor cell; PA: Peptide amphiphile; PLGA: Poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid).

FDA approved regenerative medicine products for tissue regeneration based on nanotechnologies

In the 2014 Guidance for Industry entitled “Considering Whether an FDA-Regulated Product Involves the Application of Nanotechnology”, the US FDA defined nanotechnology products as those which have at least one dimension between 1 and 100 nm in size [69]. The FDA also recognized materials that are as large as 1000 nm as nanomaterials if they can demonstrate similar ‘properties or phenomena’ as other nanotechnology-based products [69]. During the process of commercialization, a nanotechnology product moves through various developmental phases, starting with the basic concept product and culminating with clinical investigations and commercialization. The resulting nanotechnology products can belong to various FDA classifications, such as biologicals, devices, genetics, drugs and others [70].

Based on recent achievements in nanotechnologies for recreating the composition, structure and functions of tissues in a more precise way than ever before, the related nanotechnologies are starting to be applied in clinics to repair diseased/damaged tissues [2,70]. In Table 4, we have selectively listed nanotechnology based products for tissue regeneration that have obtained approval from FDA and are currently on the market.

Table 4. . Selective list of FDA approved nanotechnology products for tissue regeneration.

Name/company Approved applications Product description Function and clinical outcomes US FDA approval year Ref.
Vitoss® scaffold synthetic cancellous bone void filler/Stryker Corporation
Filler, osseous defects
Highly porous 3D β-tricalcium phosphate scaffold based on calcium phosphate nanoparticles
This filler has similar composition to natural bone minerals, enhancing bone regeneration, along with increased spinal fusion rates
2003
[70–72]
Ostim® bone grafting material/Heraeus Kulzer, Inc.
Filler, osseous defects
Nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite paste that is injected into a bone void or defect
This filler facilitates bone regeneration, based on its bone mimetic chemical composition and crystalline structures
2004
[70,73]
NanOss bone void filler/Angstrom Medica, Inc.
Filler, osseous defects
Osteoconductive, resorbable bone graft that uses calcium phosphate nanocrystals
This dense, nanocrystalline material mimics the microstructure and composition of bone and has strong mechanical properties and osteoconductive effects
2005
[74,75]
BoneGen-TR/BioLok International, Inc.
Filler, oral surgery, periodontics, endodontics, implantology
Calcium sulfate-based nanocomposite
The filler can control timed release of calcium sulfate that supports bone augmentation
2006
[76]
EquivaBone osteoinductive bone graft substitute/ETEX Corporation
Filler, osseous defects
Resorbable, osteoinductive bone graft substitute that is composed of demineralized bone matrix and nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite
This scaffold has osteoconductive effect by providing hydroxyapatite nanocrystalline and osteoinductive growth factors
2009
[77,78]
Beta-BSM injectable bone substitute material/ETEX Corporation
Filler, osseous defects
Synthetic calcium phosphate bone graft material in a nanocrystalline matrix
This filler has osteoconductive properties based on bone mimetic chemical structure
2010
[78]
NanoGen/Orthogen, LLC
Filler, osseous defects
Medical grade calcium sulfate hemihydrate based nanocomposite
This filler is controlled to be degraded over a period of 12 weeks, stimulating bone regeneration
2011
[79]
FortiCore/Nanovis, Inc.
Implant, spinal fusion procedures
Implant composed of a highly porous titanium scaffold that is integrated with a PEEK-OPTIMA (high-performance, implant-grade polymer) core
This implant has nanotube-enhanced surface which can promote bone regeneration around the implant
2014
[80]
NB3D bone void filler/Pioneer Surgical Technology, Inc. Filler, osseous defects 3D construct that is composed of porous hydroxyapatite nanogranules suspended in a porous gelatin-based foam matrix This filler has interconnected porosity similar to human cancellous bone and also has equivalent crystal size and structure as natural bone, promoting tissue interaction and regeneration 2014 [81]

Conclusion & future perspective

In this special issue, we selectively highlighted state-of-the-art nanotechnologies that successfully mimic the composition and structure of different tissue types, as well as bio-inspired nanotechnologies and functional nanomaterials for tissue regeneration. Based on recent advances in nanotechnologies and tissue engineering, bioengineered tissues are becoming more similar to natural tissues, thus enabling the partial recovery of damaged/diseased tissues. However, there are still many biological components that are not fully understood or ignored in regenerative medicine due to the difficulty in their fabrication. Moreover, although many nanomaterials can successfully promote cellular activities in vitro, there still exist safety concerns about the use of these nanomaterials, as they can cause systemic side effects by crossing cell barriers in nontargeted organs. In fact, most of the newly developed nanomaterials have not been assessed in large animal models. As a result, except for bone related materials, the majority of the newly developed nanomaterials have not been applied for tissue regeneration in the clinic. These issues can be addressed by thorough physicochemical characterization of nanomaterials and restriction of undesired uptake via functionalization with targeting moieties [82,83]. Based on the understanding of the effectiveness and safety of nanomaterials, proper in vivo studies should be continued with selective nanomaterials for the purpose of clinical translation. We envision that the development of nanotechnologies, which is becoming faster than ever before, will overcome current challenges in regenerative medicine to heal diseased/damaged tissues in the near future.

Executive summary.

  • This paper highlights the key achievements in the nanotechnology field for regenerative medicine to recreate functional biomimetic tissues and organs.

Biomimicking tissue composition at nanoscale

  • Every tissue in the body has its own nanoscale composition.

  • Controlling nanoscale composition is important as each tissue type has a unique spatial distribution of materials at the nanoscale which then provides different types of niches for cells.

Mimicking nanoscale tissue structure

  • Human tissues have complex topographical features at the nanoscale.

  • Nanofibrous and nanocomposite structures, nanotopographies and nanoporous/nanochannel structures have been designed and built by utilizing nanotechnologies such as electrospinning, nanolithography, self-assembly, phase separation and sacrificial template method.

Developing bioinspired nanotechnologies & functional nanomaterials

  • Nanoscale delivery systems have provided the sustained and controlled release of growth factors for tissue regeneration.

  • Functional nanomaterials have successfully generated similar or even better tissue functions to stimulate cells to repair tissues.

US FDA approved clinical products for regenerative medicine based on nanotechnologies

  • Recently, FDA approved nanotechnology based regenerative medicine products have started to be actively used in the clinic for tissue regeneration.

  • Most of the current nanotechnology based regenerative medicine products are made for bone tissue regeneration.

  • We anticipate that the recent achievements in the nanotechnology field will further lead to the development of regenerative medicine products for various tissue types in the near future.

Footnotes

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors gratefully acknowledge funding from the NIH (AR057837, AR070647), and the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). Emine Alarçin was supported by post-doctoral research grant of The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

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