Advances and Clinical Translation Potentials of Functional Nanomaterials in Tissue Engineering

Functional nanomaterials, such as functionalized nanoparticles, nanofibers, nanocrystals, MXene and liposomes, have emerged as game-changers in tissue engineering, enabling precise modulation of cellular behaviors and dynamic biomimetic microenvironments. This review comprehensively summarizes and discusses the cutting-edge applications of nanomaterials in tissue regeneration (including bone, skin, neural and cardiac tissue regeneration), with a focus on their unique physicochemical properties (e.g., stimuli-responsiveness, nano-topography) and hybrid system design. Recent breakthroughs include 4D-printed shape-memory nanocomposites for irregular bone defects and “smart” wound dressings integrating antibacterial nanoparticles with real-time biosensing. However, clinical adoption remains constrained by unresolved challenges in biocompatibility, scalability of nanomanufacturing, and regulatory ambiguities. We critically analyze these barriers and propose a translational roadmap leveraging AI-driven material design and multi-omics validation platforms to accelerate commercialization.