Nanomaterials: Applications in Regeneration of Damaged Tissues

Biomedical engineering has been developed to be applied in repairing/regenerating the damaged tissues or organs to facilitate restoration of the lost biological function. Regenerative medicine has been frequently investigated over years to promote the methodology of the replacement of the injured cells and tissues and improve the life quality of the affected individuals. In this regard, the current study examined the application of various ceramic and metal nanoparticles and polymers in treatment of several tissue/organ damages. It was revealed that application of nanotechnology in tissue regeneration could remarkably improve these approaches and succeed in obtaining low-cost, long-lasting, nanoscale scaffolds to be used in clinical practice where nanomaterial-based tissue regeneration showed greater efficacy than the conventional artificial or animal-derived grafts. In addition, nanomaterials with antibacterial or anti-inflammatory properties may be able to overcome some challanges such as infections, inflammations, and immune responses. With the knowledge of regenerating the damaged tissues using nanomaterials, it is possible to combine the nanomaterials strength or antimicrobial properties with the biological properties, such as tissue-specific growth factors, and create new alternatives that are similar to the original tissues of the human body in terms of their preferred properties and characteristics. Different nanomaterials and their applications in the regeneration of bone, tooth, skin, heart, neurons, and bladder tissues were studied in this review. Despite great promise that these approaches have brought into the replacement of damaged organs, many challenging issues still remain unresolved.

Keywords:

Nanoparticles , Scaffolds , Tissue Regeneration , biomedical engineering , Replacement Therapy