Advances in Pathophysiology and Biomaterial-Mediated Treatment of Bone and Tissue Infection and Regeneration

Bone and tissue infection, or osteomyelitis, is a major hurdle in orthopedic medicine, often manifesting as chronic pain, disrupted nerve signaling, vascular complications, and impaired bone regeneration. Despite the clinical prevalence and severity of bone infections, the cellular and molecular processes orchestrating disease onset, progression, and recovery remain only partially understood. Persistent infection commonly results in biofilm formation, chronic inflammatory responses, dysregulated bone immunity, and altered neurovascular function — all of which hinder effective treatment. Groundbreaking advances in molecular diagnostics now allow for pathogen stratification and early identification of disease states, while multifunctional biomaterials are emerging as powerful agents for targeted therapeutic intervention. However, questions remain regarding the detailed interplay between pain signaling, neurovascular regeneration, and immune responses in the infected bone microenvironment. There is a clear need for integrative approaches that unravel the pathophysiological mechanisms at the cellular and tissue levels and translate these findings into precision clinical solutions.This Research Topic aims to promote a holistic understanding of bone and tissue infection by bridging pathophysiological insights with translational advances in biomaterial-aided therapeutics. The central objective is to identify and characterize the dynamic interactions among immune, neural, and vascular systems in infected bone tissue while fostering the development and application of advanced biomaterials for precise and comprehensive therapy. By integrating research on cellular processes, signal transduction, and regenerative mechanisms, this Research Topic seeks to address outstanding gaps in diagnosis, infection management, pain regulation, and tissue repair. Key questions include: How can diagnostics be refined at the molecular level to personalize treatment? What synergistic pathways mediate infection clearance, analgesia, and regeneration? How can newly designed biomaterials alter the cellular microenvironment to encourage both immune and regenerative outcomes?To gather further insights within the cellular and developmental dimensions of bone infection and regeneration, we invite submissions that delve into the mechanistic, diagnostic, and therapeutic frontiers of this important field. Appropriate works will focus on cellular, molecular, and translational aspects relevant to infection pathology and biomaterial application, with clear ties to developmental biology. We welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Cellular and molecular mechanisms driving bone infection, immunity, and regeneration.• Innovative molecular diagnostics and pathogen identification in bone infection.• New-generation biomaterials for infection control, immune modulation, and biofilm disruption.• Mechanisms of pain signaling, neurovascular interactions, and their modulation during bone and tissue regeneration.• Multifunctional therapeutic approaches integrating antibacterial, immunomodulatory, and regenerative features.• Translational and clinical studies advancing biomaterial-mediated precision therapeutics for bone repair. Topic editors: Ye Wu, Bo Zhang, Cheng Zheng Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/77350/advances-in-pathophysiology-and-biomaterial-mediated-treatment-of-bone-and-tissue-infection-and-regeneration