Dynamic Immunoengineering: Mechanobiology and Stimuli-Responsive Biointerfaces in Regeneration and Cancer

Biocompatibility is increasingly recognized as an active and dynamic process governed by complex bio-interactions at the biomaterial–host interface. Upon implantation or injection, biomaterials rapidly engage innate and adaptive immune components, shaping outcomes that range from inflammation and fibrosis to regeneration and functional integration. While surface chemistry, stiffness, topography, and ligand presentation remain foundational determinants of these responses, the field is now moving toward dynamic biointerfaces that can be actively tuned in space and time — through external stimuli such as mechanical strain, electrical currents, electromagnetic fields, and light — to remotely direct immune cell behavior.At the heart of this shift is mechanobiology. Mechanotransduction pathways translate physical cues at the material–tissue interface into immune signaling outcomes, governing macrophage polarization, T cell activation, and stromal–immune crosstalk. The same regulatory principles extend beyond regenerative medicine: in cancer, the mechanical and biochemical landscape of the tumor microenvironment dictates immune activation or suppression, opening new opportunities for biomaterial-driven intervention. Yet predictive frameworks linking interfacial mechanics, stimuli responsiveness, and immune outcomes across regenerative and oncological contexts remain underdeveloped.This Research Topic aims to advance a deeper understanding of how dynamic, stimuli-responsive biointerfaces regulate immune behavior through mechanotransduction in both regenerative and cancer-related applications. What distinguishes this collection is its focus on remote and spatiotemporal control of immune activation — leveraging external stimuli to overcome the limitations of static surface design — and its dual framing across implantable systems and tumor microenvironments. By integrating mechanobiology, immunoengineering, and oncology, the Topic seeks to redefine biocompatibility as an actively engineered, tunable, and predictable property, laying the groundwork for next-generation biomaterials with controllable immune outcomes.We welcome original research, reviews, and perspectives addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:- Mechanotransduction at biomaterial interfaces and its role in immune cell behavior- Stimuli-responsive biomaterials (magnetic, electrical, photonic, mechanical) for remote immune modulation- Spatiotemporal control of innate and adaptive immune responses through dynamic biointerfaces- Biomaterial strategies for cancer immunotherapy and modulation of the tumor microenvironment- Tumor microenvironment-mimicking systems for studying immune evasion and activation- Mechanobiological design of pro-regenerative and anti-fibrotic biointerfaces- In vitro and in vivo models linking interfacial mechanics to immune outcomes- Advanced fabrication of dynamic, stimuli-responsive immune-instructive biomaterials- Translational perspectives bridging implantable systems and oncological applications Topic editors: Stefania Scialla, Teresa RUSSO, Vincenzo Carafa Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80814/dynamic-immunoengineering-mechanobiology-and-stimuli-responsive-biointerfaces-in-regeneration-and-cancer