Innovative approaches in neuromusculoskeletal repair and regeneration

The field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine has made profound strides in addressing the repair of neuromusculoskeletal tissue defects resulting from disease, trauma, malformation, or tumour resection. Neuromusculoskeletal tissues, which include muscles, bones, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and their associated neural elements, are frequently involved in complex injuries that are challenging to heal. While traditional interventions—like surgical reconstruction or prosthetics—often restore only limited functionality, the development of bioengineered products, cellular therapies, and advanced biomaterials has opened new avenues for more effective and lasting tissue regeneration. Despite progress in ex vivo expanded autologous cell therapies and the deployment of scaffolds, significant questions remain about optimizing therapeutic strategies, leveraging endogenous healing pathways, and translating scientific advances into broader clinical benefit.Recent studies have explored the characterization of cell-matrix interactions, mechanisms governing the activation of resident stem and progenitor cells, and the design of intelligent scaffolds that mimic native tissue environments. Techniques promoting endogenous repair by harnessing the body’s own signaling and regenerative capabilities show particularly promising clinical potential. However, challenges persist in achieving consistent integration, long-term function, immune acceptance, and in scaling from preclinical validation to application in patients with critical or chronic lesions. Addressing these issues requires interdisciplinary research focused not only on technological innovation but also on unraveling the fundamental biology of tissue repair in vivo.This Research Topic aims to catalyze advances in the development, validation, and clinical translation of regenerative strategies for neuromusculoskeletal tissues, with an emphasis on both exogenous and endogenous therapeutic modalities. We seek to highlight new knowledge in biomaterial and scaffold engineering, cell therapy, molecular cues regulating regeneration, and translational case studies that address difficult-to-heal tissue injuries. Contributions that discuss pre-clinical models, clinical trial outcomes, and mechanisms of cellular activation and integration are especially encouraged, as are submissions that advance the Sustainable Development Goals related to health, innovation, and infrastructure.To gather further insights in the boundaries of neuromusculoskeletal tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, we welcome contributions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:- Characterization of cell and molecular interactions in neuromusculoskeletal regeneration- Development and application of biomimetic or intelligent scaffolds- Clinical and pre-clinical studies of cell-based and growth factor therapies- Activation and mobilization mechanisms of tissue-resident or circulating progenitor cells- Analysis of endogenous repair pathways and the role of the in vivo regenerative microenvironment- New drug delivery systems targeting musculoskeletal and neural tissue repair- Interactions between engineered biomaterials and host tissues in vivo- Advanced in vitro models (organoids or organs-on-chips) for neuromusculoskeletal disease modeling and therapeutic interventions Topic editors: Liming Zheng, Jie Tan, Yi Wang Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/81080/innovative-approaches-in-neuromusculoskeletal-repair-and-regeneration