Next-Generation Nanotechnologies for Tissue Engineering and Targeted Drug Delivery

Nanotechnology is rapidly reshaping the landscape of biomedical research, offering unprecedented opportunities to engineer functional tissues and deliver therapeutics with high precision. At the nanoscale, materials and platforms exhibit unique physicochemical and biological properties that can be harnessed to control cell behavior, modulate microenvironments, and enhance therapeutic efficacy.In tissue engineering, nanostructured scaffolds are increasingly used to mimic the hierarchical architecture of native extracellular matrices, supporting cell function, vascularization, and tissue regeneration. Nanomaterials, bioactive nanoparticles, and nanoengineered surfaces are being integrated with 3D bioprinting, biofabrication, and organ-on-chip platforms to develop more physiologically relevant tissue substitutes and tissue models.In drug delivery, nanotechnology enables controlled, targeted, and stimuli-responsive therapeutic release, overcoming long-standing biological barriers. Lipid-based, polymeric, and inorganic nanocarriers are advancing the delivery of small molecules, biologics, and nucleic acid–based therapies, including mRNA and gene therapies. However, key challenges remain in translating nanoscale innovations into reproducible, scalable, and clinically viable solutions. This Research Topic seeks to consolidate cutting-edge research that bridges tissue engineering and drug delivery through nanotechnology-driven approaches.The convergence of these two domains is opening transformative opportunities in regenerative medicine, immunomodulation, and cancer therapy. Combined with emerging trends such as AI-assisted biomaterial design, theragnostic, and personalized therapeutic platforms, nanotechnologies are poised to redefine translational biomedicine. This collection aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of the art and outline future directions for the field.We welcome topics focusing on, but not limited to:• Nanomaterials and Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering: Nanostructured biomaterials, bioactive nanoparticles, nanoengineered surfaces, and ECM-mimetic platforms for tissue regeneration and vascularization.• Advanced Nanoscale Drug Delivery Systems: Lipid, polymeric, and inorganic nanocarriers; stimuli-responsive and targeted delivery; mRNA, gene, and biologic therapeutics.• Convergent Nano-Platforms: Integration of tissue engineering and drug delivery for regenerative medicine, immunomodulation, and cancer therapy.• Nano-Enabled Biofabrication: 3D bioprinting, organ-on-chip systems, and biofabricated constructs that incorporate nanomaterials.• AI and Computational Design: Machine learning–assisted design of nanomaterials, nanocarriers, and therapeutic platforms.• Theranostics and Imaging-Guided Nanomedicine: Multifunctional nanoplatforms combining diagnostics and therapy.• Sustainable and Biodegradable Nanomaterials: Green synthesis, eco-friendly nanofabrication, and biodegradable systems.• Translational and Regulatory Aspects: Safety, scalability, manufacturing, and pathways from preclinical research to clinical application. Topic editors: Elisabetta Rosellini, Nazila Kamaly, Francesco Gentile Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/81249/next-generation-nanotechnologies-for-tissue-engineering-and-targeted-drug-delivery