New advanced biomaterials for tissue and organ regeneration/repair

This publication provides a valuable overview of biomaterial approaches to restoring tissues and organs by using different biofabrication strategies and materials, focusing on recent advances in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Papers cover the design of biomaterials and devices to be applied in vivo and in vitro, and a range of topics related to stem cell biology, biomaterials and technological approaches. Specific topics include the generation of new functional hepatic substitutes, improvements in the bone repair process, neuronal tissue formation, a pioneering model of cardiac fibrosis, and the creation of a novel vein valve prosthesis. This multi-disciplinary approach highlights how the different characteristics of biomaterials and devices are responsible for the promotion of cell integration, and ultimately new tissue formation. This issue is a must-read for biomaterial scientists, tissue engineers, clinicians, as well as stem cell biologists involved in basic research and its applications.