Original article: https://doi.org/10.3390/applbiosci2040039
Bone repair and regeneration are complicated processes that can face serious problems, such as delayed healing, bones not joining properly (non-union), and infections after surgery. These issues are still a major concern around the world, causing financial strain and suffering for patients.
Nanotechnology (NBT) has opened up new possibilities in medicine to help tackle these challenges. One important area that has grown in the past 30 years is tissue engineering, especially for bone tissue engineering (BTE), where NBT plays a key role.
Here’s how nanotechnology helps:
- Creating scaffolds at the nanoscale: These scaffolds support new bone growth and can be made from both natural and synthetic materials, including minerals and metals.
- Targeted drug and growth factor delivery: Nanotechnology helps design special nano-formulas that carry drugs (like antibiotics) or growth factors directly to the damaged bone, speeding up healing.
- Tracking healing and cell behavior: Special nanoparticles allow scientists to image and monitor what’s happening at the cellular level—both in lab settings (in vitro) and inside the body (in vivo).
This review brings together the latest knowledge in bone tissue engineering and highlights the growing role of nanotechnology. It shows how NBT is helping move medicine toward more precise, personalized treatments.