Special Focus Issue on Combined Force of Nanomedicine and Regenerative Medicine

Nanomedicine has published a special focus issue on the combined force of nanomedicine and regenerative medicine; two fields that continue to develop at a dramatic pace.

Titled 'Engineering the nanoenvironment for regenerative medicine', the issue is guest edited by Professor Matthew J. Dalby (University of Glasgow, UK, and associate editor of Nanomedicine) and Dr Manus J.P. Biggs (National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland). It comprises 9 primary research articles and 3 reviews covering topics relevant to the current translation of nanotopography and nanofunctionalization for nanoscale regenerative strategies in medicine.

Indeed, the field of 'nanoregeneration' has grown exponentially over the last 15 years, and fields of study focusing on the nanobiointerface now include nanotopographical modification, formulation of existing biomaterials and modification of the extracellular matrix, as well as the development of targeting techniques using nanoparticles.

Nanoscale platforms are becoming increasingly recognized as tools to understand biological molecules, subcellular structures and how cells and organs work. Therefore, they could have real applications in regenerative medicine and increase our knowledge of how stem cells work, or in drug discovery and cell targeting.

"The fields of nanomedicine and regenerative medicine continue to evolve at a dramatic pace, with new and exciting developments almost a daily occurrence. This special focus issue highlights the translational research, reviews current thinking and 'shines a light' on the future potential of a field where nanomedicine converges with regenerative medicine," said Michael Dowdall, Managing Commissioning Editor of Nanomedicine. "We feel this is an important subject for our readers to have a comprehensive and contextual overview of. The special focus issue helps provide this context for researchers, by framing the potential applications of nanomedicine/nanoengineering in terms of the current 'state of the art' regenerative medicine techniques."

Professor Dalby commented: "This special focus issue on nanoscale regenerative strategies focuses on basic and translational aspects of nanotopography and nanofunctionalization, and also gives perspective to future fundamental developments in the field, helping provide a future translational pipeline."

Members of RegMedNet, the online community for those working in the field of regenerative medicine, can access select articles from the special focus issue through the online platform.