Principles of Bioinspired and Biomimetic Regenerative Medicine

Nature has developed a diverse of materials, structures, and processes that are highly optimized for various functions. Through the field of biomimicry and bioinspiration, engineers are enhancing their understanding of natural design principles and applying these insights to create complex engineering models across different scales. These innovative approaches are particularly appropriate to address challenges in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Natural materials and systems exhibit a diverse array of functions, including but not limited to structural support, signal transduction, charge transfer, self-assembly, self-organization, and self-replication. Consequently, nature’s "solution manual" is remarkably comprehensive. Despite significant advancements, the reconstruction of nature-inspired designs using synthetic materials presents ongoing challenges. As a result, nature and bioinspired materials and architectures have emerged as a paradigm shift within the realm of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This comprehensive guide aims to provide scientists with inspiration to address a variety of critical challenges in tissue regeneration by directly applying established design principles. A key focus of this volume is the utilization of bioinspired architectures in tissue engineering. It also emphasizes the development of nature-inspired structures through the integration of novel biological macromolecules, bioinspired polymers and hydrogels, as well as biomimetic ceramics. Furthermore, the text concentrates on the biochemical and biophysical dimensions of bioinspired surface engineering. Both dry-lab and wet-lab methodologies for characterizing nature and bio-inspired materials and structures are also addressed. The publication seeks to promote the development of high-level translational knowledge among both established and emerging scientists.