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.

Farnaz Ghorbani: Farnaz Ghorbani, PhD in Biomaterials, is a Research Fellow at Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol (UK), specializing in biomaterials and translational tissue engineering. She has received several prestigious awards and has led multiple multidisciplinary research projects as a Principal Investigator at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (Germany), University College London (UK), and Fudan University (China). She co-founded a company specializing in biomaterials and 3D printing (Tehran, Iran), underscoring her commitment to translating research into real-world applications. Her expertise lies in the design and development of bioinspired structures and materials, drawing inspiration from nature to engineer advanced biomaterials for regenerative medicine. Her research encompasses protein-mediated surface functionalization, aiming to enhance cell-material interactions and direct tissue regeneration. With a strong focus on translational strategies for osteochondral defect repair, she integrates surface modification techniques, bio-inspired scaffolds, and biomaterials-driven approaches to bridge the gap between fundamental research and clinical applications.

Behafarid Ghalandari: Behafarid Ghalandari, PhD in Biophysics, is a Research Fellow at the Division of Surgery and Interventional Science at University College London, specializing in biophysics and computational biomaterials research. His work has earned several prestigious awards, and he has led multiple interdisciplinary research projects as a principal investigator. He explores protein-based nanostructures and peptide-based materials using in silico and experimental methods, with applications in biomaterials science and biomedical engineering. Additionally, he investigates how proteins and peptides modify material surfaces to enhance biomaterial properties. His research also focuses on polymer- and nanoparticle-protein interactions, studied through spectroscopic and computational techniques. Leveraging his multidisciplinary expertise, he advances computational modelling and materials science, contributing to the development of novel biomaterials for medical and nanotechnology applications.

Chaozong Liu: Chaozong Liu is a Professor of Orthopaedic Bioengineering at UCL Institute of Orthopaedics & Musculoskeletal Science, Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, in associate with the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Stanmore. He is the MSc in Musculoskeletal Science Course Tutor, Group Leader of UCL Orthopaedic Bioengineering Group and the Director of Centre for Bioengineering and Surgical Technology the Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London. His current research is directed toward biomedical devices processing for enhancing the early diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. Specifically, his research interest includes (1) design and development of scaffolds for musculoskeletal tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. (2) Customized medical devices for intervention of musculoskeletal disorders. (3) biomedical device surface processing for regulate protein adsorption and cells attachment. (4) biomaterials and additive manufacturing innovation for orthopaedic medical devices.