Immunomodulatory Biomaterials for Bone and Soft Tissue Chronic Inflammation Diseases

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Chronic inflammatory diseases of bone and soft tissue pose significant clinical challenges due to their complex pathogenesis and the limitations of conventional therapies, which often fail to address immune microenvironment dysregulation. This review explores the pivotal roles of key immune cells (including mast cells, macrophages, neutrophils, T cells, B cells, and dendritic cells) in driving inflammatory progression and tissue damage through dynamic cellular interactions and cytokine networks. It systematically analyzes the molecular and structural foundations of immunomodulatory biomaterials, such as nanoparticles, hydrogels, and scaffolds, which offer precise spatiotemporal control over immune cell phenotypes and inflammatory mediators. By integrating advances in immunology and materials science, this review highlights how surface functionalization, controlled drug release, and composite material strategies synergistically restore immune homeostasis and promote tissue regeneration. Studies across common chronic inflammatory diseases (e.g., osteoporosis, osteomyelitis, osteoarthritis, diabetic wounds, spinal cord injury, and intervertebral disc degeneration) demonstrate the therapeutic potential of biomaterial-mediated immunomodulation, such as nanoparticle-driven macrophage polarization, cytokine-loaded hydrogel-mediated immune cell balance, and scaffold-guided immune cell

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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