Unraveling and Harnessing the Immune Response at the Cell–Biomaterial Interface for Tissue Engineering Purposes

Abstract

Biomaterials are defined as “engineered materials” and include a range of natural and synthetic products, designed for the introduction into living tissue. Biomaterials are considered prominent tools in regenerative medicine that support the restoration of tissue defects and retain physiologic functionality. Although commonly used in the medical field, these constructs are inherently foreign towards the host and induce an immune response at the material‐tissue interface, defined as the foreign body response. A strong connection between the foreign body response and tissue regeneration has been suggested, in which an appropriate amount of immune response and macrophage polarization are necessary to trigger autologous tissue formation. Recent developments in this field have led to the characterization of immunomodulatory traits that optimizes bioactivity, the integration of biomaterials and determines the fate of tissue regeneration. This review addresses a variety of aspects that are involved in steering the inflammatory response, including immune cell interactions, physical characteristics, biochemical cues, and metabolomics. Harnessing the advancing knowledge of the FBR allows for the optimization of biomaterial‐based implants, aiming to prevent damage of the implant, improve natural regeneration and provide the tools for an efficient and successful in vivo implantation.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved