Dear Colleagues,

The use of a biofunctionalized scaffold with cells and/or soluble factors has emerged as a promising approach in the field of regenerative medicine. A biomaterial refers to a matrix that provides a specific environment and supports growth and development. An ideal scaffold must be biocompatible and nontoxic, and should improve cell viability, cell adhesion, and proliferation. Different scaffolds can be combined with cells, such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), that can promote bone regeneration through differentiation towards the osteogenic lineage or the release of specific soluble factors, or scaffolds can be primed with soluble molecules, including growth factors that can be delivered in the environment, performing therapeutic actions. In recent years, many isolation and culture technologies have been proposed for obtaining a large number of MSCs. These technologies have promoted the application of stem cells in research into disease mechanisms and clinical therapy. MSCs have their own advantages for therapeutic applications, avoiding the risks of immune rejection, directional regulation, and ethical controversy.

Better evaluating the tissue regeneration in scaffold/stem cell models, determining if the emerging imaging technologies fulfill all of the requirements for stem cell therapy research at present, and realizing their improvement and the development of multimodal molecular imaging systems will effectively promote the understanding of stem cell therapy biology and its mechanisms.

The aim of this Special Issue is to provide an overview of ongoing scientific research to better understand the molecular mechanisms involved in tissue regeneration and the evaluation of the aptitude of biofunctionalized scaffolds for future clinical applications. In vitro and/or in vivo studies could have a substantial impact on the development of stem cell-based regeneration strategies and in the identification of key biological regulation processes.

Dr. Francesca Diomede
Dr. Jacopo Pizzicanella
Guest Editors

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• regenerative medicine
• tissue engineering
• mesenchymal stem cells
• 3D-construct