Editorial: Recent advancements in musculoskeletal regenerative medicine

Introduction Musculoskeletal regenerative medicine continues to evolve rapidly, offering renewed hope for patients with cartilage, bone, and joint disorders that currently lack durable treatments. This Research Topic features ten original contributions that collectively illustrate how the field is moving beyond traditional repair paradigms, integrating cellular engineering, smart biomaterials, immunomodulatory strategies, exosome signaling, and system-level insights. In this editorial, we contextualize these contributions, highlight their translational and clinical implications, and outline priorities for the future in musculoskeletal regeneration. Highlights from the Research Topic Kim et al. harnessed engineered MSCs expressing a doxycycline-inducible IL-1β "sticky-trap," a membrane-bound decoy receptor. The construct enables localized binding of IL-1β without systemic release, retaining it at joint surfaces. This innovative design allowed local, matrix-retained cytokine modulation while sparing systemic physiology. Intra-articular injection in a murine destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) model reduced cartilage degeneration, synovitis, and MMP-13 expression, while preserving type II collagen, illustrating the feasibility of durable, site-specific control of chronic inflammation, a major unmet need in osteoarthritis (OA). Peng et al. created a single-cell RNA sequencing atlas of cystic lesions in steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head and identified eight chondrocyte subsets, including homeostatic, fibrocartilaginous, inflammatory, and hypertrophic. A reparative hypertrophic population expressing CLIC3 showed osteogenic potential transitioning toward bone. Histology confirmed a cartilage-to-bone interface within lesions, outlining a reparative trajectory involving chondrocyte hypertrophy preceding bone formation. This atlas is a blueprint of in-situ repair processes in necrotic bone and identifies targetable cell populations for future therapy. This approach highlights how mapping cell states at disease interfaces can unveil targets for regeneration without the need for fully exogenous interventions. Chen et al. explored the dual role of graphene oxide (GO) in skeletal muscle regeneration and its downstream effects on osteoblasts, showing that larger GO particles (>500 nm) enhanced myoblast proliferation and differentiation via PI3K–Akt signaling and NFATc1 upregulation. Also, exosomes from GO-treated myoblasts also stimulate osteoblastogenesis by upregulating osteogenic genes in MC3T3-E1 cells, suggesting muscle–bone crosstalk. GO acts both as a scaffold that supports myogenic maturation and a modulator of paracrine signaling, with potential to coordinate musculoskeletal repair. By positioning muscle regeneration within the broader musculoskeletal unit, this work underscores the systemic perspective required for tissue repair, where local interventions may have cascading effects across connected tissues. Firoozi et al. compared meniscus-derived matrix scaffolds from healthy versus OA donors. While both supported fibro-chondrocyte viability and matrix deposition, only healthy donor scaffolds improved integration strength. Subtle biochemical or structural alterations in OA tissue may impair repair outcomes, even when decellularization is adequate. This work highlights the significance of donor tissue quality as an often-overlooked determinant of scaffold success, emphasizing the need for standardized screening or synthetic alternatives. Anderson-Watters and Khan demonstrated the ability of BMP9 in promoting cartilage maturation in high-density chondrocyte cultures. BMP9 improved collagen alignment, zonal organization, and proteoglycan content, resembling postnatal cartilage. These changes were accompanied by increased stiffness and matrix remodeling features often lacking in engineered constructs. The study supports BMP9 as a tool to accelerate functional maturation of engineered cartilage and addresses a critical translational gap between engineered and native tissues in load-bearing applications where constructs must not only survive implantation but also withstand mechanical load over time. Santiago et al. conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing platelet-rich plasma (PRP) versus PRP combined with hyaluronic acid (HA) for hip OA. While both treatments improved pain and function in the short term, PRP alone was more effective in pain relief. Since HA addition did not enhance outcomes and was occasionally linked to discomfort, the results question the additive value of HA and the need for protocol harmonization and evidence-based refinement of orthobiologic interventions before broad clinical uptake. Zhou et al. showed that Notoginsenoside R1 (NGR1), a compound from Panax notoginseng, protects chondrocytes from pyroptosis by attenuating IL-1β-induced cell death via Nrf2/HO-1 activation and NLRP3 downregulation. In a murine OA model, this translated into reduced cartilage damage and improved histological scores, adding to the promising trend of inflammatory cell-death inhibition as a strategy for joint preservation. Cai et al. reported on a biologically engineered bone–ligament–bone (BLB) graft using autologous rabbit synovial MSCs for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Fabricated in a single surgical step, the BLB graft supported ligament regeneration with organized collagen, improved vascularization, and integration at the bone interface, achieving mechanical and histological superiority over conventional grafts. Importantly, this single-step fabrication suggests scalable, scaffold-free, biologically active solutions for challenging ligament injuries such as ACL ruptures. Zhang et al. developed a dual-network multifunctional hydrogel combining MnO₂ nanosheets with ferric gallic acid nanoparticles to address inflammation and oxidative stress in cartilage defects. Beyond structural support, the hydrogel neutralized reactive oxygen species (ROS), and attenuated cytokine levels. In vivo tests showed enhanced chondrogenesis and matrix regeneration, resulting in improved histological outcomes. This dual functionality illustrates how next-generation biomaterials now merge structural scaffolding with intrinsic immuno-regulatory properties. Finally, Velot et al. provided a perspective acknowledging the contributions of women in stem cell–based OA therapies and underscoring ongoing disparities in recognition and leadership roles. This piece calls for systemic solutions and reminds us that advancing regenerative medicine is not just a technical endeavor, but also a sociocultural one tied to equity and inclusive leadership. Conclusions Collectively, these contributions demonstrate how musculoskeletal regenerative medicine is shifting toward precision interventions featuring targeted modulation of inflammation, the development of smarter scaffolds and biomaterials, and system-level insights for the interconnected biology of musculoskeletal tissues. The collection emphasizes not only structural regeneration but also functional recovery and long-term integration, which are fundamental for successful clinical outcomes. Through cytokine-neutralizing cell therapies, engineered biomaterials, and exosome-mediated communication, these methods bring truly personalized and biologically informed treatments within reach. Looking ahead, further progress will depend on robust models, standardized assessments, and a clear focus on both personalization and equity, ensuring the benefits of regenerative science extend widely. We thank all contributors for advancing the science and setting a foundation for the next generation of clinically robust, translationally relevant, and socially conscious regenerative strategies.