Inorganic Chiral Nanomaterials in Tissue Engineering Applications: Mini Review

All inorganic nanomaterials such as gold, silica, and cobalt oxide nanoparticles are transforming tissue engineering by providing enantioselective properties with unique characteristics that are mimicking the chirality of biological systems, allowing the precise modulation of cellular behaviors like differentiation and alignment. It is essential for the regeneration of complex tissues such as bone, cartilage, and neural networks, but their clinical application is being obstructed by considerable challenges such as the inability to sustain consistent chirality during synthesis. There are limited means to characterize their molecular structure, the high cost of their production, which constrains their scalability, and the long-term biocompatibility. There are different concerns of these materials in physiological environments, which call for novel solutions such as machine learning-aided synthesis, bioinspired mineralization, and interfacing with cutting-edge technologies such as 3D and 4D bioprinting to design biomimetic scaffolds that facilitate enhanced tissue regeneration. The personalized strategies that are modifying nanomaterial properties to match the distinct requirements of individual patients have the promise of enhancing therapeutic outcomes, and collaborations among materials science, bioengineering, and clinical expertise are needed to standardize protocols, overcome regulatory barriers, and tap the full potential of these nanomaterials. This review is hence a critical appraisal of their revolutionary potential, present limitations, and future promise in enhancing regenerative medicines. [Figure: see text].