Current and future strategies of theragenerative platforms supplemented using biofabrication

Theragenerative platforms combine targeted tumor treatment and tissue regeneration into a single therapeutic approach, addressing both aspects simultaneously. This strategy is especially valuable in complex cancers such as bone, liver, and breast, where conventional therapies often result in irreversible tissue damage and incomplete recovery. Among various technological approaches, biofabrication has emerged as a promising tool for constructing multifunctional systems that modulate the tumor microenvironment (TME) while promoting tissue restoration. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of current theragenerative strategies, focusing on scaffold-based platforms that integrate energy-responsive therapeutic modalities (e.g., photothermal, magnetothermal) with controlled drug release. We highlight key biofabrication technologies, including three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting, electrospinning, and organ-specific scaffold designs, which support synergistic cancer eradication and tissue repair. Representative applications in bone, breast, liver, and skin cancers are discussed, with emphasis on TME modulation, activation of endogenous repair pathways, and personalized treatment enabled by multifunctional constructs. Despite recent progress, significant challenges remain. Antagonistic interactions between therapeutic and regenerative components, such as photothermal-induced cell damage or impaired extracellular matrix remodeling, can limit efficacy. Current approaches often overlook anatomical and immunological heterogeneity across cancer types. Furthermore, the spatial and temporal control of therapeutic effects within complex tissue environments remains difficult to achieve. Additionally, organ-specific barriers, such as the blood–brain barrier or enzymatic degradation in the gastrointestinal tract, complicate scaffold performance and drug delivery. To advance clinical translation, future theragenerative platforms must integrate precision biofabrication with adaptive feedback systems that allow real-time control while ensuring long-term biocompatibility and functional tissue integration.

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Publication Details

Journal
Applied Physics Reviews
Published
2026-01-27
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0291532
Primary Topic
3D Printing in Biomedical Research
Type
article
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article

Current and future strategies of theragenerative platforms supplemented using biofabrication

SooJung Chae, GeunHyung Kim, Junya Zhai, Hyeongjin Lee
Applied Physics Reviews
3D Printing in Biomedical Research
article

Current and future strategies of theragenerative platforms supplemented using biofabrication

SooJung Chae, GeunHyung Kim, Junya Zhai, Hyeongjin Lee
article en

Abstract

Theragenerative platforms combine targeted tumor treatment and tissue regeneration into a single therapeutic approach, addressing both aspects simultaneously. This strategy is especially valuable in complex cancers such as bone, liver, and breast, where conventional therapies often result in irreversible tissue damage and incomplete recovery. Among various technological approaches, biofabrication has emerged as a promising tool for constructing multifunctional systems that modulate the tumor microenvironment (TME) while promoting tissue restoration. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of current theragenerative strategies, focusing on scaffold-based platforms that integrate energy-responsive therapeutic modalities (e.g., photothermal, magnetothermal) with controlled drug release. We highlight key biofabrication technologies, including three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting, electrospinning, and organ-specific scaffold designs, which support synergistic cancer eradication and tissue repair. Representative applications in bone, breast, liver, and skin cancers are discussed, with emphasis on TME modulation, activation of endogenous repair pathways, and personalized treatment enabled by multifunctional constructs. Despite recent progress, significant challenges remain. Antagonistic interactions between therapeutic and regenerative components, such as photothermal-induced cell damage or impaired extracellular matrix remodeling, can limit efficacy. Current approaches often overlook anatomical and immunological heterogeneity across cancer types. Furthermore, the spatial and temporal control of therapeutic effects within complex tissue environments remains difficult to achieve. Additionally, organ-specific barriers, such as the blood–brain barrier or enzymatic degradation in the gastrointestinal tract, complicate scaffold performance and drug delivery. To advance clinical translation, future theragenerative platforms must integrate precision biofabrication with adaptive feedback systems that allow real-time control while ensuring long-term biocompatibility and functional tissue integration.

Applied Physics ReviewsVol. 13(1)
Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College (CN), Peking Union Medical College Hospital (CN), Sejong University (KR), Sungkyunkwan University (KR)
Openalex Percentile: Top 77%
3D Printing in Biomedical Research
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