Biomimetic mineralization for bone-tissue repair

The increasing global burden of bone tissue injuries and disorders, particularly in aging populations, demands advanced therapeutic strategies beyond traditional methods. While autologous and allogeneic bone grafts remain clinical standards, they are constrained by donor-site morbidity, limited availability, infection risks, and disease transmission. Conventional synthetic materials, including metals, ceramics, and polymers, often fail to fully recapitulate the structural and functional complexity of native bone tissue, resulting in suboptimal repair outcomes. This review aims to systematically summarize the principles, methodologies, material systems, and technological innovations of biomimetic mineralization for bone-tissue repair, and to provide a forward-looking perspective on its clinical translation. We conducted a comprehensive literature search and systematic review of studies on biomimetic mineralization for bone tissue engineering, covering publications from 2015 to 2026. The reviewed studies were categorized according to mineralization methodologies (simulated body fluid immersion, template-guided mineralization, and ion-dynamic regulation), material systems (inorganic materials, organic-inorganic composites, and bioactive molecular composites), and enabling fabrication technologies (electrospinning, three-dimensional/four-dimensional printing, and microfluidics). Key findings were synthesized to chart the conceptual evolution from static structural mimicry to dynamic, responsive mineralization systems. Biomimetic mineralization offers significant advantages over conventional approaches, including enhanced bioactivity, tunable degradation kinetics, and the capacity for sustained release of bioactive molecules such as growth factors and therapeutic ions. Material development has evolved from single-component scaffolds to sophisticated hierarchical composites that mimic the extracellular matrix of natural bone. Advanced fabrication techniques, particularly four-dimensional printing and microfluidic-based platforms, have enabled precise spatiotemporal control over mineralization processes and scaffold architecture. In vivo studies across multiple animal models have demonstrated improved bone regeneration outcomes, with enhanced mechanical properties and functional integration. However, challenges remain in replicating the hierarchical organization of native bone, matching scaffold degradation rates with heterogeneous regeneration kinetics, and ensuring long-term biosafety. Biomimetic mineralization represents a rapidly advancing alternative that addresses many shortcomings of traditional bone grafts. Future breakthroughs will require integration of real-time sensing, feedback-controlled ion delivery, and immune-modulating strategies to achieve not just structural repair but true functional and physiological reconstruction. Close collaboration among materials scientists, mechanobiologists, and clinicians will be essential to translate these promising strategies from bench to bedside.