The Role of Membranes in Tissue Regeneration Therapy: State of the Art and Future Perspectives

Abstract Membranes for tissue regeneration are an indispensable class of biomaterials in regenerative medicine, serving as selective barriers and matrices for the reconstruction of various tissues. Essential characteristics for the clinical success of a biomaterial include its biocompatibility, degradation kinetics, mechanical properties, and bioactivity, which are the focus of this review, with an emphasis on the importance of immunomodulation and the host response. The main clinical applications of this class of biomaterials are directed towards bone, cartilage, skin, and neural regeneration. In addition to evaluating the essential characteristics of these membranes, innovations such as smart, stimuli-responsive, and bioelectric membranes, as well as advances in 4D bioprinting, were also addressed. It is concluded that, despite established clinical success, the main challenges lie in overcoming material variability, vascularizing large-volume defects, and translating advanced technologies into clinical practice. Future perspectives point towards the development of personalized, smart, and bio-instructive membranes capable of actively orchestrating the regeneration process.