Fig. 8: Research hotspots of SNs in regenerative medicine.

(1) Drug Delivery: Surface modification of SNs enhances drug loading and delivery efficiency, enabling controlled release and targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to specific sites. (2) Antibacterial Applications in Tissue Engineering: SNs are primarily loaded with antimicrobial drugs to achieve antibacterial effects. Collaborative antimicrobial platforms enhance their efficacy against bacterial resistance and compromised immune function. By incorporating SNs into scaffolds and dressings, they can simultaneously combat infection and promote tissue regeneration. (3) Bone Regeneration: SNs support bone regeneration through four key strategies, including, Loading therapeutic agents (e.g., drugs, cytokines, metal ions, and genes) to promote osteogenic cell differentiation or inhibit osteoclast activity; Stimulating bone angiogenesis to provide nutritional support for new bone formation; Modulating the bone immune microenvironment to promote cytokine secretion that supports osteogenesis or suppresses osteoclasts; Regulating the nerve microenvironment to enhance bone regeneration further. (4) Wound Healing: SNs are utilized across all critical phases of wound healing, including hemostasis, inflammatory response, cell proliferation and differentiation, and tissue remodeling. This schematic highlights the diverse therapeutic applications of SNs in regenerative medicine, showcasing their potential to address complex clinical challenges