Biomaterial Applications in Bone Tumor Therapy and Regenerative Medicine

The treatment of malignant bone tumours presents a dual challenge: eradication of residual cancer cells and restoration of surgically resected bone. Conventional therapies such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery often leave critical defects and carry systemic toxicity and risk of recurrence. Biomaterials designed for bone tumour therapy and regenerative medicine merge targeted ablation modalities—photothermal, gas, chemodynamic and sonodynamic therapies—with tissue-engineering scaffolds, hydrogels and nanocomposites that provide mechanical support and bioactive cues. Advances in three-dimensional printing and nanomaterial integration have enabled customised constructs that control the release of therapeutic agents, such as nitric oxide, metal ions or chemotherapeutics, alongside osteoinductive and angiogenic properties. Materials including calcium silicate, polycaprolactone, graphene oxide and MXene nanosheets have been functionalised with gold nanoparticles, molybdenum disulphide or Prussian blue analogues to effect precise tumour hyperthermia, reactive species generation and gas therapy, while releasing calcium, phosphate or other ions to stimulate new bone formation and vascularisation. This interdisciplinary endeavour offers minimally invasive, localised treatments that reduce side effects and promote bone regeneration, addressing both oncological safety and skeletal function on a global scale.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Multifunctional magnetic mesoporous calcium silicate/chitosan scaffolds incorporate M-type strontium ferrite particles and mesoporous calcium silicate to yield a platform that couples photothermal ablation with controlled drug release. Under near-infrared irradiation, the scaffold elevates local temperature and triggers doxorubicin release, synergistically eradicating osteosarcoma cells. Concurrently, released calcium and silicate ions activate the BMP-2/Smad/Runx2 signalling pathway in bone marrow stromal cells, promoting proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. In vivo studies confirm robust tumour suppression alongside accelerated repair of critical-sized bone defects, exemplifying a dual-action material strategy.

Biomaterial Applications in Bone Tumor Therapy and Regenerative Medicine publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in biomaterial applications in bone tumor therapy and regenerative medicine across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Photothermal therapy: Localised tumour ablation through temperature elevation induced by light-absorbing materials under near-infrared irradiation.

Chemodynamic therapy: In situ generation of reactive oxygen species via catalytic reactions to induce cancer cell death.

Sonodynamic therapy: Ultrasound-triggered production of cytotoxic species from sensitiser materials to target tumour or bacterial cells.

Osteogenesis: The process of new bone formation by osteoblasts and recruited progenitor cells.

Scaffold: Three-dimensional support structure that guides cell attachment, proliferation and tissue regeneration.

References

1. The effect of sodium nitroprusside in scaffolds for synergetic gas‐photothermal therapy of osteosarcoma. BMEMat (2025).
2. “Antenna Effect”‐Enhanced AuNPs@rGO Photothermal Coating Promotes 3D Printing of Osteogenic Active Scaffolds to Repair Bone Defects after Malignant Tumor Surgery. Advanced Science (2025).
3. Bioactive VS4-based sonosensitizer for robust chemodynamic, sonodynamic and osteogenic therapy of infected bone defects. Journal of Nanobiotechnology (2024).
4. Magnetic Mesoporous Calcium Sillicate/Chitosan Porous Scaffolds for Enhanced Bone Regeneration and Photothermal-Chemotherapy of Osteosarcoma. Scientific Reports (2018).