Greener nanomaterials for soft tissue regeneration: Diagnostic and therapeutic advances

Abstract

Soft tissue injuries and organ dysfunction present significant medical challenges, however, nanotechnology using green chemistry offers a transformative approach to address these issues. Greener nanomaterials are synthesized with the principles of green chemistry using environmentally benign and sustainable methods that minimize toxic byproducts, energy consumption, and hazardous waste. Greener nanomaterials facilitate targeted drug delivery and act as scaffolds to encourage cellular attachment, growth, and differentiation to promote the regeneration of particular tissues. Moreover, greener nanomaterials have great potential to improve the efficacy and biocompatibility of regenerative medicine, addressing toxicity concerns associated with conventional nanomaterials. From a diagnostic perspective, recent studies have demonstrated that these materials allow non-intrusive as well as accurate examination of tissue regeneration processes through enhanced imaging techniques like Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT), along fluorescence-based imaging. These techniques offer improved sensitivity, real-time visualization, and higher biocompatibility when combined with biosynthesized metallic nanoparticles like gold and silver. The present article demonstrates the role and different types of greener nanomaterials in diagnosing and managing soft tissue regeneration. Furthermore, we critically assessed the challenges and clinical translations related to greener nanomaterials.