Recent advances in intelligent oxygen delivery systems for tissue regeneration

Abstract

Oxygen plays a critical regulatory role in tissue repair and regeneration. However, in the microenvironment of tissues with vascular damage, hypoxia is commonly present. This not only suppresses cell proliferation and differentiation but also delays angiogenesis and extracellular matrix reconstruction, ultimately hindering the tissue regeneration process. Therefore, developing oxygen delivery strategies that can effectively enhance local oxygen levels has become one of the key approaches to promoting tissue regeneration. Traditional oxygen delivery strategies for tissue regeneration face several challenges, including inadequate sustained oxygen supply, poor targeting ability, and limited biocompatibility. To address these limitations, researchers have developed a variety of “intelligent oxygen delivery systems.” These systems can dynamically regulate oxygen release and achieve tissue-specific targeted delivery by responding to environmental or external stimuli, thereby significantly improving the precision and efficacy of oxygen therapy. This review systematically summarizes the biological functions of oxygen in tissue regeneration, with a particular focus on intelligent strategies for oxygen generation and supply developed in recent years. In addition, this review discusses the oxygen generation mechanisms, release kinetics, biocompatibility, application potential, and limitations of various oxygen delivery strategies. Finally, the review emphasizes that future designs of oxygen delivery systems should place greater emphasis on intelligent regulation, aiming to facilitate their clinical translation in tissue regeneration-related diseases such as chronic wounds, bone repair, and myocardial infarction.