Polymers have become essential in advancing bone tissue engineering, providing adaptable bone healing and regeneration solutions. Their biocompatibility and biodegradability make them ideal candidates for creating scaffolds that mimic the body’s natural extracellular matrix (ECM). However, significant challenges remain, including degradation by-products, insufficient mechanical strength, and suboptimal cellular interactions. This article addresses these challenges by evaluating the performance of polymers like poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), polycaprolactone (PCL), and polylactic acid (PLA) in scaffold development. It also explores recent innovations, such as intelligent polymers, bioprinting, and the integration of bioactive molecules to enhance scaffold efficacy. We propose that overcoming current limitations requires a combination of novel biomaterials, advanced fabrication techniques, and tailored regulatory strategies. The future potential of polymer-based scaffolds in personalised regenerative medicine is discussed, focusing on their clinical applicability.

The rising demand for effective bone regeneration has underscored the limitations of traditional methods like autografts and allografts, including donor site morbidity and insufficient biological signaling. This review examines nanoparticles (NPs) in tissue engineering (TE) to address these challenges, evaluating polymers, metals, ceramics, and composites for their potential to enhance osteogenesis and angiogenesis by mimicking the extracellular matrix (ECM) nanostructure. The methods involved synthesizing and characterizing nanoparticle-based scaffoldsand integrating hydroxyapatite (HAp) with polymers to enhance mechanical properties and osteogenic potential. The results showed that these NPs significantly promote cell growth, differentiation, and bone formation, with carbon-based NPs like graphene and carbon nanotubes showing promise. NPs offer versatile, biocompatible, and customizable scaffolds that enhance drug delivery and support bone repair. Despite promising results, challenges with cytotoxicity, biodistribution, and immune responses remain. Addressing these issues through surface modifications and biocompatible molecules can improve the biocompatibility and efficacy of nanomaterials. Future research should focus on long-term in vivo studies to assess the safety and efficacy of NP-based scaffolds and explore synergistic effects with other bioactive molecules or growth factors. This review underscores the transformative potential of NPs in advancing BTE and calls for further research to optimize these technologies for clinical applications.

Regenerative Endodontic Therapies (RETs) offer transformative potential by leveraging polymer-based scaffolds, stem cells, and growth factors to regenerate damaged dental pulp tissue, thereby restoring tooth vitality and prolonging tooth function. While conventional treatments focus on infection control, they often compromise the structural and biological integrity of the tooth. RETs, in contrast, aim to restore the natural function of the pulp–dentin complex by promoting cellular regeneration and immune modulation. In this context, biodegradable polymers—such as collagen, gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA), and synthetic alternatives—serve as scaffolding materials that mimic the extracellular matrix, support cell attachment and proliferation, and enable localized delivery of bioactive factors. Together, the tissue engineering triad—polymer-based scaffolds, stem cells, and signaling molecules—facilitates root development, apical closure, and increased fracture resistance. Recent innovations in polymeric scaffold design, including injectable hydrogels and 3D bioprinting technologies, have enhanced clinical translation by enabling minimally invasive and patient-specific RETs. Despite progress, challenges such as immune compatibility, scaffold degradation rates, and the standardization of clinical protocols remain. RETs, thus, represent a paradigm shift in dental care, aligning with the body’s intrinsic healing capacity and offering improved long-term outcomes for patients.

Tissue-engineered scaffolds, particularly composite scaffolds composed of polymers combined with ceramics, bioactive glasses, or nanomaterials, play a vital role in regenerative medicine by providing structural and biological support for tissue repair. As scaffold designs grow increasingly complex, the need for non-invasive imaging modalities capable of monitoring scaffold integration, degradation, and tissue regeneration in real-time has become critical. This review summarizes current non-invasive imaging techniques used to evaluate tissue-engineered constructs, including optical methods such as near-infrared fluorescence imaging (NIR), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and photoacoustic imaging (PAI); magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); X-ray-based approaches like computed tomography (CT); and ultrasound-based modalities. It discusses the unique advantages and limitations of each modality. Finally, the review identifies major challenges—including limited imaging depth, resolution trade-offs, and regulatory hurdles—and proposes future directions to enhance translational readiness and clinical adoption of imaging-guided tissue engineering (TE). Emerging prospects such as multimodal platforms and artificial intelligence (AI) assisted image analysis hold promise for improving precision, scalability, and clinical relevance in scaffold monitoring.

Background: Orthodontics and orthognathic surgery present challenges such as extended treatment durations, patient discomfort, and complications like root resorption. Recent advancements in tissue engineering and nanotechnology offer promising solutions by improving bone regeneration, periodontal repair, and biomaterial integration. Objectives: This review explores the integration of scaffold-based tissue engineering and nanotechnology in orthodontics, focusing on their roles in accelerating bone regeneration, reducing treatment times, and minimizing adverse effects to enhance the predictability and success of orthodontic interventions. Methods: Relevant literature was selected from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, focusing on studies related to scaffold technology, biomaterials, and nanotechnology in orthodontics. Keywords included “tissue engineering”, “orthodontics”, “biomaterials”, “scaffolds”, “nanotechnology”, and “bone regeneration”. Priority was given to peer-reviewed original studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses addressing innovative treatment approaches and clinical outcomes. Results: Findings indicate that scaffolds enhance bone regeneration and periodontal repair, while nanoparticles improve biomaterial integration and drug delivery efficiency. These advancements contribute to faster, more predictable orthodontic treatments with reduced complications. However, challenges such as high costs, regulatory hurdles, and the need for long-term clinical validation remain barriers to widespread adoption. Conclusions: Tissue engineering and nanotechnology offer minimally invasive, biologically driven solutions for orthodontic treatment. While significant progress has been made, further clinical studies, cost-effective strategies, and regulatory approvals are needed to integrate these innovations into routine practice.

The integration of 3D printing technology in maxillofacial surgery in Iran represents a significant advancement in medical practice, offering unprecedented precision and efficiency in surgical procedures. Employing the Non-Adoption, Abandonment, Scale-Up, Spread, and Sustainability (NASSS) framework and the WHO Health Systems Framework, this study analyzes the complex impact and challenges of 3D printing adoption within the Iranian healthcare sector. Maxillofacial surgery has seen transformative progress with 3D printing’s ability to produce accurate surgical models and customized implants. The results indicate a notable improvement in surgical precision and patient recovery times, alongside combatting identified barriers including technological access, cost, and skill acquisition. This conclusion underscores the critical need for targeted educational programs, policy support, and infrastructure development to overcome these obstacles. This paper highlights 3D printing’s potential to revolutionize maxillofacial surgery in Iran, provided that comprehensive strategies are implemented to address the current limitations and fully leverage this innovative technology’s benefits.