Integrating macrophage biology and bioengineering for vascularization in regenerative medicine

Bilu Xiang; Chunyan Yang; Yi Lin; Xiang Wen; Lingna Meng; Yang Zhang

doi:10.1038/s41536-026-00499-2

August 18, 2026npj Regenerative MedicineOpen Access

Integrating macrophage biology and bioengineering for vascularization in regenerative medicine

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Key Points

To review biological mechanisms and bioengineering interventions that leverage macrophage immunomodulatory and angiogenic properties to establish functional vascular networks in regenerative medicine.
Synthesized molecular and cellular mechanisms linking dynamic macrophage phenotypes to angiogenic signaling and immunomodulation.
Assessed delivery modalities involving intact macrophages, bioactive cytokines, and extracellular vesicles alongside biomaterial, pharmacological, and physical modulation strategies.
Analyzed tissue-specific regenerative paradigms and bioengineering requirements across bone, skin, myocardium, skeletal muscle, and peripheral nerve models.
Direct delivery of macrophages, cytokines, or extracellular vesicles stimulates robust pro-angiogenic signaling cascades necessary for vessel initiation.
Modulating macrophage polarization through engineered biomaterial topographies, drug delivery systems, and physical cues promotes stable neovascularization.
Spatiotemporal regulation of macrophage activation is critical to meet distinct microenvironmental and architectural demands during bone, dermal, cardiac, muscular, and neural repair.

Implication

Review demonstrates bioengineering strategies targeting macrophage phenotype modulation to enhance tissue vascularization, highlighting approaches for precise spatiotemporal control in...

Abstract

Macrophages play central roles in vascularization during tissue regeneration through their dynamic immunomodulatory and angiogenic functions. This review summarizes strategies to regulate vascularization by directly delivering macrophages, cytokines, or extracellular vesicles, and by modulating macrophage phenotypes using biomaterials, drugs, physical cues, and cellular interactions. Tissue-specific macrophage regulation in bone, skin, heart, muscle, and nerve regeneration is discussed, together with challenges and emerging bioengineering technologies for precise spatiotemporal control of vascularization.

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Cite This Study

Xiang et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a86b56c8a91293e6a1ccbdb https://doi.org/10.1038/s41536-026-00499-2

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Integrating macrophage biology and bioengineering for vascularization in regenerative medicine

Key Points

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Integrating macrophage biology and bioengineering for vascularization in regenerative medicine

Key Points

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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