Adaptive immunity of materials: Implications for tissue healing and regeneration
Jung‐Hwan Lee, Jung‐Hwan Lee, Seong‐Jin Shin, Jun Hee Lee, Jun Hee Lee, Jonathan C. Knowles, Hae‐Hyoung Lee, Hae‐Won Kim
Abstract
Recent cumulative findings signify the adaptive immunity of materials as a key agenda in tissue healing that can improve regenerative events and outcomes. Modulating immune responses, mainly the recruitment and functions of T and B cells and their further interplay with innate immune cells (e.g., dendritic cells, macrophages) can be orchestrated by materials. For instance, decellularized matrices have been shown to promote muscle healing by inducing T helper 2 (Th2) cell immunity, while synthetic biopolymers exhibit differential effects on B cell responses and fibrosis compared decellularized matrices. We discuss the recent findings on how implantable materials instruct the adaptive immune events and the subsequent tissue healing process. In particular, we dissect the materials’ physicochemical properties (shape, size, topology, degradation, rigidity, and matrix dynamic mechanics) to demonstrate the relations of these parameters with the adaptive immune responses in vitro and the underlying biological mechanisms. Furthermore, we present evidence of recent in vivo phenomena, including tissue healing, cancer progression, and fibrosis, wherein biomaterials potentially shape adaptive immune cell functions and in vivo outcomes. Our discussion will help understand the materials-regulated immunology events more deeply, and offer the design rationale of materials with tunable matrix properties for accelerated tissue repair and regeneration. During tissue healing process, biomaterials-mediated chemo-mechanical cues play significant role in mediating adaptive immunity by activating T cells and B cells. • Material-driven adaptive immunity modulates tissue repair and regeneration process. • Material cues recruit T and B cells, coordinate their functions alongside innate immunity. • The physicochemical properties of materials shape adaptive immune responses. • Biomaterials profoundly impact in vivo adaptive immune functions, influencing tissue healing, cancer progression, and fibrosis.