Suresh N, Lekhavadhani S, Selvamurugan N. Advances in polymer-based hydrogel systems for adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells toward bone regeneration. World J Orthop 2026; 17(1): 113228 [DOI: 10.5312/wjo.v17.i1.113228]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Nagarajan Selvamurugan, PhD, Professor, Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, School of Bioengineering, Kattankulathur 603203, Tamil Nādu, India. selvamun@srmist.edu.in
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Cell & Tissue Engineering
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Review
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This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Jan 18, 2026 (publication date) through Jan 9, 2026
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Publication Name
World Journal of Orthopedics
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2218-5836
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Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
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Suresh N, Lekhavadhani S, Selvamurugan N. Advances in polymer-based hydrogel systems for adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells toward bone regeneration. World J Orthop 2026; 17(1): 113228 [DOI: 10.5312/wjo.v17.i1.113228]
Nivetha Suresh, Sundaravadhanan Lekhavadhani, Nagarajan Selvamurugan, Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur 603203, Tamil Nādu, India
Author contributions: Suresh N contributed to original draft preparation, visualization, investigation, and conceptualization; Lekhavadhani S contributed to writing-review and editing, and supervision; Selvamurugan N contributed to writing-review and editing, supervision, resources, investigation, funding acquisition, formal analysis, and conceptualization; all authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: There are no conflicts to declare.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Nagarajan Selvamurugan, PhD, Professor, Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, School of Bioengineering, Kattankulathur 603203, Tamil Nādu, India. selvamun@srmist.edu.in
Received: August 20, 2025 Revised: September 25, 2025 Accepted: November 12, 2025 Published online: January 18, 2026 Processing time: 143 Days and 3.8 Hours
Abstract
Bone regeneration for non-load-bearing defects remains a significant clinical challenge requiring advanced biomaterials and cellular strategies. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) have garnered significant interest in bone tissue engineering (BTE) because of their abundant availability, minimally invasive harvesting procedures, and robust differentiation potential into osteogenic lineages. Unlike bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, AD-MSCs can be easily obtained in large quantities, making them appealing alternatives for therapeutic applications. This review explores hydrogels containing polymers, such as chitosan, collagen, gelatin, and hyaluronic acid, and their composites, tailored for BTE, and emphasizes the importance of these hydrogels as scaffolds for the delivery of AD-MSCs. Various hydrogel fabrication techniques and biocompatibility assessments are discussed, along with innovative modifications to enhance osteogenesis. This review also briefly outlines AD-MSC isolation methods and advanced embedding techniques for precise cell placement, such as direct encapsulation and three-dimensional bioprinting. We discuss the mechanisms of bone regeneration in the AD-MSC-laden hydrogels, including osteoinduction, vascularization, and extracellular matrix remodeling. We also review the preclinical and clinical applications of AD-MSC-hydrogel systems, emphasizing their success and limitations. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of AD-MSC-based hydrogel systems to guide the development of effective therapies for bone regeneration.
Core Tip: This review highlights the critical need for advanced biomaterials in bone regeneration, emphasizing hydrogels as optimized scaffolds for adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell delivery. The innovative aspect of this study lies in its comprehensive analysis of polymer-based hydrogels synthesis, advanced embedding techniques such as three-dimensional bioprinting, and osteoinductive modifications to enhance bone regeneration. Advancements in biomaterial engineering and stem cell technology will be essential for developing effective and clinically applicable bone tissue engineering strategies. Future research should focus on addressing scalability, regulatory challenges, and long-term safety to facilitate clinical translation.
