Cell transplantation holds immense potential for reversing diseases that are currently incurable and for regenerating tissues. However, poor cell survival, cell aggregation and lack of cell integration into the host tissue constitute major challenges for the clinical translation of cell transplantation approaches. Biomaterials can influence cell behaviour in vitro and in vivo. The mechanical and biochemical properties of biomaterials can be tailored to affect cell survival, differentiation and migration. Therefore, the integration of advanced material design with stem cell biology may hold the key to improving the efficacy of cell transplantation. In this Review, we discuss biomaterial design strategies for their potential to influence the fate of transplanted cells and to manipulate the host microenvironment. We examine how biomaterial properties can be modulated to improve transplanted cell survival, differentiation and cell engraftment and how the host tissue can be manipulated for cell transplantation by inducing plasticity and vascularization. Finally, we emphasize the importance of the host immune cells for tissue repair and cell transplantation and discuss strategies to tune the immune response through modulating the mechanical properties, architecture, chemistry and functionalization of biomaterials.

细胞移植具有逆转目前无法治愈的疾病和再生组织的巨大潜力。然而，不良的细胞存活，细胞聚集和缺乏细胞整合入宿主组织构成了细胞移植方法临床翻译的主要挑战。生物材料可以在体外和体内影响细胞行为。可以调整生物材料的机械和生化特性，以影响细胞存活，分化和迁移。因此，将先进的材料设计与干细胞生物学相结合可能是提高细胞移植功效的关键。在这篇综述中，我们讨论了生物材料设计策略的潜力，这些策略可能影响移植细胞的命运并操纵宿主的微环境。我们研究了如何调节生物材料的特性以改善移植细胞的存活，分化和细胞移植，以及如何通过诱导可塑性和血管化来对宿主组织进行细胞移植操作。最后，我们强调了宿主免疫细胞对组织修复和细胞移植的重要性，并讨论了通过调节生物材料的机械性能，结构，化学性质和功能来调节免疫反应的策略。