In situ tissue regeneration harnesses the body’s regenerative potential to control cell functions for tissue repair. The design of biomaterials for in situ tissue engineering requires precise control over biophysical and biochemical cues to direct endogenous cells to the site of injury. These cues are required to induce regeneration by modulating the extracellular microenvironment or driving cellular reprogramming. In this Review, we outline two biomaterials approaches to control the regenerative capacity of the body for tissue-specific regeneration. The first approach includes the use of bioresponsive materials with an ability to direct endogenous cells, including immune cells and progenitor or stem cells, to facilitate tissue healing, integration and regeneration. The second approach focuses on in situ cellular reprogramming via delivery of transcription factors, RNA-based therapeutics, in vivo gene editing and biomaterials-driven epigenetic transformation. In addition, we highlight tools for engineering the next generation of biomaterials to modulate in situ tissue regeneration. Overall, leveraging the regenerative potential of the human body via engineered biomaterials is a simple and effective approach to replace injured or diseased tissues.

原位组织再生可利用人体的再生潜力来控制细胞功能以进行组织修复。用于原位组织工程的生物材料的设计需要对生物物理和生化线索的精确控制，以将内源性细胞引导至损伤部位。这些提示是通过调节细胞外微环境或驱动细胞重编程来诱导再生的。在这篇综述中，我们概述了两种生物材料方法来控制机体组织特异性再生的再生能力。第一种方法包括使用具有生物反应性的材料，该材料具有引导内源性细胞（包括免疫细胞和祖细胞或干细胞）的能力，以促进组织的愈合，整合和再生。第二种方法着重于通过传递转录因子，基于RNA的疗法，体内基因编辑和生物材料驱动的表观遗传转化来进行原位细胞重编程。此外，我们重点介绍了用于工程化下一代生物材料以调节原位组织再生的工具。总体而言，通过工程生物材料来利用人体的再生潜力是一种简单有效的方法来替换受伤或患病的组织。