Engineering biomedical membranes for guided bone regeneration

Guided bone regeneration (GBR) is a widely employed clinical strategy that utilizes biomedical membranes to create a physical barrier between soft tissue and bone defects, thereby facilitating bone regeneration following trauma, tumor resection, or periodontitis. In complex clinical scenarios, GBR membranes must combine robust mechanical strength to resist physiological forces, sufficient conformability to adapt to irregular bony surfaces, and dual-functionality to both support cell colonization and prevent bacterial infection. Achieving this intricate balance of properties represents a significant challenge in tissue engineering. In this review, we first outline the essential requirements of an ideal GBR membrane and summarize the classification and clinical applications of current commercial products. We then highlight advanced modification strategies and representative materials that have been developed to endow GBR membranes with enhanced osteogenic and antibacterial functions. Finally, we discuss the remaining challenges and propose future research directions aimed at improving the clinical performance and therapeutic outcomes of GBR membranes.