The Role of Biomaterials in Enhancing Cell Therapy

BACKGROUND: Cell-based therapies are revolutionizing medicine by offering regenerative and immunomodulatory capabilities beyond traditional treatments. These therapies hold promise for diseases, such as cancer, autoimmune disorders, and diabetes. However, clinical translation is challenged by immune rejection, reduced cell viability, and poor control over therapeutic delivery. SUMMARY: Biomaterials can provide innovative solutions to these barriers by creating supportive environments, enhancing cell survival, and enabling targeted, sustained delivery. This review highlights advances in biomaterial strategies - including lipid and polymeric nanoparticles, hydrogels, fibrous scaffolds, and layer-by-layer assemblies - and their application across T-cell, macrophage, stem cells, and islet cell therapies. Each material class offers unique physicochemical and/or mechanical properties that can be tuned to meet the specific needs of different cell types and therapeutic contexts. KEY MESSAGES: Biomaterials provide critical tools for enhancing the efficacy and precision of cell-based therapies. Despite substantial progress, challenges remain with selecting the appropriate biomaterial for specific applications and retaining biocompatibility long term. The ongoing development of patient-specific and adaptable biomaterials holds promise for further breakthroughs in regenerative medicine. This review underscores the potential of biomaterials to drive forward the field of cell therapy, opening new avenues for treating a wide range of diseases.