Hydrogels and artificial intelligence (AI) in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM): an update on ‘skin and bones’

Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) is a field that has emerged from the need to repair tissues and regenerate their functional abilities, effectively and precisely to address current pitfalls for skin and bone related conditions. This area of research has witnessed a significant increase in interest amongst the biomedical, surgical, and engineering communities, as TERM brings these areas together to drive societal impact. Briefly, it uses a mechanical base (progenitor cells), growth factors, and extracellular matrix (ECM) to mimic the physiological structure in vitro . Musculoskeletal (MSK) challenges like diseases and fracture repair, and skin conditions, including burns, wounds, or even aesthetic applications, often have only one endpoint - surgery. TERM can provide a minimally invasive approach, personalised to the patient’s needs, based on the size of the injury and on the use of patient-derived cells. Our manuscript will focus on recent trends in 3D-printed hydrogels for skin and bone regeneration. The novelty of our work lies in exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and skin and bone TERM. We begin by discussing our knowledge to date in the field with the advent of AI. We then outline studies specific to MSK and skin-related conditions in the last 5 years. We finally explore how AI can enhance hydrogel-based tissue engineering for patients in need, taking a step towards precision medicine.