Smart biomaterials in healthcare: Breakthroughs in tissue engineering, immunomodulation, patient-specific therapies, and biosensor applications.

This article provides a comprehensive review of smart biomaterials—engineered materials capable of responding dynamically to internal or external stimuli such as temperature, pH, light, magnetism, and electrical signals—and their transformative applications in biomedical fields. It details various classes of smart biomaterials, including shape memory alloys, pH-sensitive polymers, light- and temperature-responsive materials, magnetic and ionic biomaterials, conductive polymers, and piezoelectric materials, emphasizing their roles in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, biosensing, drug delivery, and implantable medical devices. The integration of smart biomaterials into advanced biofabrication techniques like 4D bioprinting and organ-on-a-chip (OoC) platforms is highlighted for creating dynamic, physiologically relevant models that improve disease modeling and personalized medicine. The review also discusses immunomodulatory aspects of biomaterials, challenges in clinical translation, and future directions involving self-healing materials, AI-driven design, and multifunctional implants, underscoring the potential of smart biomaterials to revolutionize healthcare through enhanced biocompatibility, responsiveness, and therapeutic efficacy.