Mechanism-Inspired Biomaterials and Regenerative Therapies for Radiation-Induced Skin Injury

Ying Zhou,1,2 Xuewen Zhang,2 Xing Shen,2 Shuang Xing,2 Yong Yuan,2 Weiming Tian,1 Zuyin Yu2 1School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150080, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Experimental Hematology and Biochemistry, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, 100850, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Zuyin Yu, Department of Experimental Hematology and Biochemistry, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of China, Email yuzy79@163.com Weiming Tian, School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, People’s Republic of China, Email tianweiming@hit.edu.cnAbstract: Radiation-induced skin injury (RISI) represents the most common complication of cancer radiotherapy, severely impairing patient health and treatment adherence. Conventional therapies show limited benefits due to the complex pathological mechanisms of RISI, creating an urgent demand for more effective approaches. Emerging biomaterials and regenerative therapies offer new opportunities for intervention. This review first outlines the key mechanisms of RISI and then highlights the mechanism-driven biomaterial design, with particular focus on the rational selection of active ingredients and advanced delivery systems. We also examine regenerative therapies such as stem cell therapy and mitochondrial transplantation, emphasizing their potential to restore function at cellular or organelle levels. Finally, the major challenges and future directions of these therapeutic strategies in RISI treatment are discussed. Keywords: radiation-induced skin injury, biomaterials, regenerative therapies, wound healing