The use of natural materials in regenerative orthopaedics has undergone significant evolution over many centuries. What began as the use of simple animal sinews and plant fibers for stabilizing fractures has now expanded into sophisticated biomaterials that are integral to modern regenerative medicine. Natural substances like collagen, silk fibroin, chitosan, and cellulose are now crucial in tissue engineering, providing innovative bone and cartilage regeneration solutions. Despite their promise, natural materials face challenges such as mechanical limitations, biodegradation rates, and immunogenicity. Additionally, advancements in 3D printing allow for the replacement of complex bone defects, particularly in trauma and tumour cases, but these remain non-biological solutions that lack permanent integration with host tissues. The emergence of hybrid materials—combining natural and synthetic components—offers new opportunities to enhance biomechanical properties and biocompatibility. Furthermore, emerging technologies such as gene editing and bioactive scaffolds are paving the way for more personalized and regenerative approaches. In this review paper, we will explore the historical progression of natural materials, their current applications, and the challenges that must be overcome to maximize their therapeutic potential in orthopaedic regenerative medicine. Ethical and sustainability considerations are also discussed. The review concludes with the authors’ vision for the future of the field.

Uncontrolled hemorrhage is still the great obstacle for saving life during accident or surgery. In addition, hemostatic materials integrating with both rapid hemostasis and wound healing functions are of great significance in clinic. In this work, we successfully developed graphene oxide/chitosan/calcium silicate aerogels with good hemostasis, anti-bacteria and wound healing abilities. The porous lamellar structure with interconnected channels were constructed in aerogels, which enabled the rapid liquid-absorbing capacity and certain elasticity. Moreover, the graphene oxide/chitosan/calcium silicate aerogels exhibited good blood clotting ability in vitro and fast stop bleeding effect in vivo, far exceeding the hemostatic effect of gauze. Additionally, the graphene oxide/chitosan/calcium silicate aerogels could not only accumulate blood cells to promote primary hemostasis, but also activate the intrinsic pathway of coagulation during second hemostasis owing to the graphene oxide and bioactive components (Ca and Si ions). For the repairing of infectious skin wounds, such aerogels could inhibit inflammation after photothermal therapy at early stage and achieve high healing quality after 14 days. These multifunctional aerogels are promising biomaterials for uncontrolled hemorrhage and subsequently tissue skin tissue healing of emergency trauma.

Chronic wounds present a multifactorial clinical challenge characterized by prolonged inflammation, microbial biofilm formation, oxidative stress, and impaired vascularization. Conventional wound dressings such as films, hydrogels, and decellularized matrices often fall short due to limited bioactivity, inadequate mechanical properties, and insufficient control over therapeutic delivery. This review highlights electrospun nanofiber membranes as advanced biomimetic platforms that replicate the structural and functional attributes of the extracellular matrix while enabling localized and sustained release of therapeutic agents. The novelty of this work lies in its systematic association of bioactive compounds including antimicrobial, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, oxygen releasing, and hemostatic agents with their specific biological targets in chronic wound healing. Also, the review critically examines fabrication techniques such as coaxial, emulsion, gas assisted, and stimuli responsive electrospinning, and evaluates how key processing parameters influence fiber morphology, drug release profiles, and cellular interactions. By integrating material science with mechanistic insight, this work provides a unified framework for the rational design of responsive nanofiber based wound dressings and outlines future directions involving smart delivery systems, biosensing integration, and three dimensional bioprinting to support clinical translation and personalized therapy. Emphasis is also placed on emerging multifunctional membranes capable of real-time interaction with wound pathophysiology. Challenges related to scalability, regulatory approval, and long-term biocompatibility are discussed to bridge the gap between laboratory findings and clinical adoption. This review ultimately serves as a foundation for developing next generation wound care strategies that are both mechanistically targeted and clinically adaptable.