Next-generation tissue regeneration through theranostic nanogels: rewiring repair pathways for precision and...

Theranostic nanogels have emerged as a promising class of biomaterials proficient in integrating therapeutic delivery with real-time diagnostic feedback, offering a new level of precision in regenerative medicine. Recent advances in multifunctional nanogel systems have been designed to predict pathological microenvironments, deliver targeted therapeutics, and enable non-invasive monitoring of tissue repair. Key developments in stimuli-responsive drug release, bioinspired surface functionalisation, and advanced imaging combination are critically discussed across applications, including wound healing, cartilage and bone repair, and myocardial regeneration. This review highlights how intelligent nanogels can respond dynamically to biochemical gradients, such as hypoxia, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers, enabling closed-loop therapeutic control. Despite significant progress, major translational barriers remain, particularly in scalable manufacturing, regulatory harmonisation, long-term biosafety, and reproducibility under GMP conditions. This review concludes that while Theranostic nanogels represent a transformative platform for personalised regenerative therapies, coordinated advances in materials engineering, regulatory science, and clinical validation are essential to realise their full clinical potential.