The Electrifying Future of Bone Regeneration: a Decade of Innovation from Xuliang Deng and Colleagues at the Peking University School of Stomatology.

Bone, a dynamic and complex tissue, possesses limited regenerative potential, which poses formidable challenges in orthopaedic surgery and clinical dentistry. In particular, for large bone defects beyond critical size, compromised physiological conditions due to comorbidities (i.e. osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes) or severe trauma, its intrinsic healing capacity often falls short, necessitating advanced therapeutic interventions. For decades, research on bone regeneration has predominantly focused on biomaterial design, growth factor delivery and cell-based therapies. More recently, a paradigm shift has occurred, recognising the critical role of the bioelectric microenvironment in orchestrating bone homeostasis and repair. At the forefront of this exciting field, the pioneering work of Professor Xuliang Deng and colleagues at Peking University School of Stomatology has systematically elucidated the intricate interplay between electrical signalling cues and bone regeneration, paving the way for novel electroactive biomaterial strategies. These are summarised by the accompanying review article,1 which is published in this issue of the Chinese Journal of Dental Research.