Injectable Cryogels for Biomedical Applications: from Tissue Engineering to Immunotherapy
2026-04-29 11:00 - 12:30 (Europe/Moscow)
Sidi A. Bencherif
University of Rouen Normandy
Northeastern University

Across cell therapy, regenerative medicine, and immunoengineering, there is a need for advanced three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds that support cells, modulate their behavior, and guide tissue regeneration. Injectable biomaterials have become especially attractive, offering minimally invasive delivery without the risks of open surgery while enabling precise placement within delicate tissues. In this context, we introduced a breakthrough platform: large, preformed macroporous cryogels that can be delivered through a standard needle–syringe system while preserving their structure and function [1]. Our 2012 report of the first injectable cryogel capable of passing through a hypodermic needle while maintaining native-like microenvironmental cues sparked widespread interest and helped redefine the design space of soft biomaterials [2]. These sponge-like constructs, produced through environmentally friendly cryogelation, exhibit unique features—including elasticity, interconnected macroporosity, and shape-memory behavior enabling complete geometric recovery after injection. Over the past decade, injectable cryogels have emerged as a versatile and customizable class of biomaterials aligned with modern research priorities. They hold great promise for tissue repair, controlled drug delivery, cell therapies, cancer immunotherapy, and innovative vaccine platforms, including those developed during the COVID-19 era [3–5].
Acknowledgements
Financial support from the Chaire d’Excellence de Normandie is gratefully acknowledged.
References
[1] L.J. Egremont et al. Trends in Biotechnology 2019, 38:418–431.
[2] S.A. Bencherif et al. PNAS 2012, 109, 19590–19595.
[3] M. Rezaeeyazdi et al. Materials Today Bio 2022, 100207.
[4] S.A. Bencherif et al. Nature Communications 2015, 6:7556.
[5] T. Colombani et al. Advanced Science 2021, 2100316.

About speaker
Sidi A. Bencherif, Ph.D., is a senior researcher at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and a faculty-affiliated principal investigator at the University of Rouen Normandy. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Carnegie Mellon University and completed his postdoctoral training at Harvard University. His research focuses on the design and development of advanced biomaterials—particularly injectable and macroporous cryogels—for applications in regenerative medicine, controlled drug delivery, and cancer immunotherapy. His work bridges fundamental materials science with translational biomedical applications. Dr. Bencherif has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications in leading journals, including Science, Nature Materials, Nature Communications, PNAS, Advanced Science, Bioactive Materials, Cell Biomaterials. His work has received ~15,000 citations (h-index: 51), and he is an inventor on 15 patents. He has been recognized among the world’s top 2% of most-cited scientists (Stanford/Elsevier) and has received numerous prestigious honors, including the U.S. NSF CAREER Award, ACS PMSE Young Investigator Award, ACS I&EC Influential Researcher Award, BMES-CMBE Rising Star Award, and more recently the Normandy “Chair of Excellence.”

The Light of Science Shines at UNAM NanoDay 2026 on May 8
2026-05-08 08:30 - 18:00
NanoDay 2026, organized by the Bilkent University National Nanotechnology Research Center (UNAM), bringing together leading figures from the international scientific community, will take place on Friday, May 8, 2026.
As part of NanoDay 2026, UNAM will host Prof. Valentin Valtchev from the University of Caen Normandy and CNRS, recognized for his pioneering work in porous materials and zeolite chemistry, as well as Prof. Roland Netz from Freie Universität Berlin, renowned for his work in soft matter and theoretical physics.
Bringing together scientists, researchers, students, and industry representatives from Türkiye and around the world, NanoDay has, for 12 years, served as a prominent platform for sharing the latest developments in science. To date, 35 distinguished speakers from some of the world’s most prestigious academic institutions—including Harvard, ETH Zurich, the Max Planck Institutes, and Northwestern University—have shared their expertise in nanotechnology, photonics, biomedical engineering, materials science, quantum optics, and biotechnology, inspiring more than 3,000 participants.
For more information and registration, you can visit the NanoDay website.
