Introduction: Regenerative medicine seeks to restore damaged tissues and organs, offering solutions for diseases that remain untreatable with conventional therapies. Stem cells, due to their self-renewal and multipotent differentiation capacity, have emerged as key players in this field. Recent advances have highlighted their potential in a wide range of clinical applications.
Methods: A comprehensive review of peer-reviewed articles published between 2018 and 2025 was conducted using PubMed and Scopus databases. Studies focusing on preclinical and clinical applications of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in regenerative medicine were analyzed.
Results: Recent findings demonstrate promising outcomes of MSC- and iPSC-based therapies in cardiovascular regeneration, neurodegenerative diseases, skin repair, and orthopedic injuries. Evidence suggests improved functional recovery and reduced complications compared with conventional treatments. However, major limitations remain, including risks of genetic instability, immune rejection, and challenges in large-scale production.
Conclusion: Stem cell–based therapies represent a transformative approach for regenerative medicine. While early results are encouraging, further work is needed to overcome safety and scalability challenges. Future directions are expected to integrate stem cell biology with gene editing, tissue engineering, and personalized medicine to enable broader clinical translation.