In this review, recent advances in biomaterials developed to favor tissue repair are presented. The focus is particularly on devices used to promote bone repair, skin wound healing and nerve regeneration. In each case, the specifications for an ideal substitute and the recent advances in the field of these biomaterials are presented. Alternatively, drug delivery systems associated with biomaterials have been developed over the recent decades to stimulate wound healing without any side effects. For this purpose, the overview presents recent advances in medicated dressings for controlled release of antibiotic to prevent infections, growth factors to promote tissue regeneration and gene delivery to modulate cell phenotype.