Advances in Soft Tissue Engineering and Therapeutic Targets on Skin Lesions

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to compile cutting-edge research and review articles that address the significant clinical challenges in the treatment of soft tissue defects resulting from traumatic injury or tumor resection, which include, but are not limited to, volumetric muscle loss reconstruction; peripheral nerve injury and repair; fat grafting and adipose tissue regeneration and engineering, particularly skin lesions such as skin cancer and keloids; and skin wound healing, regeneration and skin substitutes engineering. The scope encompasses the entire spectrum of innovative strategies aimed at restoring functional soft tissue, moving beyond conventional treatment such as passive wound coverings and tissue grafting (muscle, skin, fat, nerve, etc.) to active, biomimetic therapeutic approaches with advanced bioengineering technologies. A primary focus is on engineering sophisticated in vitro models, such as 3D-bioprinted soft tissue constructs and tumor spheroids, which recapitulate the complex microenvironment of both tissue healing and cutaneous tumors. These models are crucial for deciphering fundamental disease mechanisms, from dysregulated inflammation and fibrosis in chronic wounds to the invasive proliferation and metastatic signaling in skin cancers and keloids. Concurrently, this Special Issue will explore novel therapeutic targets and delivery systems that not only promote regeneration, but also serve as platforms for localized, controlled drug delivery for cancer treatment. By uniting foundational insights with bioengineering applications, this collection aims to accelerate the translation of integrated diagnostic and therapeutic solutions for a spectrum of soft tissue defects and diseases from muscles and nerves to skin, ranging from diabetic ulcers, trauma, and scars to malignant neoplasms. 

Dr. Qixu Zhang
Guest Editor

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