Biofabrication Technologies: Novel Tools for More Effective Personalized Medicine and Regenerative Therapies

A special issue of Bioengineering (ISSN 2306-5354). This special issue belongs to the section "Regenerative Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 472

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Research Center E. Piaggio and Department of Information Engineering, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Interests: bioengineering; biomedical engineering; tissue engineering; microfabrication; bioreactors for tissue culture; microactuators fabrication
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Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacy, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Interests: microRNA; anticancer drugs; circulating biomarkers; marine compounds; natural compounds; melanoma
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Interests: phytochemistry; isolation and characterization of natural compounds; bioactivity of natural compounds on skin disease models

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Driven by innovations in engineering, biology, and biomaterials, as well as by its own potential, the field of biofabrication has evolved rapidly in the last two decades, creating marvelous opportunities and enabling new research directions within personalized biomedicine and regenerative therapies. Because the impact of this research field has been and continues to be enormous, this Special Issue invites scientists working at universities, research institutes, laboratories, and in different industries to discuss state-of-the-art research and the latest developments in the biofabrication technologies used to define novel approaches in regenerative and/or personalized medicine, which will enable us to overcome the limitations of animal model validation and to speed up their clinical application, while taking into account their quality and regulation.

In this Special Issue, we welcome full articles, short communications, and reviews that highlight the recent findings that have broadened the horizons of biofabrication, including, but not limited to, new bioinks, new biofabrication approaches and technological advancements, progress in the translation of biofabrication technologies from bench to bedside, novel 3D models in regenerative and personalized medicine, non-destructive methods used for characterization, and achievements in the regulatory field.

It is our pleasure to invite submissions to this Special Issue of Bioengineering.

Prof. Dr. Giovanni Vozzi
Prof. Dr. Paola Nieri
Dr. Mauro Di Stasi
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • biodegradable polymers
  • biocompatible polymers
  • biomedical applications
  • biomaterials
  • renewable biomaterials
  • tissue engineering
  • regenerative medicine
  • biofabrication and bioprinting
  • personalized medicine
  • 3D tissue models

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

21 pages, 10700 KB  
Article
A 3D ColMA-Based Tenogenic Microenvironment Unveils the Behavior of Tendon Stem/Progenitor Cells (TSPCs) from Tendinopathic Surgical Explants
by Giacomo Cortella, Erwin Pavel Lamparelli, Joseph Lovecchio, Emanuele Giordano, Nicola Maffulli and Giovanna Della Porta
Bioengineering 2025, 12(12), 1337; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering12121337 - 8 Dec 2025
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Abstract
Tendon injuries present significant clinical challenges due to limited intrinsic healing and complex pathological mechanisms. Here, we developed a novel 3D bioprinted methacrylated type I collagen (ColMA) scaffold integrated with Growth Differentiation Factor-5 (GDF-5)-loaded Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles and dynamically cultured it [...] Read more.
Tendon injuries present significant clinical challenges due to limited intrinsic healing and complex pathological mechanisms. Here, we developed a novel 3D bioprinted methacrylated type I collagen (ColMA) scaffold integrated with Growth Differentiation Factor-5 (GDF-5)-loaded Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles and dynamically cultured it under perfusion to establish a tenogenic microenvironment in vitro. Pathological human Tendon Stem/Progenitor Cells (hTSPCs) derived from tendinopathic surgical explants were encapsulated to investigate their impaired extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and associated pro-inflammatory signaling. GDF-5-loaded nanoparticles (average diameter 140 ± 40 nm) were fabricated via microfluidic-assisted nanoprecipitation and homogeneously incorporated within the ColMA synthetic ECM to enable sustained growth factor release. Continuous perfusion culture (1 mL/min) ensured efficient mass transfer and supported cell viability above 70% over 21 days. Pathological hTSPCs exhibited impaired ECM remodeling, characterized by the absence of type I collagen and a 2.56-fold increase in type III collagen at day 7, indicative of a fibrotic-like phenotype. Western blot densitometry demonstrated a 5.31-fold elevation in secreted tenomodulin at day 14, while ECM analysis verified a type III to type I collagen ratio of 4.5. In addition, a markedly pro-inflammatory cytokine profile was observed, with elevated secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) from day 7 onward, consistent with the chronic inflammatory status of cells derived from pathological tendon tissues. This modular 3D platform represents a robust in vitro model for mechanistic studies and the advancement of personalized regenerative strategies targeting chronic tendon disorders. Full article
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