Biomimetic Additive Manufacturing: Nature-Inspired Design and Fabrication for Advanced Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Additive manufacturing (AM), or 3D and 4D printing, has revolutionized the way we design and produce materials, offering unprecedented flexibility, customization, and efficiency. By integrating biomimetic principles into AM, researchers can develop lightweight, high-strength structures, adaptive materials, and multifunctional surfaces inspired by nature. From architected materials that mimic bone or nacre to self-assembling and shape-morphing designs inspired by plant biomechanics, biomimetic AM is driving next-generation manufacturing solutions.

This Special Issue explores cutting-edge research in bioinspired additive manufacturing, with applications spanning aerospace, robotics, construction, energy, sustainability, and biomedical engineering. The goal is to highlight nature-inspired design strategies, innovative biofabrication methods, and advanced materials that push the boundaries of 3D/4D printing for real-world applications.

Topics of Interest:

We invite original research and review articles on topics including, but not limited to, the following:

• Biomimetic 3D/4D-printed materials (e.g., lightweight bioinspired composites and self-healing materials);
• Bioinspired lattice structures and architected materials for mechanical, thermal, and functional applications;
• Multiscale and biohybrid printing: integrating micro-/nanoscale features into macroscopic designs;
• Nature-inspired robotics and actuation mechanisms fabricated via AM;
• Bioinspired energy storage and conversion devices (e.g., bio-inspired batteries, catalysts, and solar cells);
• Smart, responsive, and adaptive materials for AM inspired by biological systems;
• Aerospace and automotive applications of biomimetic AM for lightweighting and performance enhancement;
• Construction and architectural applications of biomimetic 3D printing (e.g., self-supporting structures and bioinspired shelters);
• Sustainability in AM: Circular economy approaches, waste-derived biomaterials, and biofabricated filaments;
• Computational and AI-driven biomimetic design for additive manufacturing.

Dr. Antreas Kantaros
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomimetics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• biomimetic additive manufacturing
• 3D printing
• 4D printing
• bioinspired materials
• architected structures
• biohybrid printing
• adaptive materials
• sustainability in AM
• nature-inspired design
• computational biomimetic design