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Biomimetics
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Biofabrication for the Future: 3D Bioprinting in Tissue Engineering and...
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Biofabrication for the Future: 3D Bioprinting in Tissue Engineering and Beyond

A special issue of Biomimetics (ISSN 2313-7673). This special issue belongs to the section "Development of Biomimetic Methodology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 November 2026 | Viewed by 5409

Editor

Dr. Antreas Kantaros

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Industrial Design and Production Engineering, University of West Attica, 12244 Athens, Greece
Interests: 3D printing; 3D scanning; non-destructive techniques; 3D CAD design; circular economy; sustainability; material science
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue “Biofabrication for the Future: 3D Bioprinting in Tissue Engineering and Beyond” aims to showcase cutting-edge advances in biofabrication technologies that are redefining the landscape of regenerative medicine and biomedical engineering. We welcome contributions on 3D bioprinting strategies for developing functional tissues, organoids, and disease models, as well as hybrid approaches that integrate biomaterials, stem cells, bioactive molecules, and enabling technologies such as microfluidics, smart scaffolds, and in situ monitoring. Beyond tissue engineering, the Issue will highlight emerging applications in drug screening, personalized medicine, biohybrid systems, and implantable therapeutic platforms. Both original research and comprehensive reviews are encouraged, with a focus on interdisciplinary innovation, scalability, and clinical translation. By gathering perspectives across biology, materials science, and engineering, this Special Issue aims to inspire the next generation of biofabrication breakthroughs.

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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-anonymized 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.

Keywords

  • 3D bioprinting
  • biofabrication
  • tissue engineering
  • regenerative medicine
  • biomaterials
  • organoids and disease models
  • stem cell-based constructs
  • smart scaffolds
  • clinical translation

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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31 pages, 6524 KB  
Article
Laser-Engineered Multilayer Coatings Based on Zinc Oxide and Lovastatin-Functionalized Bioactive Glasses for Corrosion-Resistant and Antimicrobial Stainless Steel Implants
by Irina Negut, Bogdan Bita, Gabriela Dorcioman, Mihaela Dinu, Anca Constantina Parau, Carmen Ristoscu and Gratiela Gradisteanu-Pircalabioru
Biomimetics 2026, 11(4), 227; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics11040227 - 28 Mar 2026
Viewed by 864
Abstract
Stainless steel (SS) remains widely used in orthopedic implants but is susceptible to corrosion and implant-associated infections in physiological environments. This study aimed to develop a multifunctional multilayer coating combining corrosion resistance, bioactivity, and antimicrobial performance. A ZnO base layer was deposited on [...] Read more.
Stainless steel (SS) remains widely used in orthopedic implants but is susceptible to corrosion and implant-associated infections in physiological environments. This study aimed to develop a multifunctional multilayer coating combining corrosion resistance, bioactivity, and antimicrobial performance. A ZnO base layer was deposited on 316L SS via pulsed laser deposition, followed by matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation of a lovastatin-functionalized bioactive glass (BG57 + LOV) top layer. Two LOV concentrations were initially evaluated, and BG57+0.1LOV was selected based on structural homogeneity, cytocompatibility, and antimicrobial balance. Physicochemical characterization confirmed preservation of chemical integrity and formation of continuous, moderately rough coatings. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in simulated body fluid demonstrated progressive improvement in corrosion resistance from bare SS to ZnO-coated and finally to the BG57+0.1LOV/ZnO multilayer, which exhibited the most electropositive corrosion potential and effective suppression of charge-transfer reactions. Biological assays revealed high viability of osteoblasts, fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and macrophages without significant oxidative or nitrosative stress. Antimicrobial testing showed strain-dependent activity, with enhanced efficacy against MRSA and significant reduction in P. aeruginosa, associated with increased ROS/RNS generation. Overall, the BG57+0.1LOV/ZnO system represents a promising multifunctional coating strategy for corrosion-resistant and infection-resistant SS implants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biofabrication for the Future: 3D Bioprinting in Tissue Engineering and Beyond)
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23 pages, 1010 KB  
Article
A Formal Optimization-Oriented Design Framework for Predictive Extrusion-Based 3D Bioprinting
by Antreas Kantaros, Theodore Ganetsos and Michail Papoutsidakis
Biomimetics 2026, 11(3), 165; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics11030165 - 1 Mar 2026
Viewed by 780
Abstract
Extrusion-based three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting has enabled the fabrication of complex, cell-laden constructs; however, process parameter selection remains largely empirical and system-specific. As biofabrication workflows scale in complexity and translational ambition, trial-and-error optimization increasingly limits reproducibility, transferability, and informed decision-making. In this work, a [...] Read more.
Extrusion-based three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting has enabled the fabrication of complex, cell-laden constructs; however, process parameter selection remains largely empirical and system-specific. As biofabrication workflows scale in complexity and translational ambition, trial-and-error optimization increasingly limits reproducibility, transferability, and informed decision-making. In this work, a formal, optimization-oriented design framework is proposed to structure extrusion-based bioprinting as a constrained, multivariable design problem. Rather than introducing a system-specific predictive model, the framework organizes process parameters, material descriptors, scaffold architecture, and biological feasibility into a unified formulation based on objective functions and admissible constraints. Symbolic coupling relationships are employed to make parameter dependencies, trade-offs, and constraint interactions explicit without imposing restrictive assumptions on material behavior or biological response. A demonstrative computational case study is presented to illustrate how qualitative predictive reasoning emerges through constraint-driven design space analysis and multi-objective considerations. The framework reveals how feasible operating regions are shaped by competing biological, mechanical, and manufacturing limitations, emphasizing robustness-aware parameter selection over isolated optimization. The proposed approach is intended as a transferable methodological foundation that supports structured reasoning, experimental planning, and future integration with numerical models, data-driven tools, and closed-loop biofabrication systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biofabrication for the Future: 3D Bioprinting in Tissue Engineering and Beyond)
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Review

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39 pages, 2596 KB  
Review
Collagen-Based Microspheres for Biomedical Applications in Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering
by Mohammad Jahir Raihan, Zhong Hu and Solaiman Tarafder
Biomimetics 2026, 11(4), 233; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics11040233 - 1 Apr 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1722
Abstract
Collagen, the most abundant extracellular matrix (ECM) protein, has emerged as a cornerstone biomaterial in drug delivery and regenerative medicine due to its intrinsic biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low immunogenicity. Engineering collagen into microspheres transforms its functionality beyond bulk scaffolds by increasing surface area, [...] Read more.
Collagen, the most abundant extracellular matrix (ECM) protein, has emerged as a cornerstone biomaterial in drug delivery and regenerative medicine due to its intrinsic biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low immunogenicity. Engineering collagen into microspheres transforms its functionality beyond bulk scaffolds by increasing surface area, enabling minimally invasive delivery, and providing precise control over degradation, mechanical properties, and therapeutic release. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of collagen-based microspheres, with a particular focus on their dual role as biomimetic microenvironments and delivery systems. Recent advances in fabrication strategies, including emulsification, microfluidics, spray-drying, and electrospraying, are discussed in the context of scalability, size control, and payload encapsulation. Composite approaches that incorporate bioactive minerals, polysaccharides, or synthetic polymers are highlighted for their ability to enhance mechanical performance and biological function. We further examine characterization frameworks that link microscale structure and physicochemical properties to biological outcomes, with emphasis on how collagen microspheres replicate key structural, mechanical, and signaling features of native tissue microenvironments. Collagen microspheres have demonstrated broad utility as controlled delivery platforms, cell-instructive microcarriers, and injectable systems for tissue regeneration, including applications in bone, cartilage, skin, and nerve repair, as well as advanced wound care and localized cancer therapy. Finally, we critically assess current challenges related to scalable manufacturing, sterilization compatibility, and batch reproducibility, and outline emerging solutions such as recombinant collagen, advanced biofabrication, and stimuli-responsive systems. Collectively, collagen microspheres represent a powerful and adaptable platform poised to advance next-generation regenerative and therapeutic technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biofabrication for the Future: 3D Bioprinting in Tissue Engineering and Beyond)
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35 pages, 875 KB  
Review
Regenerative Approach for Improving Flap Survival: Perspective of Angiogenesis
by Se Hyun Yeou and Yoo Seob Shin
Biomimetics 2026, 11(3), 186; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics11030186 - 4 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1588
Abstract
Flap reconstruction remains a cornerstone after oncologic resection, trauma, and complex wounds, yet partial necrosis, venous congestion, and delayed healing continue to drive morbidity and unplanned re-exploration. Even when macroscopic inflow and outflow are re-established, distal and border-zone tissue may remain constrained by [...] Read more.
Flap reconstruction remains a cornerstone after oncologic resection, trauma, and complex wounds, yet partial necrosis, venous congestion, and delayed healing continue to drive morbidity and unplanned re-exploration. Even when macroscopic inflow and outflow are re-established, distal and border-zone tissue may remain constrained by microcirculatory dysfunction. This review frames flap compromise as a biomimetics-relevant failure of a hierarchical transport network and summarizes the vascular repair mechanisms that regenerative interventions aim to replicate. We outline key concepts governing flap perfusion, including angiosomes, choke vessels, endothelial barrier failure, mural cell support, and immune regulation within the angiogenic niche, and relate these to no-reflow, thrombo-inflammation, and impaired vascular regeneration. We then synthesize regenerative strategies aimed at durable reperfusion, spanning recombinant factors, gene and nucleic acid delivery, cell-based therapies, cell-free biologics, including extracellular vesicles and platelet-derived products, pharmacologic modulators, and biomaterial platforms that localize and sustain bioactivity. Translation will require functional perfusion endpoints, standardized reporting of delivery parameters, and safety-conscious designs that minimize aberrant angiogenesis and vector-related risks in post-resection settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biofabrication for the Future: 3D Bioprinting in Tissue Engineering and Beyond)
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