Advanced Design Methodologies for Additive Manufacturing in Patient-Specific Medical Solutions

Dear Colleagues,

Optimizing design parameters is essential when a device is required to interact with the human body, especially if additive manufacturing is used; indeed, 3D printing and bioprinting has enabled the possibility of manufacturing almost any shape using a wide choice of materials.

Automated methodologies are viable tools for creating innovative designs: topology optimization, predictive modelling, and inverse design are powerful techniques which, taking inspiration from nature, enable designs that can interact and integrate with the human body. However, a gap still exists between the designed CAD models and the printed structures. Bridging this gap requires new design approaches that consider both printability and the final device's characteristics.

Nonetheless, defining general design rules for AM-specific devices is very challenging, as outcomes depend on shape, material, and 3D printing process. Setting up clear and innovative procedures is a central step in moving towards complete integration in clinical practice; therefore, this Special Issue is focused on design methodologies for improving the performances of customized medical systems, looking at innovative technologies and materials, and trying to gather knowledge in view of regulatory design frameworks. Possible topics may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Design methodologies for 3D-printed and bioprinted medical devices;
• Topology optimization and generative design for biomedical applications;
• Predictive modeling and simulation for human–device interaction;
• Inverse design strategies for personalized healthcare solutions;
• Design for smart bioprinting;
• Material selection and multi-material design considerations;
• Printability-aware design and process–structure–property integration;
• Standards and regulatory frameworks for AM-based medical devices.

We look forward to receiving your contributions to this Special Issue.

Dr. Giulia Pascoletti
Dr. Arianna Rossi
Guest Editors

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. Designs is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 1600 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.