Gels for Cardiac Tissue Regeneration

Dear Colleagues,

The field of tissue engineering has been steadily evolving towards the development of biomimetic constructs that recapitulate the structural and functional complexity of human tissues. In this regard, the incorporation of state-of-the-art microfabrication techniques, and hydrogel-based biomaterials has allowed the engineering of accurate in vitro models, which are being widely used for fundamental and translational biomedical research. 

The ability to engineer tissue constructs with an unprecedented level of physiological accuracy has greatly benefited the field of cardiovascular tissue engineering. These advanced in vitro systems are being used to enhance our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms that underlie cardiovascular diseases, as well as platforms with enhanced predictive power for high-throughput drug screening and discovery. In addition, these experimental platforms are bridging the gap between conventional in vitro cultures and more relevant in vivo models, by circumventing the high costs, resources, and ethical concerns associated with the use of animals for experimentation. Furthermore, the engineering of artificial blood vessels, heart valves, and myocardial tissues will have profound implications in the field of regenerative medicine and cardiovascular surgical procedures. 

This Special Issue focuses on the development of advanced hydrogels, as well as their incorporation with cutting-edge biofabrication techniques to engineer novel cardiovascular tissue constructs. In particular, emphasis is being added on the use of smart hydrogels to recapitulate the biochemical, mechanical, electrical, and architectural properties of cardiovascular tissues for different biomedical applications.

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

Prof. Dr. Nasim Annabi
Guest Editor

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