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Life
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Advances in Bioprinting, Tissue Engineering, and Regenerative Medicine
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Advances in Bioprinting, Tissue Engineering, and Regenerative Medicine

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 18 January 2026 | Viewed by 2631

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Adrian Neagu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Functional Sciences, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Piata Eftimie Murgu No. 2-4, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Interests: three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting; cell spheroids; tissue engineering; multicellular self-assembly; computational models
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Tissue engineering emerged about four decades ago with the ambitious aim of creating replacement organs in the lab. Although alleviating transplantable organ shortage remains a long-term goal, contingent with advances in polymer chemistry and cell biology, tissue engineering is already a dynamic research field with practical applications.

For example, microcarriers loaded with drugs and growth factors are combined with three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting and injection techniques to build tissue constructs suitable for articular cartilage repair. Decellularized liver extracellular matrix, 3D nano-scaffolds, and bioprinting are used to create templates for liver regeneration. The tenogenic differentiation of stem cells, electrospinning, and textile industry methods show promise for patients with tendon injuries. Bioprinted extracellular vesicles were found to promote skin regeneration. Remarkably, tissue engineering techniques were found to boost the efficacy of stem cell therapies in regenerative medicine.

Engineered human tissues also serve as disease models, often in combination with microfluidic devices or bioreactors that ensure biomimetic conditions. Engineered tissue constructs also serve as drug testing platforms, bridging the gap between animal models and clinical trials. Bioprinted skin models, for instance, enable a detailed look into skin aging and allow for the testing of novel drugs and cosmetics. Finally, complex physiological interactions are replicated in tissue-on-a-chip devices with promising results in drug development.

This Special Issue invites contributions from the broad research field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. It seeks to trigger a synergistic effect by bringing together investigators with diverse backgrounds.

Prof. Dr. Adrian Neagu
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. Life 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 2600 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

  • model tissues
  • scaffolds
  • biocompatible materials
  • biodegradable materials
  • tissue-on-a-chip
  • organoids

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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25 pages, 10346 KiB  
Article
Development of Biomimetic Substrates for Limbal Epithelial Stem Cells Using Collagen-Based Films, Hyaluronic Acid, Immortalized Cells, and Macromolecular Crowding
by Mehmet Gurdal, Gulinnaz Ercan, Ozlem Barut Selver, Daniel Aberdam and Dimitrios I. Zeugolis
Life 2024, 14(12), 1552; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14121552 - 26 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1214
Abstract
Despite the promising potential of cell-based therapies developed using tissue engineering techniques to treat a wide range of diseases, including limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), which leads to corneal blindness, their commercialization remains constrained. This is primarily attributable to the limited cell sources, [...] Read more.
Despite the promising potential of cell-based therapies developed using tissue engineering techniques to treat a wide range of diseases, including limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), which leads to corneal blindness, their commercialization remains constrained. This is primarily attributable to the limited cell sources, the use of non-standardizable, unscalable, and unsustainable techniques, and the extended manufacturing processes required to produce transplantable tissue-like surrogates. Herein, we present the first demonstration of the potential of a novel approach combining collagen films (CF), hyaluronic acid (HA), human telomerase-immortalized limbal epithelial stem cells (T-LESCs), and macromolecular crowding (MMC) to develop innovative biomimetic substrates for limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs). The initial step involved the fabrication and characterization of CF and CF enriched with HA (CF-HA). Subsequently, T-LESCs were seeded on CF, CF-HA, and tissue culture plastic (TCP). Thereafter, the effect of these matrices on basic cellular function and tissue-specific extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition with or without MMC was evaluated. The viability and metabolic activity of cells cultured on CF, CF-HA, and TCP were found to be similar, while CF-HA induced the highest (p < 0.05) cell proliferation. It is notable that CF and HA induced cell growth, whereas MMC increased (p < 0.05) the deposition of collagen IV, fibronectin, and laminin in the T-LESC culture. The data highlight the potential of, in particular, immortalized cells and MMC for the development of biomimetic cell culture substrates, which could be utilized in ocular surface reconstruction following further in vitro, in vivo, and clinical validation of the approach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Bioprinting, Tissue Engineering, and Regenerative Medicine)
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Review

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15 pages, 526 KiB  
Review
Advancements in Clinical Utilization of Recombinant Human Collagen: An Extensive Review
by Isaac Wong Kai Jie, Kar Wai Alvin Lee, Song Eun Yoon, Jong Keun Song, Lisa Kwin Wah Chan, Cheuk Hung Lee, Eunji Jeong, Jin-Hyun Kim and Kyu-Ho Yi
Life 2025, 15(4), 582; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15040582 - 1 Apr 2025
Viewed by 949
Abstract
Introduction: Recombinant human collagen, developed through advanced recombinant DNA technology, has emerged as a cutting-edge biomaterial with diverse applications in medicine. It addresses significant limitations of animal-derived collagens, such as immunogenicity and the risk of zoonotic diseases. Objective: This review evaluates the clinical [...] Read more.
Introduction: Recombinant human collagen, developed through advanced recombinant DNA technology, has emerged as a cutting-edge biomaterial with diverse applications in medicine. It addresses significant limitations of animal-derived collagens, such as immunogenicity and the risk of zoonotic diseases. Objective: This review evaluates the clinical applications, benefits, and challenges associated with recombinant human collagen, focusing on its potential to transform medical and surgical practices. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in MEDLINE, PubMed, and Ovid databases using keywords such as “Recombinant Human Collagen”, “Collagen-Based Biomaterials”, “Clinical Applications”, “Tissue Repair”, and “Wound Healing”. Relevant studies, including clinical trials and diagnostic applications, were analyzed and classified according to the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine evidence hierarchy. Findings: Recombinant human collagen demonstrates superior mechanical properties and controlled degradation rates compared to traditional collagen sources. Clinical studies highlight its effectiveness in accelerating wound closure, promoting dermal regeneration, and minimizing scarring, making it particularly valuable in chronic wound management and surgical interventions. In tissue engineering, recombinant human collagen scaffolds have shown potential for regenerating cartilage, bone, and cardiovascular tissues by supporting cell proliferation, differentiation, and matrix deposition. Additionally, its adaptability for forming hydrogels and matrices enhances its suitability for drug delivery systems, enabling controlled and sustained release of therapeutic agents. Conclusion: Recombinant human collagen represents a transformative advancement in clinical practice, providing a safer and more effective alternative to traditional collagen sources. Its demonstrated success in wound healing, tissue engineering, and drug delivery highlights its potential to significantly improve patient outcomes. However, challenges such as high production costs, regulatory complexities, and long-term biocompatibility remain barriers to widespread clinical adoption. Further research and collaboration between biotechnology developers and regulatory authorities are essential to fully realize its clinical potential. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Bioprinting, Tissue Engineering, and Regenerative Medicine)
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