materials-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Engineering the Future: Advances in 3D Printing Formulations for Biomedical Solutions

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Manufacturing Processes and Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 449

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Medical Engineering, Advanced Polymer Materials Group, eBio-Hub Research Centre, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: materials science; bioengineering; nanotechnology; tissue regeneration
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Medical Engineering; National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: medical engineering; biomaterials; electrochemistry; bioprinting

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Advanced Polymer Materials Group; National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: nanomaterials; tissue engineering; computer tomography; material characterization

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to invite you to submit your work to the Special Issue on “Engineering the Future: Advances in 3D Printing Formulations for Biomedical Solutions”. The rapid evolution of 3D printing has revolutionized biomedical engineering, enabling the fabrication of complex, patient-specific structures for regenerative medicine, drug delivery, and medical devices. Materials play a pivotal role in advancing 3D printing for biomedical applications, influencing the biocompatibility, mechanical properties, and functionality of printed constructs. This Special Issue of Materials highlights the latest innovations in material development for biomedical 3D printing.

We invite contributions on novel biomaterials, including hydrogel-based bioinks, nanocomposite-reinforced scaffolds, biodegradable polymers, and bioactive ceramics designed for enhanced cell interactions and tissue regeneration. Special emphasis is placed on multi-material printing strategies, functionalized surfaces, and stimuli-responsive formulations that improve the performance of printed biomedical structures. Additionally, we welcome research on material characterization, rheological optimization, and the impact of advanced processing techniques, such as 4D and 5D printing. By showcasing cutting-edge material innovations, this Special Issue aims to accelerate the development of next-generation 3D-printed biomedical solutions for clinical and translational applications.

Prof. Dr. Mariana Ionita
Dr. Elena Alina Chiticaru
Dr. George Mihail Vlǎsceanu
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. Materials 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 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

  • biomaterials
  • 3D printing
  • biodegradable polymers
  • bioceramics for tissue engineering
  • nanocomposites
  • multi-material printing
  • rheological optimization
  • hydrogelation
  • biomedical scaffolds

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

30 pages, 5946 KB  
Article
Enhancing Cellular Interactions Through Bioactivation and Local Nanomechanical Reinforcement in Nanodiamond-Loaded 3D-Printed Gellan Gum Scaffolds
by Carmen-Valentina Nicolae, Masoumeh Jahani Kadousaraei, Elena Olăreț, Andrada Serafim, Mehmet Serhat Aydin, Ioana-Teodora Bogdan, Adriana Elena Bratu, Raluca-Elena Ginghină, Alexandra Dobranici, Sorina Dinescu, Kamal Mustafa and Izabela-Cristina Stancu
Materials 2025, 18(17), 4131; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18174131 - 3 Sep 2025
Viewed by 112
Abstract
The integration of nanomaterials within hydrogel scaffolds offers significant promise in bone tissue engineering by improving mechanical performance and modulating cellular responses through mechanotransductive and biochemical signaling. Previous studies have demonstrated that nanodiamonds (NDs) incorporated in electrospun microfibrillar meshes enhance cellular adhesion, spreading, [...] Read more.
The integration of nanomaterials within hydrogel scaffolds offers significant promise in bone tissue engineering by improving mechanical performance and modulating cellular responses through mechanotransductive and biochemical signaling. Previous studies have demonstrated that nanodiamonds (NDs) incorporated in electrospun microfibrillar meshes enhance cellular adhesion, spreading, and cytoskeletal organization through localized mechanical reinforcement. However, the effects of ND loading into soft, bioinert three-dimensional hydrogel matrices remain underexplored. Here, we developed nanostructured 3D printing inks composed of gellan gum (GG) supplemented with a low content of ND nanoadditive (0–3% w/v). ND integration improved the shear-thinning properties of the formulation, enabling consistent filament formation and reliable extrusion-based 3D printing. Structural and mechanical assessments confirmed enhanced scaffold morphology, reduced deformation, and improved morphostructural integrity under compression and increased local stiffness at 2% ND loading (GG_ND2%). Biological assessments revealed that increasing ND content enhanced murine preosteoblast viability, proliferation, and attachment, particularly in GG_ND2%. Furthermore, bioactivation of the GG_ND2% formulation with icariin (ICA), a bioflavonoid known for its osteogenic and angiogenic activity, amplified the beneficial cellular responses of MG-63 cells to ND loading, promoting enhanced surface mineralization and improved cell–matrix interactions. Collectively, these findings highlight the potential of ND-reinforced GG scaffolds bioactivated with ICA, integrating structural reinforcement and biological functionalities that may support osteogenic responses. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Back to TopTop