Advances and Challenges in Polymer-Based 3D Bioprinting for Biomedical Applications
A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Manufacturing Processes and Systems".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 March 2026 | Viewed by 199
Special Issue Editor
Interests: bio-based polymers; alginate hydrogels; sustainability; green chemistry; nanotechnology; heterogeneous catalysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting has rapidly emerged as a transformative technology in biomedical engineering, offering unprecedented opportunities for the fabrication of complex, patient-specific constructs such as tissues, organs, and drug delivery platforms. Among the diverse materials used, polymers—both natural and synthetic—have garnered significant attention due to their tunable physicochemical properties, biocompatibility, and suitability for various printing techniques.
This Special Issue aims to explore the current advances, ongoing challenges, and future perspectives in polymer-based 3D bioprinting, with a particular focus on its translation toward real-world biomedical applications. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following areas:
- The design, development, and characterization of printable polymer bioinks;
- Crosslinking strategies and rheological considerations for print fidelity and structural integrity;
- The integration of cells, growth factors, and functional additives into printed constructs;
- The biomechanical and biological performance of printed tissues and scaffolds;
- Applications in regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, organ-on-chip systems, and drug screening;
- Challenges in scalability, standardization, regulatory compliance, and clinical translation.
We welcome contributions including original research, comprehensive reviews, and perspectives that provide insight into the multidisciplinary efforts required to overcome material, technical, and biological barriers. The issue also welcomes studies that address emerging trends, such as 4D bioprinting, hybrid material systems, multi-material printing, and AI-assisted design and manufacturing.
By bringing together cutting-edge research from across materials science, bioengineering, and medical technology, this Special Issue seeks to advance the field of polymer-based bioprinting and accelerate its adoption in practical healthcare solutions.
Dr. Khaled Sebakhy
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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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
- 3D bioprinting
- polymer-based bioinks
- tissue engineering
- biomedical applications
- bioprinting challenges
- regenerative medicine
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