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Advances and Challenges in Polymer-Based 3D Bioprinting for Biomedical Applications

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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 1026

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Khaled Sebakhy

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Guest Editor

Laboratory for Chemical Technology (LCT), Department of Materials, Textiles and Chemical Engineering, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
Interests: bio-based polymers; alginate hydrogels; sustainability; green chemistry; nanotechnology; heterogeneous catalysis
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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

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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

3D bioprinting
polymer-based bioinks
tissue engineering
biomedical applications
bioprinting challenges
regenerative medicine

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 7033 KB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Colonization by Candida albicans and Biofilm Formation on 3D-Printed Denture Base Resins

by Pedro Guilherme Lemos Corrêa, Sarah Ribeiro Cruz-Araújo, Carolina Alves Freiria de Oliveira, Raiane Rodrigues da Silva, Viviane de Cássia Oliveira, Valéria Oliveira Pagnano, Claudia Helena Silva-Lovato, Rodrigo Galo, Arunas Stirke, Wanessa C. M. A. Melo and Ana Paula Macedo

Materials 2025, 18(21), 5018; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18215018 - 4 Nov 2025

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Abstract

Beyond mechanical performance and aesthetics, the susceptibility of 3D-printed resins to microbial colonization and biofilm formation represent an important factor influencing dentures’ longevity. Therefore, this study evaluated Candida albicans colonization and mature biofilm formation on three different 3D-printed denture base resins (Bio Denture—BD; Denture Base Cosmos—CD; Smart Print Bio Denture—SP) and compared them to heat-curing resin (HC). Before the microbiological evaluation, the surface roughness (Sa) was assessed. Biofilm viability was determined through colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL) and biofilm morphology was qualitatively examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The composition of the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) was investigated by measuring the amounts of carbohydrates (µg/mL), proteins (ng/mL), and extracellular DNA (eDNA) (fluorescence unit). One-way ANOVA was performed for eDNA and Sa and Kruskal–Wallis for the other properties (α = 0.05). Higher surface roughness mean values (standard deviation) (p < 0.05) were observed in CD [0.111 (0.013)] compared to HC [0.084 (0.018) and BD [0.078 (0.015)]. For wettability, BD [63.2 (5.2)] and SP [65.2 (3.1)] resins showed a greater wettability (p < 0.05) than HC resin [73.0 (3.5)], while SP showed lower (p < 0.01) protein levels (425 ng/mL) compared to HC (568.6 ng/mL) and BD (554.8 ng/mL) in the EPS. Despite these differences, the 3D-printed denture base resins exhibited microbial load (CFU/mL), EPS composition (carbohydrates and eDNA), and morphological features of C. albicans biofilm comparable to those of conventional heat-cured PMMA. These findings suggest that, despite resin-specific variations, 3D-printed denture base materials exhibit a similar susceptibility to C. albicans colonization and biofilm formation as conventional denture bases, thereby directing future research towards developing new 3D-printed resins with enhanced antimicrobial properties to improve clinical outcomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Challenges in Polymer-Based 3D Bioprinting for Biomedical Applications)

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14 pages, 25752 KB

Open AccessArticle

Development and Simulation-Based Validation of Biodegradable 3D-Printed Cog Threads for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Repair

by Ana Telma Silva, Nuno Miguel Ferreira, Henrique Leon Bastos, Maria Francisca Vaz, Joana Pinheiro Martins, Fábio Pinheiro, António Augusto Fernandes and Elisabete Silva

Materials 2025, 18(15), 3638; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18153638 - 1 Aug 2025

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Abstract

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a prevalent condition, affecting women all over the world, and is commonly treated through surgical interventions that present limitations such as recurrence or complications associated with synthetic meshes. In this study, biodegradable poly(

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-caprolactone) (PCL) cog threads [...] Read more.

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-caprolactone) (PCL) cog threads are proposed as a minimally invasive alternative for vaginal wall reinforcement. A custom cutting tool was developed to fabricate threads with varying barb angles (90°, 75°, 60°, and 45°), which were produced via Melt Electrowriting. Their mechanical behavior was assessed through uniaxial tensile tests and validated using finite element simulations. The results showed that barb orientation had minimal influence on tensile performance. In simulations of anterior vaginal wall deformation under cough pressure, all cog thread configurations significantly reduced displacement in the damaged tissue model, achieving values comparable to or even lower than those of healthy tissue. A ball burst simulation using an anatomically accurate model further demonstrated a 13% increase in reaction force with cog thread reinforcement. Despite fabrication limitations, this study supports the biomechanical potential of 3D-printed PCL cog threads for POP treatment, and lays the groundwork for future in vivo validation. Full article