Search Results (407)

Human placenta-derived amniotic membrane (hAM) and its derivatives have attracted growing interest as bioactive materials for tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and biomaterial design. This review summarizes the anatomical and cellular characteristics of hAM and examines the interplay between its regenerative and immunomodulatory properties. Key hAM-derived biomolecules are discussed, with an emphasis on their roles in immune regulation, angiogenesis, extracellular matrix remodeling, and tissue repair across diverse regenerative contexts. Current applications of hAM-based materials in tissue engineering and regenerative biomaterials are reviewed, including emerging studies involving soft tissue applications. In addition, recent efforts to integrate hAM derivatives into 3D bioprinting approaches are examined, including their use as bioink components or biofunctional additives to hydrogel-based systems. Although studies involving hAM-based bioprinted constructs remain limited, the available findings suggest promising regenerative, proangiogenic, and bioactive effects. Challenges related to material processing, printability, standardization, and reproducibility are also discussed. Overall, this review highlights the biomaterial potential of hAM derivatives and their emerging relevance to biofabrication strategies aimed at developing biologically instructive constructs for regenerative medicine. Full article

Mycelium-bound composites (MBCs) have emerged as a promising class of biofabricated materials that integrate fungal hyphal networks with lignocellulosic substrates to form lightweight, biodegradable structures without synthetic adhesives. Despite rapid growth in the field, the current literature remains fragmented, with inconsistent methodologies and widely varying reported material properties. This review advances the field by moving beyond descriptive synthesis toward a quantitative and conceptual integration of existing studies. We systematically analyze how key fabrication variables—including fungal species, substrate composition, growth conditions, and post-processing parameters—govern density, porosity, and mechanical performance. A process–structure–property (PSP) framework is proposed to combine these relationships and explain discrepancies across studies. We highlight the dominant role of densification and moisture conditioning in determining compressive strength, often outweighing species-level effects. A comparative synthesis of reported data reveals significant variability in compressive strength (0.05–1.2 MPa) and elastic modulus, attributable to inconsistencies in sample preparation, testing protocols, and environmental conditioning. To address this, we identify critical gaps in standardization and propose actionable testing protocols and reporting guidelines for reproducibility. Furthermore, we assess the technology readiness level (TRL) of MBC systems and distinguish between laboratory-scale innovations and commercially viable processes. While hybridization strategies and biofunctional applications offer promising avenues, their maturity varies widely. This work provides a decision-oriented framework for MBC design and a roadmap for transitioning these materials from experimental systems to scalable, standardized, and application-ready biomaterials. Full article

The extracellular matrix (ECM) provides a dynamic microenvironment that regulates cell proliferation, migration, and tissue remodeling during wound healing. However, replicating the structural and functional complexity and ECM heterogeneity of native skin ECM remains challenging with conventional single-material hydrogels. Recent advances in multimaterial 3D bioprinting have enabled the spatial integration of diverse biomaterials within a single construct. Lignocellulose has attracted increasing attention as a promising biomaterial for recreating key structural features of the native ECM because of its fibrous architecture, mechanical strength, and biocompatibility. This review offers a comprehensive and integrated perspective on the use of lignocellulose-based multimaterial printing to recreate ECM-mimicking architectures, an underexplored area at the intersection of biomaterials and biofabrication. The roles of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin in printability, scaffold stability, porosity, bioactivity, and wound-healing performance are discussed. Representative studies have demonstrated that lignocellulose-based multimaterial bioinks provide porous architectures that support cell adhesion, proliferation, and tissue regeneration. These benefits are accompanied by improved mechanical performance, as cellulose nanofibers exhibit elastic moduli exceeding 100 GPa, and lignin-containing hydrogels have achieved compressive moduli of up to 135 kPa. Such mechanical advantages make lignocellulosic materials particularly attractive for fabricating ECM-mimicking scaffolds that require long-term structural integrity. Finally, key design considerations and current limitations associated with lignocellulose-based multimaterial bioprinting are critically discussed. A framework for the rational design of lignocellulose-based multimaterial bioinks is presented, together with future directions toward gradient and adaptive scaffolds, smart wound dressings, and advanced wound-healing applications. Full article

Traditional 3D bioprinting of corneal constructs relies on planar slicing, which often results in a significant stairstep effect and the loss of anatomical curvature. Curvilinear layering has emerged as a promising alternative to address these limitations. The presented methodology, based on non-planar layer integration, ensures a smoother surface finish. The model’s surface is identified via vertex normals and reconstructed using the Poisson method. Finally, surface parametrization is applied to generate spatially curved trajectories. To validate the algorithm, corneal constructs were printed using a planar and the proposed non-planar approach. Quantitative evaluation of micro-Computed Tomography data revealed that the non-planar approach achieved significantly higher morphological fidelity, successfully replicating the intended parabolic profile of the human cornea. Furthermore, the non-planar constructs demonstrated adequate functional performance, characterized by high optical transparency. Thereby, the feasibility of printing non-planar layers using the proposed novel approach is successfully demonstrated. Furthermore, the comparative analysis confirms the method’s potential for corneal biofabrication when compared to traditional planar methods. Full article

Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models more faithfully reproduce native tissue organization and function than conventional two-dimensional systems, yet many existing bioprinting methods depend on scaffolds, complex instrumentation, or limited control over cell positioning. This review examines magnetic bioinks as a versatile platform for contactless 3D cell manipulation and biofabrication. It first outlines the fundamentals of magnetophoresis and defines magnetic bioinks as combinations of magnetic agents, including magnetic nanoparticles or paramagnetic salts, with biological components such as cells, proteins, or fluids. The review then compares label-based strategies, in which cells are magnetized and guided by positive magnetophoresis, with label-free approaches that exploit magnetic susceptibility differences to position diamagnetic cells through negative magnetophoresis. Across these methods, magnetic bioinks have enabled single-cell sorting, spatial patterning, spheroid and co-culture assembly, multilayer tissue formation, and hydrogel-integrated printing. These capabilities support applications in disease modeling, drug screening, biosensing, regenerative medicine, and emerging biofabrication under microgravity conditions. The paper also highlights key limitations, including nanoparticle biocompatibility, paramagnetic salt toxicity, osmotic stress, and the need for better assay standardization and translational validation. Overall, magnetic bioinks represent a promising scaffold-free approach for rapidly producing physiologically relevant 3D biological constructs for research and clinical innovation. Full article

In the fields of cell engineering, bio-fabrication, and targeted therapy, achieving high-precision manipulation of microparticles and cells remains a technical challenge. Although acoustic tweezers based on surface acoustic waves (SAWs) offer a promising solution, the structural complexity of conventional SAW devices has limited their practical applications. This work proposes a symmetric interdigitated transducer (IDT)-based acoustic tweezers device featuring a simple structure and high flexibility for modulating acoustic pressure field patterns and enabling particle manipulation. Theoretical investigations into the particle manipulation mechanism of the proposed device were conducted using the finite element method. A detachable polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) assembly chamber was also designed. The effectiveness of the device was validated through dynamic and reconfigurable manipulation experiments using fluorescent polystyrene microspheres. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed device can rapidly and precisely modulate SAW to achieve array-based manipulation of particle clusters, forming corresponding array patterns. Compared with conventional sorting methods, this device offers advantages including low cost, high precision, ease of operation, and good biocompatibility, making it suitable for large-scale manipulation of microparticles and biological cells. This technology has the potential to expand the application landscape of SAW and may emerge as a cutting-edge approach for directed cell assembly and culture. Full article

Background: This study aimed to investigate the anti-aging mechanisms of Alpinia oxyphylla polysaccharides (AOFs) through integrated in vivo experiments, network pharmacology, and molecular docking. Methods: Three purified fractions (AOF1, AOF2, and AOF3) were structurally characterized for monosaccharide composition and molecular weight. Anti-aging and antioxidant activities were evaluated using Caenorhabditis elegans, followed by gene expression analysis, network pharmacology target identification, and molecular docking validation. Results: All AOFs significantly extended lifespan, enhanced resistance to oxidative and heat stress, reduced reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation, and upregulated superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. Gene expression analysis revealed activation of the insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling pathway through upregulation of daf 16, skn 1, sod 3, ctl 1, and hsp 16.2. Network pharmacology identified 254, 85, and 119 core targets for AOF1, AOF2, and AOF3 respectively, enriched in PI3K/AKT, MAPK, hypoxia, and xenobiotic response pathways. KEGG analysis further implicated lipid and atherosclerosis, HIF 1, FoxO, and PI3K Akt signaling. Molecular docking showed that critical monosaccharides and metformin formed stable hydrogen-bonded complexes with AKT1, INS, SRC, and STAT3. Among the fractions, AOF1 and AOF3 exhibited superior activities. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate the multi-target, multi-pathway anti-aging actions of AOFs and support their potential as natural antioxidants and functional food ingredients for anti-aging therapeutics. Full article

The development of biomimetic and mechanically functional constructs remains a major challenge in skeletal muscle tissue engineering. In this study, we present a multi-component 3D bioprinted platform integrating a polycaprolactone (PCL) support for mechanical stimulation, a sacrificial gelatin (GE) matrix for controlled bioink deposition, and collagen-based bioinks laden with Rattus norvegicus L6 skeletal muscle cells. The influence of PCL architecture, GE concentration (0.75, 1.5 and 3 wt%), and bioink composition—collagen (C), collagen–Matrigel (CM), and extracellular matrix-based (ECM)—was systematically evaluated. Rheological characterization demonstrated that all bioinks exhibited shear-thinning behavior and suitable viscoelastic properties for extrusion-based bioprinting, with sufficient mechanical stability to withstand dynamic bioreactor conditions. Microstructural analysis revealed highly interconnected porous networks, particularly in ECM-based scaffolds. While no statistically significant differences were observed, the ECM-based bioinks showed the highest cell viability and improved structural organization. Overall, this work demonstrates a versatile bioprinting strategy that combines mechanical support and biomimetic environments, highlighting the potential of ECM-based bioinks for the fabrication of functional skeletal muscle constructs. Full article

We present a modular microfluidic platform for constructing miniaturized, compartmentalized cell culture systems that support monoculture, co-culture, and organ-on-a-chip models of human tissues. The devices provide architecturally defined three-dimensional microenvironments in which heterogeneous cell populations can be cultured in close proximity while maintaining precise spatial organization and independent access to each compartment. In vivo-like perfusion into, from, and between adjacent chambers is achieved via micro-engineered porous barriers that act as perfusion microchannels, enabling controlled convective and diffusive transport and recapitulating paracrine signaling between tissue units. As a proof of concept, we implement an adipose–immune co-culture model that reproduces key features of inflamed, insulin-resistant adipose tissue, including altered cytokine secretion and glucose uptake. Together, these features establish a versatile platform for the biofabrication of customizable single-organ and multi-organ in vitro models that more faithfully recapitulate human tissue structure and function for applications in disease modeling, immunometabolic studies, and preclinical drug testing. Full article

Hyaluronic acid (HA), a native non-sulfated glycosaminoglycan of the extracellular matrix, has emerged as a central biomaterial in tissue engineering due to its biocompatibility, hydration capacity, and receptor-mediated bioactivity. Beyond its structural role, HA actively regulates cellular behaviors through interactions with receptors such as CD44 and RHAMM, with outcomes highly dependent on molecular weight, degradation state, and matrix context. Recent advances in chemical modification and crosslinking strategies have enabled the development of HA-based hydrogels, nanofibers, and composite systems with tunable mechanics and degradation profiles, supporting applications in bone, cartilage, vascular, and skin regeneration, as well as in emerging platforms such as 3D bioprinting and nanomedicine. However, inconsistent biological responses and limited clinical translation remain key challenges. This review integrates current understanding of HA synthesis, physicochemical properties, degradation, and receptor-mediated signaling, and establishes a mechanistic framework linking molecular characteristics, matrix mechanics, and cell responses. Building on this framework, we outline design strategies for multifunctional HA composites, advanced biofabrication approaches, and receptor-targeted systems, providing a basis for the rational engineering of next-generation HA-based biomaterials with improved translational potential. Full article

Biomechanics sits at the interface of engineering and medical sciences, offering essential insight into how tissues, organs, and biological systems respond to mechanical loading. This review brings together recent advances in musculoskeletal and cardiovascular biomechanics, illustrating how experimental techniques, computational modeling, and multiscale analysis are used to characterize load transfer, tissue deformation, fatigue, and injury mechanisms. In musculoskeletal applications, predictive simulations, wearable sensing technologies, and neuromechanical assessment tools support improved injury prevention, rehabilitation planning, and assistive device development. In the cardiovascular domain, patient-specific modeling, fluid–structure interaction analyses, and advanced imaging approaches clarify how hemodynamics, vessel wall mechanics, and device–tissue interactions influence disease progression, implant performance, and therapeutic outcomes. Emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, machine learning, digital twin frameworks, biofabrication, soft robotics, and self-powered sensing are enabling data-driven, real-time, and personalized interventions that connect mechanistic understanding with clinical practice. Despite these advances, challenges remain in accounting for individual variability, integrating multiscale data, and translating computational predictions into clinically validated solutions. By emphasizing interdisciplinary strategies that unite biomechanics, computational analytics, and innovative device engineering, this review outlines a pathway toward predictive, patient-centered healthcare and next-generation therapeutic and rehabilitation solutions. Full article

The limited regenerative capacity of articular cartilage (AC) following injury has led to a high prevalence of degenerative AC-related disorders, including osteoarthritis (OA). Current clinical treatments for OA have failed to halt disease progression, driving growing interest in cartilage tissue engineering (CTE) strategies aimed at developing biomimetic substitutes to regenerate damaged AC tissue. Among the available biofabrication techniques, electrospinning has gained attention due to its ability to generate fibrous scaffolds that closely mimic the architecture of the native AC extracellular matrix, while also serving as versatile drug delivery platforms with high surface area and elevated drug loading efficiency. Small molecules, low-molecular-weight therapeutic agents capable of interacting with both cell membrane and intracellular components, can be incorporated into these scaffold systems to target the underlying mechanisms of OA. This review examines the current state of the art of small molecule-loaded electrospun scaffolds for CTE applications. Small molecules targeting pain, inflammation, and cartilage function restoration show considerable therapeutic potential, and their incorporation into coaxial and other advanced electrospinning setups enables controlled and sustained drug release. Recent examples of small molecule-loaded electrospun scaffolds for AC repair demonstrate enhanced chondrogenic differentiation and neo-cartilage formation, supporting their potential as viable CTE strategies. Nevertheless, challenges related to drug release kinetics, scaffold load-bearing properties, manufacturing scalability, reproducibility, and regulatory approval remain critical barriers to clinical translation. Emerging fabrication strategies, AI-assisted optimization, personalized medicine approaches, and stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems offer promising avenues to overcome these limitations and advance the clinical adoption of these platforms. Full article

Electrical stimulation enhances functionality and accelerates maturation in biofabricated tissues, which are particularly important for muscle tissue engineering applications. Accordingly, there is demand for 3D-printable electrically conductive cytocompatible scaffolds that enable patient-specific geometries and localized electrical stimulation, as well as incorporate further maturation-promoting geometrical cues. Filament-based scaffolds from fused filament fabrication could overcome current limitations in geometric freedom, size and partially cytotoxic additives. In this study, biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA)-based conductive filaments incorporating graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) or carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were developed via melt-mixing extrusion to possibly enable the electrical functionalization of muscle scaffolds. A two-stage process combining twin-screw and single-screw extrusion was preferred to allow for higher filler incorporation. Filament morphology, printability, electrical conductivity, and cytocompatibility were systematically evaluated. Homogeneous filaments containing up to 16 wt.% GNPs or 3.6 wt.% CNFs were successfully produced and processed by fused filament fabrication into scaffold geometries supporting myoblast orientation. Electrical conductivity was measured above 16 wt.% GNPs, with up to 2.7 µS/m, with printed constructs capable of connecting a circuit. GNP-based filaments were cytocompatible, supporting myoblast attachment and elongated morphology. An adjustable electrical stimulation setup demonstrated improved muscle maturation and contractile responses of C2C12 myoblasts, highlighting biodegradable conductive filaments’ potential for electrically active muscle tissue scaffolds. Full article

3D bioprinting of hydrogel–cell composites requires simultaneous consideration of the biomechanical properties of the printed structures, the construct’s geometric stability, and conditions conducive to cell survival and function. Hydrogel cross-linking techniques and their kinetics play a key role in this process, determining the time of shape fixation, the mechanical strength of the structures, and the mechanical environment in which the cells are located immediately after printing. The relationships between bioprinting parameters, material properties, cross-linking strategies, and the presence of cells are highly nonlinear and often investigated through trial and error, leading to significant time and material costs. This paper proposes an approach based on artificial intelligence-assisted simulation, focusing on computer modeling of the biomechanical and functional parameters of hydrogel–cell composites produced by 3D bioprinting. The methodology is based on data generated from computer simulations and allows for analysis of the impact of printing parameters and different cross-linking strategies on mechanical strength, time-dependent geometric stability, and limitations related to cellular function, including exposure time to non-cross-linked matrices. The use of artificial intelligence methods allows for the integration of simulation results and predictive assessment of material behavior, providing a basis for future optimization of bioprinting parameters and process costs prior to experimental validation. Full article