In the living tissues, various stimuli control and modify the cellular microenvironment to direct cell behavior in terms of proliferation, differentiation, function, and cellular cross-talk. These dynamic mechanisms include cell-cell interactions, the cell secretome profile, immunomodulation, the biochemical composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM), as well as the mechanical features of ECM (e.g., elasticity, topography). To investigate these mechanisms and to bring novel strategies to investigate and control the cellular environments enabling tissue activity is highly advantageous in tissue engineering. Stimuli-responsive biomaterials are advanced materials that are sensitive to external cues (e.g. light, temperature, electricity, or magnetic field) that can promote a higher stimulus to the cells and improve their activity in the native implanted site. Nevertheless, the design of smart biomaterials or 3D structures enables more effective and personalized therapies, against degenerative diseases or tissue defects.
Over the last few decades, significant effort has been placed on untangling the dynamic interaction between cells and ECM to explain biological processes and the development of various diseases. Understanding this cross-talk is a fundamental prerequisite for engineering functional microenvironments able to instruct cells with specific inputs, as immunomodulation, regeneration, as well as can open an opportunity to design complex in vitro models.
Recent efforts in the design of biomimetic materials in terms of chemical, structural, mechanical, or biological features with native tissues and combined with external cues can be used to instruct cells and guide them to physiological metabolic activity towards new tissue formation or regrowth.
On the other hand, understanding the complexity of living tissues, controlled, and engineered in vitro cell culture and in organoid technologies and/or scaffold-based technologies with close native tissue mimicry can be developed. These advanced and more predictive 3D in vitro models offer the chance to better elucidate several biological events and to discover disruptive preclinical strategies.
This Research Topic invites contributions of both high-quality original research articles and comprehensive reviews on cutting-edge developments about Stimuli-responsive biomaterials to instruct cells for tissue regeneration.
Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
- New frontiers in the Biomaterials design and development;
- Biomaterials to direct cell fate;
- Stimuli-responsive biomaterials to guide cell behavior;
- Additive manufacturing to develop biomimetic structures to guide cells;
- Development of scaffold-based 3D cell culture as disease models;
- Development of organoid technology to direct cell fate;
- Development of microfluidic systems to mimic the dynamic fluid flow in the tissues.
In the living tissues, various stimuli control and modify the cellular microenvironment to direct cell behavior in terms of proliferation, differentiation, function, and cellular cross-talk. These dynamic mechanisms include cell-cell interactions, the cell secretome profile, immunomodulation, the biochemical composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM), as well as the mechanical features of ECM (e.g., elasticity, topography). To investigate these mechanisms and to bring novel strategies to investigate and control the cellular environments enabling tissue activity is highly advantageous in tissue engineering. Stimuli-responsive biomaterials are advanced materials that are sensitive to external cues (e.g. light, temperature, electricity, or magnetic field) that can promote a higher stimulus to the cells and improve their activity in the native implanted site. Nevertheless, the design of smart biomaterials or 3D structures enables more effective and personalized therapies, against degenerative diseases or tissue defects.
Over the last few decades, significant effort has been placed on untangling the dynamic interaction between cells and ECM to explain biological processes and the development of various diseases. Understanding this cross-talk is a fundamental prerequisite for engineering functional microenvironments able to instruct cells with specific inputs, as immunomodulation, regeneration, as well as can open an opportunity to design complex in vitro models.
Recent efforts in the design of biomimetic materials in terms of chemical, structural, mechanical, or biological features with native tissues and combined with external cues can be used to instruct cells and guide them to physiological metabolic activity towards new tissue formation or regrowth.
On the other hand, understanding the complexity of living tissues, controlled, and engineered in vitro cell culture and in organoid technologies and/or scaffold-based technologies with close native tissue mimicry can be developed. These advanced and more predictive 3D in vitro models offer the chance to better elucidate several biological events and to discover disruptive preclinical strategies.
This Research Topic invites contributions of both high-quality original research articles and comprehensive reviews on cutting-edge developments about Stimuli-responsive biomaterials to instruct cells for tissue regeneration.
Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
- New frontiers in the Biomaterials design and development;
- Biomaterials to direct cell fate;
- Stimuli-responsive biomaterials to guide cell behavior;
- Additive manufacturing to develop biomimetic structures to guide cells;
- Development of scaffold-based 3D cell culture as disease models;
- Development of organoid technology to direct cell fate;
- Development of microfluidic systems to mimic the dynamic fluid flow in the tissues.