Organ and cell transplantation remains a life-saving treatment for numerous debilitating diseases, yet it is continuously challenged by issues such as donor organ scarcity, immune rejection, graft failure, and the long-term side effects of immunosuppression. Bioengineering, at the nexus of engineering and life sciences, offers transformative solutions to address these critical barriers and revolutionize the field of transplantation.
Under the expert leadership of Dr. Wei Tao as the leading editor, this Research Topic for the Bioengineering Section of Frontiers in Transplantation seeks to highlight the diverse and innovative contributions that are shaping the next generation of transplant therapies. We invite submissions from researchers worldwide, including our distinguished editorial board members, to showcase advancements across a broad spectrum of bioengineering applications relevant to organ and cell transplantation.
Key areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
Organ and Tissue Engineering: Development of novel strategies for de novo organ generation, regeneration of damaged tissues, and expansion of the donor pool through decellularization/recellularization, biofabrication, and biomaterial scaffolds.
Advanced Organ Preservation: Innovations in perfusion systems, normothermic machine perfusion, cryopreservation, and other bioengineering methods to extend graft viability and improve post-transplant function.
Immunomodulation and Tolerance: Engineering approaches to control immune responses, including targeted drug delivery systems, immunomodulatory biomaterials, cell-based therapies, and gene editing strategies to induce transplant tolerance and reduce reliance on systemic immunosuppression.
Diagnostic and Monitoring Technologies: Development of sophisticated biosensors, imaging techniques, 'omics' platforms, and AI-driven analytics for early detection of rejection, graft injury, and personalized patient management.
Cellular Therapies and Stem Cell Bioengineering: Engineering of stem cells, progenitor cells, and immune cells for therapeutic applications in transplantation, including exosome-based therapies and gene-modified cellular grafts.
Microphysiological Systems: Utilization of organ-on-a-chip, organoids, and other in vitro models to study transplant immunology, drug efficacy, and disease mechanisms in a controlled and predictive environment.
Biomaterials and Nanotechnology: Design and application of novel biocompatible materials, nanoparticles, and hydrogels for drug delivery, scaffold design, and encapsulation of cells for therapeutic purposes.
By fostering an interdisciplinary dialogue, this Research Topic aims to accelerate the translation of bioengineering discoveries from bench to bedside, ultimately improving graft longevity, enhancing patient quality of life, and overcoming the enduring challenges in transplantation. We encourage original research, comprehensive reviews, methods, and perspective articles that advance our understanding and application of bioengineering principles in this vital field.
Article types and fees
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Brief Research Report
Case Report
Classification
Clinical Trial
Community Case Study
Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
Editorial
FAIR² Data
General Commentary
Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.
Article types
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
