The field of regenerative medicine is entering an era of unprecedented convergence, bringing together intelligent biomaterials, biomedical hydrogels, and biological 3D printing technologies. Recent innovations have enabled the engineering of materials capable of sensing physiological signals such as changes in pH, enzyme activity, or biochemical and biophysical cues. These materials can actively respond by adjusting their properties or releasing therapeutics in real time, supporting the development of adaptive and patient-specific treatment approaches. Biomedical hydrogels have become increasingly prominent as injectable and versatile matrices, providing multi-stimuli responsive environments that can encapsulate cells, drugs, and gene-editing components. Alongside these advancements, biological 3D printing and additive manufacturing technologies have allowed for precise placement of cells and biomaterials, supporting the creation of structures that more accurately replicate natural tissues. Despite rapid progress, persistent challenges include ensuring reliable responsiveness, optimizing compatibility across various stages of material processing, and establishing reproducible protocols for translation.

In this Research Topic, we focus on the pre-implantation design and manufacturing pipeline. This includes materials formulation, bio-ink engineering, printing/process optimization, and construct validation, rather than mechanobiology- or biomechanics-driven studies of in vivo remodeling or implant performance.

This Research Topic aims to accelerate innovation at the intersection of smart biomaterials, hydrogels, and biological 3D printing for regenerative and therapeutic applications. The main objectives are to explore new strategies for designing materials that autonomously sense and adjust to biological environments, develop hydrogel systems capable of finely controlled delivery of therapeutic agents, and optimize bio-ink formulations that preserve cellular function and tissue structure after printing. Emphasis will also be placed on integrating artificial intelligence for material engineering and on establishing modular systems for combining sensing and therapeutic capabilities. We encourage submissions that examine interdisciplinary methods, data-driven approaches, and regulatory considerations to help advance laboratory findings towards tangible healthcare solutions. Submissions should emphasize material design, biofabrication, and reproducible manufacturing/validation strategies that enable functional constructs for tissue engineering.

The scope of this Research Topic covers intelligent and responsive biomaterials, biomedical hydrogels, and biological 3D printing and additive manufacturing with a focus on their deployment in regenerative medicine and therapeutic settings. Submissions should relate to innovations in materials, processing methods, or translational strategies seeking clinical application. We welcome contributions covering, but not limited to, the following themes:

Design and synthesis of sensor-integrated biomaterials with autonomous response capabilities
Development of injectable, multi-stimuli responsive hydrogels for drug, cell, or gene delivery
Formulation and optimization of bio-inks for successful 3D printing of biological constructs
Process–structure–property relationships in additive manufacturing (printing parameters, crosslinking strategies, post-processing)
Application of artificial intelligence and data analysis in biomaterial and hydrogel design
Modular approaches for seamless integration from material development to clinical translation
Considerations of regulatory requirements, safety, and biocompatibility in smart biomaterials
Standardized protocols for preparation and evaluation of advanced biomaterials
Reproducibility, quality control, and standardization for bio-inks and printed constructs (bench-to-prototype readiness)
This Research Topic excludes studies primarily centered on mechanobiology, multiscale biomechanics, mechanically driven tissue remodeling/degradation, patient-specific implant performance modeling (e.g., digital twins for surgical planning), and implant failure analysis, which are better aligned with mechanobiology/biomechanics-focused topics.

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Smart materials and additive manufacturing for functional tissue engineering