3D Printing and Stem Cell Technologies for Vascular and Soft Tissue Repair: From Biomechanical Characterization to Clinical Translation

Vascular and soft tissue injuries, including peripheral nerve defects and vascular graft failure, remain major clinical challenges with limited treatment options. Traditional repair strategies such as autografts are constrained by donor site morbidity and insufficient availability of donor tissue. Meanwhile, advances in additive manufacturing — particularly 3D printing and bioprinting — are enabling the fabrication of patient-specific scaffolds, nerve guidance conduits, and vascular grafts with tailored biomechanical properties. In parallel, stem cell therapies, especially those using adipose-derived stem cells, have demonstrated significant potential in promoting tissue regeneration and preventing muscle atrophy following nerve injury. Despite these encouraging developments, the translation of such technologies from bench to bedside is hindered by gaps in biomechanical characterization, scaffold optimization, and the lack of standardized preclinical-to-clinical frameworks. This Research Topic aims to address these gaps at the intersection of bioengineering and surgical practice.This Research Topic aims to consolidate and advance current knowledge on the application of 3D printing, bioprinting, and stem cell technologies for the repair and regeneration of vascular and soft tissues. It will bring together researchers and clinicians working across bioengineering, regenerative medicine, and vascular surgery to explore how manufactured scaffolds and cell-based therapies can be designed, mechanically characterized, and translated into clinical use.Specifically, the collection seeks to:• Highlight novel 3D-printed and bioprinted scaffold designs for vascular grafts, nerve guidance conduits, and other soft tissue constructs.• Present advances in adipose-derived and other stem cell populations for enhancing tissue regeneration and functional recovery.• Showcase biomechanical testing methods that evaluate scaffold and tissue performance under physiologically relevant conditions.• Identify key barriers to clinical translation, including regulatory considerations, scalability, and long-term graft performance.By bridging the expertise of bioengineers, biomaterial scientists, and vascular surgeons, this Research Topic will foster interdisciplinary dialogue and accelerate the path toward clinically viable tissue-engineered solutions.We welcome Original Research, Reviews, Mini Reviews, and Perspective articles. Submissions may cover, but are not limited to, the following areas:• Design and fabrication of 3D-printed or bioprinted scaffolds for vascular and peripheral nerve repair• Adipose-derived stem cell therapies in tissue regeneration models• Biomechanical characterization of engineered and native soft tissues (e.g., uniaxial/biaxial testing, compliance analysis)• Novel biomaterials and bioinks for vascular and nerve tissue engineering• Physical and biological augmentation strategies for vascular grafts (e.g., UV irradiation, cross-linking)• Preclinical animal models evaluating functional recovery following scaffold-based repair• Clinical translation challenges including regulatory pathways and scalabilityManuscripts should present original data or provide critical synthesis of existing literature. Authors are encouraged to discuss translational implications and to include biomechanical or functional outcome measures where applicable. Topic editors: Vijayavenkataraman Sanjairaj, Emil Marian Arbanasi, Eliza Russu Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80228/3d-printing-and-stem-cell-technologies-for-vascular-and-soft-tissue-repair-from-biomechanical-characterization-to-clinical-translation