Functional Hydrogels for Biofabrication and Biomedical Applications

Bioprinting has emerged as a powerful tool in bioengineering, enabling the fabrication of three-dimensional constructs that replicate key structural and functional features of living tissues. Hydrogels constitute the cornerstone of this technology, owing to their high water content, tunable physicochemical properties, and capacity to mimic the extracellular matrix, thereby supporting cell viability, proliferation, and differentiation.In recent years, increasing efforts have been devoted to the development of functional and multifunctional hydrogels with improved bioactivity, mechanical performance, and controlled degradation behavior. In parallel, the incorporation of additional functionalities, such as electrical conductivity or responsiveness to external stimuli, has expanded the application range of hydrogels toward bioelectronic interfaces, biosensing, and smart therapeutic systems. These advances consolidate functional hydrogels as a central element in the development of advanced, personalized, and sustainable biomedical solutions.Reproducing the structural, mechanical, and biological complexity of native tissues remains one of the major challenges in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Although hydrogels have demonstrated great potential as bioinks due to their biocompatibility and tunable properties, limitations related to mechanical stability, degradation control, and precise functionalization continue to hinder their widespread clinical translation.Current research therefore focuses on the design of advanced functional hydrogels that combine biological compatibility with additional properties such as electrical conductivity, stimuli-responsiveness, or controlled delivery of bioactive agents. Recent strategies include the incorporation of polymeric modifiers, bioactive compounds, and conductive fillers, including carbon-based additives, to endow hydrogels with sensing or bioelectronic capabilities.This Research Topic aims to gather multidisciplinary contributions addressing these advances, covering novel hydrogel formulations, biofabrication strategies, advanced characterization techniques, and translational applications related to tissue regeneration, hydrogel-based biosensing, and personalized medicine. We invite contributions focused on the design, synthesis, characterization, and application of functional hydrogels in the context of 3D bioprinting and biomedical technologies. Topics of interest include, but not limited to:• Hydrogel formulations with enhanced bioactivity and/or mechanical performance• Strategies to introduce multifunctionality, such as conductivity or stimuli-responsiveness• Advances in bioprinting techniques to fabricate customized, bioactive constructs• Formulation of conductive and sensing hydrogels and applications Topic editors: Antonio Macías García, Paulo Brito, Alfonso Carlos Marcos Romero Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/77091/functional-hydrogels-for-biofabrication-and-biomedical-applications