Next-Generation Bioactive and Adaptive Hydrogels for Regenerative Bioengineering

Hydrogels and biogels represent a transformative class of biomaterials at the forefront of regenerative bioengineering. Their unique capacity to emulate the native extracellular matrix, through high water content, adjustable mechanical characteristics, and biomolecular integration, has positioned them as vital tools in tissue engineering and therapeutic delivery. Historically utilized as inert structural scaffolds, these materials have evolved in recent years into sophisticated, bioactive, and adaptive constructs capable of shaping cellular behaviors and finely steering the tissue repair process. Key technological advances in polymer chemistry, nanotechnology, and biofabrication, including 3D bioprinting, have empowered researchers with unprecedented spatial and temporal control, while the integration of decellularized extracellular matrices and stimuli-responsive components has brought these biomaterials closer to biological fidelity. Despite the considerable advancements, persisting obstacles such as manufacturing scalability, batch-to-batch reproducibility, and the translation of laboratory outcomes into clinical practice highlight an urgent need for interdisciplinary innovations and deeper investigation into the fundamental and applied aspects of adaptive hydrogels.This Research Topic aims to gather and propel cutting-edge research that pushes the boundaries of bioactive and adaptive hydrogels for regenerative bioengineering. We seek to understand how innovative hydrogel systems can better recapitulate tissue-specific microenvironments, respond dynamically to biological signals, and enable precise modulation of therapeutic functions. Key questions include how to optimize hydrogel design for enhanced clinical efficacy, facilitate predictable regeneration outcomes, and overcome existing translational bottlenecks. Through this initiative, we aspire to intersect material science, cellular bioengineering, and clinical translation to uncover strategies that could ultimately enable hydrogel-based therapies to move swiftly and reliably from bench to bedside.The scope of this Research Topic encompasses advances in hydrogel engineering for regenerative medicine but does not extend to non-biomaterial-based approaches. Submissions focusing on the interface of hydrogel material science, biological performance, and clinical application are especially encouraged. To gather further insights in the design and application of next-generation hydrogels, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:o Development of bioactive and stimuli-responsive hydrogel systemso Incorporation of decellularized and tissue-derived extracellular matriceso Advances in 3D bioprinting and biofabrication strategies for hydrogel constructso Mechanistic studies on hydrogel-cell interactions and tissue regenerationo Overcoming challenges in scalability, reproducibility, and clinical translationo Innovative approaches for therapeutic and controlled drug delivery using hydrogelso Integrating hydrogels with smart and precision medicine platforms Topic editors: Jair Adriano Kopke De Aguiar, Roberto D. Fanganiello, Carlos Maranduba Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80066/next-generation-bioactive-and-adaptive-hydrogels-for-regenerative-bioengineering