Advances in Three-Dimensional Culture Systems: Bridging Biology and Medicine

Dear Colleagues,

Three-dimensional (3D) culture systems have emerged as powerful tools in biology and medicine, enabling researchers to recapitulate the complexity of in vivo environments in vitro. This Special Issue delves into the latest developments in 3D culture technologies, their applications across various biological and medical disciplines, and the implications for understanding disease mechanisms and therapeutic interventions.

The Special Issue on three-dimensional culture systems in biology and medicine aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements and applications in the field. By bridging disciplines and fostering collaboration between engineers, biologists, and clinicians, this collection aims to accelerate the translation of 3D culture technologies into impactful biomedical solutions, ultimately improving our understanding of disease pathogenesis and enhancing patient care. Both original research contributions and review papers are welcome, which may include, but are not limited to, the following topics:

Reviewing state-of-the-art techniques for engineering 3D matrices, scaffolds, and organoids to mimic native tissue architecture and cell–cell interactions. Reviews can focus on advances in biofabrication methods, including 3D bioprinting and microfluidic-based approaches, for creating precise and customizable 3D culture platforms and strategies to incorporate biochemical and biophysical cues into 3D culture systems to better mimic the physiological microenvironment.

Modeling disease and physiological processes: presenting case studies demonstrating the utility of 3D culture systems in modeling various diseases, such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and infectious diseases.

Translation to clinical applications: discussing regulatory considerations and quality control standards for the clinical translation of 3D culture-based therapies and diagnostic tools. Highlighting ongoing clinical trials and emerging therapeutic strategies based on insights gained from 3D culture studies.

Prof. Dr. Fatima A. Merchant
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Bioengineering is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• 3D culture platforms
• microengineered 3D systems
• biomaterials for 3D culture
• engineering complex 3D microenvironments
• 3D systems for modeling disease and physiological processes
• 3D culture-based therapies and diagnostic tools
• translation of 3D systems for clinical applications