Bioprinted functional materials offer precision-engineered platforms for tissue repair, yet their clinical translation remains constrained by unpredictable host responses. The endocrine system (hormones, circadian rhythms, metabolic status) and the immune system (inflammation, macrophage polarization, foreign body response) jointly determine whether a bioprinted construct integrates successfully or undergoes degenerative failure. This special issue focuses on decoding the bidirectional crosstalk between endocrine signals and immune cells within the bioprinted microenvironment, emphasizing strategies to shift outcomes from chronic inflammation toward functional regeneration.

Scope

(1) Mechanisms of immune—endocrine crosstalk in bioprinted constructs, including the roles of sex hormones, glucocorticoids, insulin/IGF-1, and circadian clock genes in modulating macrophage polarization, neutrophil dynamics, and lymphoid cell responses.

(2) Immunomodulatory bioink design—materials engineered with controlled release of cytokines, hormone-mimetic molecules, or metabolic cues to steer local immune phenotypes toward a pro-regenerative state.

(3) Endocrine-sensitive bioprinting strategies for tissue-specific applications (bone, cartilage, pancreas, skin, vascularized grafts and others), addressing challenges such as osteoporosis, diabetes, menopause, and chronic stress.

(4) 4D bioprinting and dynamic materials that respond to enzymatic, pH, or hormonal fluctuations to deliver immunomodulatory agents in spatiotemporally controlled patterns.

(5) Patient-specific and precision medicine approaches, including sex-based differences, metabolic profiling, and chrono-bioprinting (circadian-aligned implantation) to optimize graft integration.

(6) Advanced in vitro and in vivo models that recapitulate the endocrine—immune axis for evaluating bioprinted construct performance, including organ-on-a-chip platforms and humanized animal models.

(7) Translational perspectives on regulatory pathways, safety considerations, and strategies to mitigate foreign body response while promoting durable tissue regeneration.