About this Research Topic
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death and disability worldwide, affecting over half a billion people and accounting for close to a third of all deaths globally. CVDs result from complex interactions between genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that affect the structure and function of cardiovascular tissues at multiple length scales, ranging from the subcellular to organ levels. Multiscale approaches, both for experimental investigation as well as mathematical and computational modeling, thus remain essential to elucidate the mechanisms underlying CVDs and to develop novel strategies for their prevention, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.
The goal of this Research Topic is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state-of-the-art and future perspectives in the field of multiscale characterization, experimentally informed modeling, and engineering of cardiovascular tissues (e.g., within the heart wall, heart valves, blood vessels, etc.). We aim to showcase the latest developments and challenges in using multiscale experimental methods and experimentally informed multiscale modeling approaches to investigate structure-function relationships within native and engineered cardiovascular tissues, as well as to better understand their remodeling and adaptation in response to various physiological and pathological stimuli. We also aim to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation among researchers and clinicians working in this field. These objectives converge on the ambition to shed light on lingering knowledge gaps—relating, for instance, to the role of local structural variations in the matrix and cellular components in mediating macro-mechanical behavior and resistance to damage, or inversely, the impact of damage or CVD progression on micro-mechanical properties.
We welcome Original Research, Methods, Review (including Systematic and Mini), Hypothesis and Theory, Perspective, Data Report, Brief Research Report, and Opinion articles that address any aspect of multiscale characterization, experimentally informed multiscale modeling, and/or multiscale engineering of cardiovascular tissues. We are particularly interested in manuscripts that cover one or more of the following themes:
–Multimodal experimental paradigms: this includes microscopy or spectroscopy methods and tools, mechanical testing, assays, and more, for characterizing the microstructural features, mechanical properties, and biology of both native cardiovascular tissues as well as fibrous scaffolds and constructs intended for cardiovascular applications.
–Next-gen modeling strategies: modeling approaches, including AI/machine learning frameworks, for integrating experimental data across different length and time scales to understand and predict structure-function relationships within native and engineered cardiovascular tissues.
–Innovative tissue engineering: novel materials, methods, and techniques for creating fibrous scaffolds and constructs with controlled microstructure and function for cardiovascular tissue engineering.
–Regenerative medicine: clinical or preclinical evaluations assessing the potential of fibrous scaffolds and constructs in tissue regeneration.
–Patient-centric modeling: clinical applications and challenges tied to patient-specific multiscale models.
–Horizons ahead: future directions and emerging trends in multiscale characterization, experimentally informed modeling, and engineering of cardiovascular tissues.
The goal of this Research Topic is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state-of-the-art and future perspectives in the field of multiscale characterization, experimentally informed modeling, and engineering of cardiovascular tissues (e.g., within the heart wall, heart valves, blood vessels, etc.). We aim to showcase the latest developments and challenges in using multiscale experimental methods and experimentally informed multiscale modeling approaches to investigate structure-function relationships within native and engineered cardiovascular tissues, as well as to better understand their remodeling and adaptation in response to various physiological and pathological stimuli. We also aim to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation among researchers and clinicians working in this field. These objectives converge on the ambition to shed light on lingering knowledge gaps—relating, for instance, to the role of local structural variations in the matrix and cellular components in mediating macro-mechanical behavior and resistance to damage, or inversely, the impact of damage or CVD progression on micro-mechanical properties.
We welcome Original Research, Methods, Review (including Systematic and Mini), Hypothesis and Theory, Perspective, Data Report, Brief Research Report, and Opinion articles that address any aspect of multiscale characterization, experimentally informed multiscale modeling, and/or multiscale engineering of cardiovascular tissues. We are particularly interested in manuscripts that cover one or more of the following themes:
–Multimodal experimental paradigms: this includes microscopy or spectroscopy methods and tools, mechanical testing, assays, and more, for characterizing the microstructural features, mechanical properties, and biology of both native cardiovascular tissues as well as fibrous scaffolds and constructs intended for cardiovascular applications.
–Next-gen modeling strategies: modeling approaches, including AI/machine learning frameworks, for integrating experimental data across different length and time scales to understand and predict structure-function relationships within native and engineered cardiovascular tissues.
–Innovative tissue engineering: novel materials, methods, and techniques for creating fibrous scaffolds and constructs with controlled microstructure and function for cardiovascular tissue engineering.
–Regenerative medicine: clinical or preclinical evaluations assessing the potential of fibrous scaffolds and constructs in tissue regeneration.
–Patient-centric modeling: clinical applications and challenges tied to patient-specific multiscale models.
–Horizons ahead: future directions and emerging trends in multiscale characterization, experimentally informed modeling, and engineering of cardiovascular tissues.
Keywords: cardiovascular, microstructure, multiscale modeling, tissue engineering, fibrous scaffolds
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
