Innovations in Smart Materials for Soft Robotics and Adaptive Systems

Dear Colleagues,

Recent advances in smart materials are driving innovation in soft robotics and adaptive systems, enabling technologies that can sense, respond, and reconfigure in dynamic environments. This Special Issue invites contributions on the design, fabrication, and integration of advanced functional materials, with emphasis on their role in adaptability, multifunctionality, and human–machine interaction.

Topics of interest include conductive polymers and gels, nanocomposites, electroactive polymers, and stimuli-responsive materials, as well as their application in soft robots, adaptive actuators, wearable and assistive technologies, and biomedical devices. Regarding healthcare, we also welcome studies on patient-specific phantoms, anatomically realistic models, and smart materials for implantable devices, tissue engineering, and wearable health monitoring.

Key challenges remain in combining multifunctionality, sustainability, and scalability without compromising performance. We particularly encourage contributions on eco-friendly materials, biodegradable composites, green manufacturing, and additive manufacturing—including 3D and emerging 4D printing.

Future directions involve multi-stimulus perception, self-powered and self-healing systems, and the AI-driven discovery and optimization of materials; these will pave the way for digital twins, intelligent control, and next-generation adaptive robotic and biomedical platforms.

Dr. Lorenzo Migliorini
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Eng 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 1400 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.