Bioinspired Functional Materials for Biomedical Applications 2.0

Dear Colleagues,

Biomaterials are rapidly becoming one of the most influential and innovative hot topics of research in the 21st century. The biomaterial age ushers a completely new technological paradigm that favors the development of sustainable materials—a bioinspired perspective based on the control and reproduction of the principles of biological materials using their own components. The intrinsic design intelligence in biomaterials is today a recurrent source of inspiration in material sciences. Materials that reproduce those designs with native components are configured in the same way they are organized in nature; the result is a material of outstanding mechanical and functional properties beyond those of its constituents.

The design and development of multifunctional smart biomaterials that are compatible to human physiology is crucial to achieve the required biological function with a reduced negative biological response. Several biosensors, biomimetic drug delivery systems and medical bioimplants have been tested to boost life expectancy and improve quality of life.

While significant progress has been made in technology and the methods for the synthesis and self-assembly of bioinspired functional materials, their use for biomedical applications is still at its infancy with significant future impact.

In this Special Issue, we will provide an overview of the major challenges and fundamental discoveries regarding bioinspired functional materials, whose structure, properties or function mimic those of natural materials or living matter. Particular attention will be devoted to the efforts under way to exploit the functional properties of new bioderived, biomimetic, biodegradable and biocompatible materials.

Original research and reviews with a strong focus on newer and challenging products are welcome, with particular emphasis on, but not limited to, functionalized bioderived sensors for theranostics applications, biomimetic drug delivery systems for next-generation target therapy, biocompatible materials for biomechatronic artificial organs and prosthetics, bioscaffold and tissue-like materials for regenerative medicine applications.

Fabio Testi ([email protected]) from National Research Council (CNR) will assist in managing this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Caterina Cinti
Dr. Armida Torreggiani
Dr. Alberto Zanelli
Guest Editors

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• biomaterials for biomedical applications
• bioinspired materials
• bioderived biosensors
• biomimetic drug delivery systems
• biomechanotronics
• artificial organs
• prosthetics
• tissue-like materials
• bioscaffolds