Nanocomposites for Biomedical Engineering Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Nanocomposites Defined

A nanocomposite is a special class of composite materials in which the reinforcement phase is in the 1 to 100nm dimensional scale, giving nanostructure to the composite. As with any composite, the matrix and reinforcement phases can each be one of either metal, ceramic, or polymer. The reinforcement phase can come in various forms, such as nanospheres, equiaxed nanoparticles, acicular nanoparticles, platy nanoparticles, and nanofibers, to name but a few examples. A common example is metal nanoparticles in a ceramic matrix. The field of biomimetics reveals a number of successful nanocomposites, for example, bone calcium phosphate nano-platelets embedded epitaxially in a matrix of collagen nanofibrils, with the composite manifesting a complex hierarchical nanostructure and microstructure. The mechanical benefits of the nanocomposite approach are clear in the case of bone. Bone is orders of magnitude harder than collagen, and orders of magnitude tougher than polycrystalline calcium phosphate ceramic. The nanocomposite approach is commonly used for mechanical enhancement. However, the nanocomposite approach can also be used for other purposes—for example, photonics (optical arrays of diffracting nanoparticles in a transparent matrix), which can have biomedical application in sensors, and superparamagnetism (magnetic nanoparticles in a matrix), which can have biomedical applications in hyperthermic–heating implants.  

Scope of the Special Issue: Nanocomposites for Biomedical Engineering Applications

This special issue invites manuscripts on Nanocomposites for Biomedical Engineering Applications. As the above introduction makes clear, the scope is broad. Solid composite materials involving a reinforcement phase in the 1 to 100 nm range in a matrix, with a biomedical engineering application, are of interest. The nanocomposite approach need not be purely used for mechanical enhancement. However, the nanocomposite needs to have a biomedical application. Therefore, if implantable, it needs to be fabricated from biocompatible components. If for external use, the biomedical engineering purpose needs to be explicit. Biomimetic submissions are also welcome.

Prof. Dr. Andrew Ruys
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. Nanomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2900 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.

• nanocomposites
• biomaterials
• biomedical engineering
• composite materials
• biomimetics
• nanoparticle
• nanostructure