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Emerging Biomaterials and Bio-Composites Across Disciplines: Design, Characterization and Applications

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A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Biosciences and Bioengineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 November 2025) | Viewed by 11141

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Dr. Laia Mogas-Soldevila

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Guest Editor

Director at DumoLab Research and Assistant Professor, Weitzman School of Design, Department of Graduate Architecture, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Interests: biocomposites design; ambient conditions manufacturing; biocontsruction; regenerative architecture

Dr. Ioana Chiulan

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Guest Editor

Head of the "Evaluation of environmental quality and impact analysis" Department, National Institute for Research and Development in Environmental Protection, Bucharest, Romania
Interests: biomaterials; environmental protection; water treatment; biomass and biochar
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Medical applications have historically driven biomaterials’ development in drug delivery and tissue scaffolding in search of biocompatibility and enhanced human health; however, certain bio-composites’ natural biodegradability, adaptability to environmental parameters, and capacity to encapsulate active molecules for sensing and response have sparked new research in non-medical applications. This is particularly the case in the context of sustainability and the creation of biodegradable or environmentally friendly materials with unprecedented functions—bridging optical, mechanical, biological, and chemical properties.

This Special Issue discusses biomaterials and bio-composites at the center of biomedical innovation, but they are increasingly informing and interfacing with other fields such as sustainable apparel development, bio-based consumer products, eco-attuned building construction systems, or blend discovery via artificial intelligence. This multi-disciplinary interplay is due to both challenges and opportunities in biomaterials and bio-composites’ multifunctional structures, property variability, new processing techniques, responses to environmental factors, and programmable durability.

Recommended Topics

Design and development of multifunctional bio-composites.
Interdisciplinary research in biomaterials and bio-composites.
Artificial intelligence applied to bio-composite property prediction.
Applications of bio-composites beyond medical fields.

Dr. Laia Mogas-Soldevila
Dr. Ioana Chiulan
Guest Editors

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Keywords

novel biomaterials and bio-composites
multifunctional bio-composites
bio-composite processing
biomaterials’ property prediction

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 3450 KB

Open AccessArticle

From the Lab to the Land: Challenges of Upscaling Biobased Materials for Architecture

by Mercedes Garcia-Holguera

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(4), 1990; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16041990 - 17 Feb 2026

Viewed by 468

Abstract

The field of biology offers great inspiration for sustainable design solutions through the exploration and implementation of biobased materials in architecture. Research on this topic is increasingly viewed as a key pathway to addressing climate change, partly because biobased materials have lower embedded energy, can be integrated into circular economy strategies, can be produced locally, and in some cases, biobased materials have been shown to have similar or improved mechanical and hygrothermal properties compared to standard construction materials. However, significant challenges need to be addressed to facilitate a smooth and consistent transition toward a biobased construction industry. Some of these barriers relate to growth processes, cultural perceptions, standardization, and mass production of materials. Another barrier is transitioning from micro-scale structures developed in laboratory settings to metre-scale structures used in architectural applications. Upscaling biobased materials requires adjustments in growth techniques, workspaces, material manipulation tools, and post-processing to ensure the materials meet the requirements for use in the built environment. This document examines bacterial cellulose in this context, illustrating the process followed to upscale the production of the material and adapt it from a controlled lab environment to a larger architectural scale. The study presents and assesses the steps taken to adapt lab growing conditions, harvesting and drying techniques, and coating choices, among other critical procedures. The barriers and opportunities encountered through this process contribute to the ongoing discussion on shifting from traditional to biobased materials in the built environment. Moreover, this research underscores the transformative role that biobased materials like bacterial cellulose can play in advancing sustainable architectural practices and highlights the importance of interdisciplinary efforts to bridge laboratory research and large-scale built design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Biomaterials and Bio-Composites Across Disciplines: Design, Characterization and Applications)

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19 pages, 10329 KB

Open AccessArticle

Design-to-Fabrication Workflows for Large-Scale Continuous FDM Grading of Biopolymer Composites

by Paul Nicholas, Gabriella Rossi, Carl Eppinger, Cameron Nelson, Konrad Sonne, Shahriar Akbari, Martin Tamke, Jan Hüls, Ryan O’Connor, Mathias Waschek and Mette Ramsgaard Thomsen

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(3), 1569; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16031569 - 4 Feb 2026

Viewed by 537

Abstract

This paper details the development of innovative grading techniques for 3D-printed biopolymer composites that utilize locally sourced, cellulose-based fibre streams to produce architectural-scale components. It examines the design considerations, methodologies, and fabrication strategies that are necessitated by the utilisation of biopolymers for architectural applications, and which underlie key processes of designing for and with variable materials. The presented research interrogates the methodological challenges of formulating new approaches that actively engage architects and designers with the ecological implications of their design choices. It outlines new methods for material grading that enable targeted compositional variation through three interlinked contributions: a gradable recipe, a design-interfaced specification process for grading, and an infrastructure for large-scale 3D printing of biopolymer composites. The paper presents the Rhizaerial demonstrator as an implementation of these contributions. Rhizaerial is a full-scale interior ceiling vault system, whose curved components are printed as a 3D porous lattice structure that creates an interplay of light, visual transparency, and colour, while maintaining structural integrity. We detail the gradable biopolymer composite recipe, and the residual and regenerative material streams it combines. We outline the implicit modelling pipeline, which includes methods for locally specifying lattice structures for 3D printing, as well as assigning continuous grading specifications to print paths. Finally, we describe the fabrication infrastructure and tooling for robotic printing of large-scale graded biopolymer composites. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Biomaterials and Bio-Composites Across Disciplines: Design, Characterization and Applications)

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25 pages, 3793 KB

Open AccessArticle

Exuviae of Tenebrio molitor Larvae as a Source of Chitosan: Characterisation and Possible Applications

by Jelena Milinković Budinčić, Željana Radonić, Danka Dragojlović, Tea Sedlar, Matija Milković, Marija Polić Pasković and Igor Pasković

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(17), 9285; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15179285 - 24 Aug 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2085

Abstract

Biopolymers have gained significant attention due to their environmental advantages, with insects emerging as a promising but underutilized source of chitin and chitosan. In this study, chitosan was extracted from the larval exuviae of Tenebrio molitor through sequential demineralization, deproteinization, and deacetylation steps. For selected analyses, the extracted chitosan was further purified via reprecipitation from an acid solution using a basic precipitant (1 M NaOH). Chitosan was then characterized using chemical and instrumental methods. The results indicated that the chitosan had a medium degree of deacetylation (72.27%) and viscosity-average molecular weight (612 kDa), along with minimal ash (0.33%) and amino acid (0.14%) content, suggesting high product quality. FTIR analysis identified characteristic functional groups present, and SEM analysis highlighted a fibrous and porous microstructure in the purified chitosan. The prepared films exhibited favorable properties, including low thickness (0.0197 mm), high swelling degree (335.07%), moderate water solubility (46.99%), and moisture content of 32.39%, supporting their practical applicability. T. molitor exuviae thus represents a sustainable and environmentally friendly source of high-quality chitosan, with beneficial structural and functional properties, supporting its use in a wide array of value-added applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Biomaterials and Bio-Composites Across Disciplines: Design, Characterization and Applications)

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14 pages, 5556 KB

Open AccessCommunication

Biofabricating Three-Dimensional Bacterial Cellulose Composites Using Waste-Derived Scaffolds

by Jula Kniep, Manu Thundathil, Kurosch Rezwan and Ali Reza Nazmi

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(12), 6396; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15126396 - 6 Jun 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1766

Abstract

Microorganisms metabolising low-value carbon sources can produce a diverse range of bio-based and biodegradable materials compatible with circular economy principles. One such material is bacterial cellulose (BC), which can be obtained in high purity through the fermentation of sweetened tea by a Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast (SCOBY). In recent years, there has been a growing research interest in SCOBYs as a promising solution for sustainable material design. In this work, we have explored a novel method to grow SCOBYs vertically using a waste-based scaffold system. Waste sheep wool and cotton fabric were soaked in a SCOBY infusion to serve as scaffolds, carrying the infusion and facilitating vertical growth through capillary forces. Remarkably, vertical membrane growth up to 5 cm above the liquid–air interface (LAI) was observed after just one week. Membranes with different microstructures were found in sheep wool and cotton, randomly oriented between the scaffold fibre, resulting in a high surface area. This study demonstrated that vertical growth in scaffolds is possible, proving the concept of a new method of growing composite materials with potential high-value applications in biomedicine, energy storage, or filtration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Biomaterials and Bio-Composites Across Disciplines: Design, Characterization and Applications)

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24 pages, 4690 KB

Open AccessArticle

Advanced Sustainable Architectural Acoustics Through Robotic Extrusion-Based Additive Manufacturing (EAM) of Fungal Biomaterials

by Alale Mohseni, Özgüç Bertuğ Çapunaman, Alireza Zamani, Natalie Walter and Benay Gürsoy

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(10), 5587; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15105587 - 16 May 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2916

Abstract

While prior studies have explored developing mycelium paste for EAM of this material, this research streamlined the EAM workflow for preparing living, extrudable mycelium mixtures, involving alterations in the preparation sequence and adjustments in the admixture ratios. The resultant mycelium mixture was employed in a series of experiments to optimize the parameters of robotic EAM using Artificial Neural Networks. Next, a performance-based acoustic wall was designed informed by simulation in Pachyderm. Building upon previous research by authors, two adjacent panels with high complex geometric features were selected for fabrication, presenting a challenging test scenario, as conventional planar slicing introduces stair-stepping phenomena, while non-planar slicing introduces irregularities in layer height. To address these, a hybrid slicing strategy was used by integrating both slicing techniques. Next, an experimental framework was established to assess the influence of EAM toolpath planning factors on the acoustic properties of the designed acoustic panels. Lastly, two panels were fabricated using an ABB IRB 2400 robotic arm. The alignment of the toolpath planning factors and EAM parameters resulted in a uniform material deposition in the final fabricated panels. This study underscores the transformative capacity of robotic EAM and conformal toolpath planning, presenting the development of biodegradable building materials and advanced acoustic solutions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Biomaterials and Bio-Composites Across Disciplines: Design, Characterization and Applications)

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