Development of Polymeric Materials for Biomedical Applications

Dear Colleagues,

The field of biomedical engineering has witnessed transformative advancements through the design and application of polymeric materials, offering innovative solutions to address complex challenges in tissue regeneration, drug delivery, and medical device development. Traditional approaches, such as autografts and allografts, remain constrained by donor scarcity, immune rejection, and limited functionality. These limitations underscore the urgent need for advanced polymeric systems that emulate biological structures, enhance biocompatibility, and enable precise therapeutic interventions. Recent breakthroughs in polymer chemistry, fabrication technologies, and interdisciplinary research have positioned polymeric materials as pivotal tools in revolutionizing biomedical applications, particularly in sports medicine, orthopedics, and regenerative therapies.

Polymeric materials possess unique advantages, including tunable mechanical properties, biodegradability, and the ability to mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM). These attributes make them ideal for creating scaffolds, drug carriers, and implantable devices that integrate seamlessly with native tissues. Innovations such as 3D bioprinting and electrospinning have further expanded their utility by enabling the fabrication of hierarchical architectures that replicate the complexity of biological systems. For instance, cartilage regeneration—a longstanding challenge due to its avascular nature—can benefit from hydrogels and elastomers designed to withstand dynamic mechanical loads while promoting chondrocyte proliferation. Similarly, bone repair strategies leverage bioactive polymers combined with osteoconductive agents to enhance osseointegration and accelerate healing.

This Research Topic seeks to highlight cutting-edge developments in polymeric materials tailored for biomedical applications, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary innovation and potential clinical translation. We invite original research articles, reviews, and perspective pieces that explore the synthesis, characterization, and functionalization of polymers to address unmet needs in healthcare. Submissions may cover, but are not limited to, the following themes:

• Design and Synthesis of Functional Polymers: Advances in biodegradable, stimuli-responsive, and self-healing polymers for tissue engineering, wound healing, and implantable devices.
• Polymer-Based Drug Delivery Systems: Spatiotemporal control of therapeutic agent release using smart polymeric carriers, including nanoparticles, micelles, and injectable hydrogels.
• 3D Printing and Advanced Fabrication Technologies: Development of polymer-based bioinks and hybrid scaffolds for creating patient-specific constructs with enhanced mechanical and biological performance.
• Multifunctional Polymeric Composites: Integration of bioactive molecules (e.g., growth factors, peptides) or nanomaterials (e.g., graphene, nanocellulose) to enhance cellular adhesion, differentiation, and antimicrobial properties.
• Biocompatibility and Regulatory Considerations: Evaluation of polymer degradation kinetics, immune response modulation, and pathways toward clinical validation.

By fostering collaboration among materials scientists, biologists, and clinicians, this Research Topic aims to accelerate the translation of polymeric innovations into practical solutions that improve patient outcomes. Contributions addressing the intersection of polymer science with emerging fields—such as AI-driven material design, biohybrid systems, or sustainable polymer synthesis—are particularly encouraged.

We welcome submissions that demonstrate how polymeric materials can overcome existing limitations in biomedical applications, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for individuals affected by injuries, degenerative diseases, or congenital disorders. Through this collective effort, we aspire to advance the frontiers of polymer-based biomedical technologies and their integration into mainstream clinical practice.

Dr. Hidenori Otsuka
Dr. Arghya Sett
Guest Editors

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. Bioengineering 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 2700 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.

• polymeric materials
• 3D bioprinting
• drug delivery systems
• tissue engineering
• biodegradable polymers
• smart materials