Biomimetic Material for Bone Tissue Engineering

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue on Biomimetic Material for Bone Tissue Engineering aims to provide a detailed exploration of cutting-edge innovations in biomaterials designed to replicate the natural properties and biological functions of bone tissue, offering novel solutions for bone regeneration. Bone tissue engineering has emerged as a transformative approach to overcoming the limitations of conventional treatments for bone defects, fractures, and degenerative bone diseases. These conditions, particularly in complex or non-healing fractures, present significant challenges in clinical settings. Biomimetic materials seek to mimic the intricate architecture, mechanical strength, and mineral composition of natural bone, offering the potential to improve the integration and functionality of implants.

The Issue highlights a diverse array of materials, including bioactive ceramics, polymer-based composites, hydrogels, and 3D-printed scaffolds. These materials are engineered to foster osteogenesis and enhance bone repair by providing a conducive environment for cellular activities like proliferation, differentiation, and matrix deposition. The Issue also emphasizes how these materials interact with key biological factors such as stem cells, growth factors, and the surrounding extracellular matrix, which are crucial for driving tissue regeneration and repair.

In addition to material composition, the role of the tissue microenvironment is discussed as a critical determinant of success in bone regeneration, focusing on factors like oxygen tension, pH, and mechanical loading, which all influence cellular behavior and tissue integration. Advanced fabrication techniques like 3D printing and bioprinting are also featured, showcasing their potential to create highly personalized, patient-specific implants with optimized mechanical properties and pore structures that mimic natural bone. These methods allow for precise control over the material’s architecture, such as in porosity, surface topography, and spatial arrangement, ensuring better biological outcomes.

The Issue also touches on the growing field of multifunctional biomaterials, where materials not only support bone growth but also offer antimicrobial properties, drug delivery capabilities, or electrical conductivity to further stimulate bone regeneration. With the integration of novel technologies, including gene therapy and advanced cell culture models, these biomimetic materials are expected to drive significant progress in the treatment of bone injuries and defects, paving the way for personalized regenerative therapies.

This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in the development and application of biomimetic materials, with the goal of revolutionizing bone tissue engineering and offering practical solutions to complex bone-related health challenges.

Dr. Nicolas Somers
Dr. Ina Erceg
Dr. Pedro Jesús Navarrete Segado
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 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. Biomimetics 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 2200 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.

• bone regeneration
• scaffolds
• 3D printing
• stem cells
• biomaterials