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Ceramics
Special Issues
Ceramics Containing Active Molecules for Biomedical Applications
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Ceramics Containing Active Molecules for Biomedical Applications

A special issue of Ceramics (ISSN 2571-6131).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 1440

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Pedro Faia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center of Mechanical Engineering Materials and Processes—CEMMPRE, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Coimbra University, 3030 Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: solid state chemical sensors; electrochemical sensors; electrical impedance spectroscopy: usage and modeling; electric, ionic, and proton-conductive materials; electrical impedance tomography; instrumentation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Evando Santos Araújo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Group on Electrospinning and Nanotechnology Applications, Department of Materials Science, Federal University of São Francisco Valley, Juazeiro 48902-300, Brazil
Interests: preparation and characterization of ceramic materials; nanoceramics; metal oxides; mixed metal oxides; ceramic composites; mesoporous ceramics; drug delivery systems; electrospinning

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ceramic materials are known for their high chemical and structural stability, rapid response to environmental changes, for functioning in a wide range of temperatures and environmental conditions, and for their usage in diverse domains of science and technology. Another intrinsic characteristic, currently a focus of research, is the possibility of obtaining ceramic nanoparticles and/or nanostructures interacting with active molecules for the development of solutions of global interest, such as in the environmental and health sciences.

In this context, the use of ceramic-based structures for incorporating and delivering functional molecules is at present an open domain of research, with great potential to revolutionize the biomedical field. Active molecules, such as metal nanoparticles, carbon materials, proteins, and synthetic and natural drugs, among others, have been studied in interaction with ceramic materials with the aim of generating new nanotechnology-based products, with more efficient action and with less potential to cause side and/or adverse effects to users.

Based on these exciting advances and challenges, researchers are welcome to propose full papers, short communications, or reviews related to this research area.

This Special Issue focuses on experimental and theoretical studies on ceramic materials as molecular delivery systems in biomedical applications, addressing, but not limited to, the following topics:

  • Preparation and characterization of ceramic structures for molecule delivery system applications;
  • Molecule encapsulation;
  • New manufacturing methods of ceramic DDS;
  • Green clay ceramics in DDS;
  • Bioceramics as DDS;
  • Mesoporous nanoceramics;
  • Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs);
  • Metal oxides/mixed metal oxides as vehicles for molecule transport;
  • Other oxides, carbides, phosphates, and carbonates of metals and metalloids such as calcium, titanium, and silicon;
  • Calcium sulfate;
  • Calcium carbonate;
  • Hydroxyapatite;
  • Geopolymer-based ceramics;
  • Ceramic composites;
  • Ceramic hybrid crystals;
  • Ceramics for protein delivery;
  • Ceramics for pulmonary drug delivery;
  • Interaction of ceramics with metal nanoparticles, carbon materials, and carbon dots (CDs) for biomedical applications;
  • Ceramic nanoparticles used to deliver antibiotics, anticancer drugs, anticoagulants, analgesics, growth factors, hormones, steroids, and vaccines;
  • Treatment of diseases caused by microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, etc.);
  • Glaucoma treatment;
  • Application of functional ceramic scaffolds to deliver molecules;
  • Local drug delivery systems to treat large bone defects, osteoporotic fractures, bone infections, and bone tumors.
  • Scalability of ceramic DDS-related products.

Dr. Pedro Faia
Dr. Evando Santos Araújo
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. Ceramics is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly 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 1600 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.

Keywords

  • nanoceramics/nano polymers
  • material surface functionalization
  • nanocarrier drug delivery
  • controlled release dosage forms
  • smart and stimuli-responsive delivery systems
  • pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
  • intelligent biomaterials
  • bioactive ceramics
  • molecule delivery systems

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

31 pages, 7771 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Biogenic Synthesis of High-Performance CaO/NiO Nanocomposite for Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Antidiabetic Applications
by Saravanan Priyadharshini, Muniappan Ayyanar, Ravichandran Krishnasamy, Manimaran Sundarraj, Gabriela Sandoval-Hevia, Arun Thirumurugan and Natarajan Chidhambaram
Ceramics 2025, 8(2), 46; https://doi.org/10.3390/ceramics8020046 - 29 Apr 2025
Viewed by 230
Abstract
Herein, we present in-depth investigations of the biological activities of a CaO/NiO nanocomposite synthesized via a sustainable eco-friendly approach, utilizing Citrus limonium fruit extract as a natural stabilizing and facilitating agent. The efficacy of the nanocomposite is compared with those of individual CaO [...] Read more.
Herein, we present in-depth investigations of the biological activities of a CaO/NiO nanocomposite synthesized via a sustainable eco-friendly approach, utilizing Citrus limonium fruit extract as a natural stabilizing and facilitating agent. The efficacy of the nanocomposite is compared with those of individual CaO and NiO nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction analysis confirms the cubic phase of CaO as well as NiO within a unified matrix, demonstrating a refined crystallite size of 48 nm, which is smaller than that of the individual nanoparticles. FTIR study substantiates the occurrence of strong Ca-O-Ni-O bonds, along with CO32−, C–H, and CH2 bonds. The CaO, NiO, and CaO/NiO samples exhibit bandgap values of 1.70, 3.46, and 3.44 eV, respectively. Surface morphology analysis reveals that CaO/NiO holds a well-defined heterostructure with porous morphology. An XPS study confirms that Ca and Ni elements exist in the 2+ oxidation state in the CaO/NiO. The nanocomposite exhibits superior antibacterial activity, with inhibition zones of 24.3 mm against Bacillus subtilis and 20.6 mm against Salmonella typhi, and MIC values of 23.4 and 46.8 µg/mL, respectively. It also demonstrates strong antioxidant potential, with IC50 values of 96.8 ± 0.4 µg/mL (DPPH) and 91.8 ± 0.1 µg/mL (superoxide anion). Furthermore, it shows the lowest IC50 for α-amylase (98.6 ± 0.7 µg/mL) and strong α-glucosidase inhibition (81.96 ± 0.5 µg/mL). Consequently, this insightful study reveals how biogenic synthesis helps develop high-performance multifunctional CaO/NiO nanocomposites for biomedical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramics Containing Active Molecules for Biomedical Applications)
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23 pages, 5037 KiB  
Article
Tagetes erecta—Mediated Green Synthesis of ZnO–Ag Nanocomposites: Characterization and Dual Applications in Solar Photocatalytic Degradation and Antibacterial Activity
by Juan R. López-López, Miguel A. Hernández-Chávez, María de J. López-López, Armando Tejeda-Ochoa, Maritza E. Cervantes-Gaxiola, Jesús R. Parra-Unda, Gladymar G. Valenzuela-Ramírez, Héctor Flores-Villaseñor, Nidia León-Sicairos, Adrián Canizalez-Roman, José M. Herrera-Ramírez and Perla F. Méndez-Herrera
Ceramics 2025, 8(2), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/ceramics8020045 - 29 Apr 2025
Viewed by 360
Abstract
This study presents the green synthesis and comprehensive characterization of ZnO–Ag nanocomposites using an eco-friendly approach that incorporates aqueous Tagetes erecta extract via the co-precipitation method. The research systematically evaluates the effect of silver concentration (0.1–0.5%) on material properties and dual applications: solar [...] Read more.
This study presents the green synthesis and comprehensive characterization of ZnO–Ag nanocomposites using an eco-friendly approach that incorporates aqueous Tagetes erecta extract via the co-precipitation method. The research systematically evaluates the effect of silver concentration (0.1–0.5%) on material properties and dual applications: solar photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria. Advanced characterization techniques, including UV-Vis, XRD, TEM, FTIR, and TGA, confirmed the successful formation of crystalline nanocomposites with spherical and hemispherical morphologies, consisting of hexagonal wurtzite ZnO and face-centered cubic Ag phases. Results demonstrate that strategic silver incorporation significantly enhances ZnO photocatalytic activity by improving charge separation and reducing recombination rates, with the ZnO–Ag (0.3%) nanocomposite exhibiting optimal performance, achieving complete methylene blue degradation within 25 min under solar irradiation. Antibacterial assays showed efficacy against the bacteria used, with a significantly stronger bactericidal effect against S. aureus than E. coli, especially for ZnO–Ag (0.2%) at a 250 μg/mL concentration. This study highlights the synergistic effect between ZnO, Ag, and bioactive compounds from Tagetes erecta, offering a sustainable approach for developing multifunctional nanomaterials with significant potential in environmental remediation and antibacterial applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramics Containing Active Molecules for Biomedical Applications)
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14 pages, 8546 KiB  
Article
A Novel Approach to Strengthening the Microtensile Bond Between Lithium Disilicate Ceramics Manufactured by CAD/CAM and Dentin Using Coatings of Natural and Synthetic Bio-Modifiers
by Abdulellah Almudahi, Abdullah Alshehri, Ali R. Alqahtani, Basil Almutairi, Ali A. Elkaffas, Refal Saad Albaijan and Mohammed Ali Abuelqomsan
Ceramics 2025, 8(2), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/ceramics8020034 - 31 Mar 2025
Viewed by 396
Abstract
Substantial tooth bonding is the defining characteristic of effective minimally invasive all-ceramic restorations. Natural and synthetic cross-linkers that could strengthen the bonding quality are currently drawing enormous interest. Thus, this study aimed to assess the microtensile bond strength and nanoleakage of computer-aided design/computer-aided [...] Read more.
Substantial tooth bonding is the defining characteristic of effective minimally invasive all-ceramic restorations. Natural and synthetic cross-linkers that could strengthen the bonding quality are currently drawing enormous interest. Thus, this study aimed to assess the microtensile bond strength and nanoleakage of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM)-fabricated ceramics to pretreated dentin with chlorhexidine or Salvadora persica extract, compared to no pretreatment, after thermomechanical cyclic loading. Consequently, forty-five extracted third-molar teeth (n = 45) were utilized to obtain mid-coronal dentin and assigned into three groups (n = 15) in accordance with dentin pretreatment; (group I: no dentin pretreatment (control), group II: 2% chlorhexidine, and group III: Salvadora persica extract pretreatments). Ceramic onlays were milled from lithium disilicate IPS e.max CAD/CAM blocks and cemented to prepared teeth with etch-and-rinse resin cement (Variolink Esthetic DC system kit). Microtensile bond strength and interfacial nanoleakage were accessed after thermomechanical cyclic loading. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s post hoc test. Additionally, p-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The chlorhexidine pretreated group showed the most favorable outcome compared to the control group. Conversely, using Salvadora persica pretreatment did not affect the bond strength and nanoleakage compared to the control group (p > 0.05). Consequently, unlike Salvadora persica extract, chlorhexidine–dentin pretreatment maintained superior bonding strength to ceramics after thermomechanical cyclic loading, facilitating minimally invasive, yet lasting, aesthetic restoration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ceramics Containing Active Molecules for Biomedical Applications)
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