Characterization and Applications of Bioactive Coatings

Dear Colleagues,

Bioactive coatings have emerged as a pivotal technology in materials engineering, medicine, and tissue engineering because of their unique surface functionalization and the ease with which we can modulate their biocompatibility. By precisely tailoring the composition and structure of these coatings, we can give materials antibacterial properties, promote cell adhesion, enable controlled drug release, or facilitate tissue regeneration, offering innovative solutions for medical devices, implants, and biomaterial development. This Special Issue focuses on cutting-edge research in this field, aiming to foster interdisciplinary collaboration from the fundamental characterization to clinical translation of bioactive coatings.

This Special Issue will focus on bioactive coatings that modulate biological responses through tailored surface chemistry, nanostructures, or stimuli-responsive properties. Contributions are invited on topics including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Coating Design and Fabrication

• Surface Functionalization: The development of biocompatible coatings via chemical modification (e.g., hydroxyapatite, collagen, polylactic acid) and nanostructuring.
• Multifunctional Materials: The synthesis of nanocomposites that contain antibacterial agents, growth factors, or conductive components.
• Biomimetic Strategies: Coatings inspired by natural systems (e.g., extracellular matrix mimics, self-healing mechanisms).

2. Advanced Characterizations and Mechanisms

• Structure–Bioactivity Correlation: Microstructural analysis of the structure (porosity, roughness) of bioactive coatings and its impact on cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation.
• In Vitro/In Vivo Evaluation: Mechanical stability, degradation kinetics, and biosafety assessments using techniques like XPS, SEM, and in vivo models.
• Surface–Cell Interactions: The mechanisms behind functional group grafting, protein adsorption, and the signaling pathways triggered by coatings.

3. Biomedical Applications

• Medical Devices: Antimicrobial coatings for catheters, orthopedic implants, and surgical tools to prevent infections.
• Implant Surface Modification: Osteoinductive coatings (e.g., bioactive ceramics on titanium alloys) for enhanced integration.
• Drug Delivery Systems: Smart coatings that enable the spatiotemporal release of antibiotics, growth factors, or anticancer agents.
• Tissue Engineering: Functional coatings guiding vascularization, cell alignment, and extracellular matrix formation in scaffolds.

4. Emerging Technologies and Challenges

• 3D-Printed Coatings: Complex architectures for tailored mechanical and biological properties.
• Stimuli-Responsive Systems: Coatings activated by pH, temperature, or enzymes for precision medicine.
• Clinical Translation: Preclinical validation of long-term stability, standardized evaluation protocols, and regulatory compliance.

5. Cross-Disciplinary Frontiers

• AI-Driven Design: Machine learning for optimizing coating composition and performance.
• Sustainability: Eco-friendly coatings and biodegradable materials for greener applications.
• Commercialization Pathways: Strategies for scaling up production and bridging academic research with industry needs.

Dr. Huancai Li
Dr. Jinhe Dou
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. Coatings 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 2600 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.

• bioactive coatings
• surface engineering
• stimuli-responsive systems
• biomedical applications
• clinical translation