Coatings for the Synthesis of Functionalized Biomaterials

Dear Colleagues,

Needing to overcome the limitations of currently used medical devices, many research groups have turned their interest toward techniques to modify the material surface. This has an essential role in defining the biomaterial performance since it is more reactive than the core of the material. Therefore, the response of the human body to the material implantation is a function of the reactions that take place at the tissue–implant interface.

Many macroscopic material properties (e.g., resistance to degradation and chemical agents, hydrophilicity/hydrophobia, bioactivity and biocompatibility, refraction index, reflection, photoluminescence and other optical properties) are related to the chemical and physic features of the material surface. Hence, surface modification can lead to the enhancement of the implant integration process by the application of functional coatings to biologically implantable materials. This is a promising strategy to give new properties to a material or to modify and improve some already existent ones (e.g., improvement of bioactivity and biocompatibility).

The aim of this Special Issue is to serve as a forum for papers focused on the following concepts:

• Synthesis and characterization of new functionalized biomaterials;
• Coating of natural extracts with antioxidant and/or anticancer properties;
• Coating of drugs with antibiotic and antibacterial activity;
• Coating of synthetic or natural polymers able to improve the chemical–physical properties of the biomaterials;
• Characterization and modification of the biomaterials surfaces already on the market.

Dr. Federico Barrino
Dr. Valentina Vassallo
Guest Editors

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