Advances in Thin Films and Coatings

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is focused on innovative thin films and coatings for the improvement of bioactive surfaces in the biomedical field.

The main objective is to highlight the recent progress in bioactive material research translated into new biomedical applications with a great impact on infection control, implantology, tissue engineering, plastic surgery, dentistry, wound management, and other relevant topics.

Colonization and biofilms lead to the failure of such devices, frequently causing systemic infections associated with additional costs, prolonged hospitalization, and extensive antibiotic therapy. One of the best options to limit these effects is to modify medical device surfaces with thin film/coating deposition or texturing.

For example, in implantology there is a demand for new bone implants that possess engineered surfaces that can ensure rapid osseointegration and long-term stability. Surgical instruments could be improved by covering them with coatings that exhibit biocompatibility, enhanced lubricity/reduced friction, as well as good wear and corrosion resistance.

Close attention in this SI is given to advanced materials used for surface modification, which could open a new perspective in the design of improved medical devices.

A thin film or coating is a layer of material that has been deposited on a surface in order to modify, improve, or even add new functionalities to the characteristics of that surface. Thin films and coatings can be synthesized by a wide range of deposition techniques, depending on the purpose for which they are made. Additionally, for surface texturing there are plenty of methods which can be applied, ranging from laser irradiation to chemical corrosion.

In the biomedical domain, thin films and coatings applied to medical devices must possess some special properties: crystallinity, homogeneity, adherence, hardness, toughness, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility.

For this SI, we refer to medical devices considering orthopedic and dental implants, stents, drugs, wound dressings, medical textiles, surgical instruments, and any other objects that can be used to improve people’s health.

Dr. Gabriela Dorcioman
Dr. Valentina Grumezescu
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.

• coatings
• thin films
• biocompatible materials
• antimicrobial
• medical devices