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Innovative Biomaterials for Advanced Applications in Regenerative Medicine and Drug Delivery

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2026 | Viewed by 1303

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Interests: polymeric biomaterials; regenerative medicine; drug delivery systems; hydrogels; electrospinning and 3D printing
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, remarkable progress has been achieved in the fields of drug delivery and regenerative medicine through the development of advanced fabrication strategies. Cutting-edge techniques such as 3D printing, melt electrowriting, electrospinning, and microfluidics now allow the creation of highly sophisticated three-dimensional architectures that can closely mimic or adapt to native tissues. At the same time, micro- and nanoscale systems have been engineered to enable precise, controlled, and patient-specific drug release, in line with the principles of precision medicine.

These technological breakthroughs, however, rely on the continuous discovery and design of new biomaterials with intelligent and multifunctional properties. Emerging classes of polymers and hybrid materials are being tailored to exhibit features such as multi-stimuli responsiveness, tunable degradation, real-time traceability within the body, and sensing capabilities to monitor disease progression. By imparting such advanced functionalities, next-generation biomaterials are not only supporting structural and therapeutic roles, but also enabling dynamic interaction with the biological environment.

This Special Issue aims to collect original research articles dedicated to the development and application of innovative biomaterials, particularly polymeric systems of both natural and synthetic origin, for drug delivery and regenerative medicine. Contributions are especially welcome on the following topics:

  • Novel hydrogels and 3D scaffolds designed for regenerative medicine;
  • Smart polymeric systems with stimuli-responsive behavior for controlled drug delivery;
  • Hybrid materials integrating bioactive dopants to enhance therapeutic outcomes;
  • Micro- and nanocarriers engineered for precision and targeted delivery;
  • Multifunctional biomaterials capable of real-time monitoring or diagnostic feedback.

By bringing together advances in materials science, bioengineering, and nanotechnology, this Special Issue seeks to highlight how innovative biomaterials can drive the next generation of therapeutic strategies in regenerative medicine and controlled drug delivery.

Dr. Calogero Fiorica
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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

  • biomaterials
  • drug delivery
  • regenerative medicine
  • stimuli-responsive polymers
  • 3D scaffolds
  • micro-nanocarriers

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

27 pages, 3228 KB  
Article
Chitosan- and Gelatin-Based Composite Granular Hydrogels for Cartilage Tissue Regeneration
by Neda Khatami, Pedro Guerrero, Koro de la Caba, Ander Abarrategi and Sandra Camarero-Espinosa
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(6), 2889; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27062889 - 23 Mar 2026
Viewed by 590
Abstract
Cartilage regeneration remains an unmet clinical challenge. Despite the great advances in the production of hydrogels as support matrices for cartilage regeneration, the resulting mechanical properties remain low. Granular composite hydrogels appear as ideal candidates due to their injectability and modularity in design. [...] Read more.
Cartilage regeneration remains an unmet clinical challenge. Despite the great advances in the production of hydrogels as support matrices for cartilage regeneration, the resulting mechanical properties remain low. Granular composite hydrogels appear as ideal candidates due to their injectability and modularity in design. Here, we report on the fabrication and characterization of heterogeneous composite granular hydrogels based on methacrylated chitosan (CHIMA) and gelatin (GelMA) microparticles supported by an interstitial methacrylated alginate (ALMA) matrix. Microparticles were prepared by an oil-emulsion method and their size and morphology optimized, resulting in CHIMA and GelMA microparticles of 10.8 µm (95% CI 9.2, 13.1) and 115.8 µm (95% CI 107.5, 137.6) in diameter, respectively. The microparticles were mixed with ALMA and crosslinked to form granular hydrogels that demonstrated reduced swelling and weight loss. The storage modulus increased from 33 to 66.4 kPa for CHIMA/ALMA hydrogels and from 11.5 to 19.5 kPa for GelMA/ALMA hydrogels when the particle concentration increased from 10 to 50%, and was higher than traditional ALMA hydrogels. Hydrogels of 50:50 CHIMA:GelMA permitted a 6.6-fold increase in cell number after 28 days of culture, and promoted the chondrogenic differentiation of embedded mouse mesenchymal stem cells with a glycosaminoglycan deposition of over 15 µg and the expression of chondrogenic markers. Full article
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17 pages, 3354 KB  
Article
Eco-Friendly Fabrication of Secretome-Loaded, Glutathione-Extended Waterborne Polyurethane Nanofibers
by Paolo Accardo, Francesco Cancilla, Annalisa Martorana, Filippo Calascibetta, Giandomenico Amico, Giovanna Pitarresi, Calogero Fiorica, Cinzia Maria Chinnici and Fabio Salvatore Palumbo
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(23), 11556; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262311556 - 28 Nov 2025
Viewed by 435
Abstract
The development of advanced delivery systems for bioactive factors is a critical focus in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. In this study, we present a waterborne polyurethane (WPU)-based scaffold fabricated through a fully aqueous electrospinning process, providing a solvent-free and green method for [...] Read more.
The development of advanced delivery systems for bioactive factors is a critical focus in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. In this study, we present a waterborne polyurethane (WPU)-based scaffold fabricated through a fully aqueous electrospinning process, providing a solvent-free and green method for delivering secretome derived from human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). We optimized the electrospinning parameters to enable efficient secretome incorporation while preserving fiber morphology, sterility, and biocompatibility. The resulting membranes exhibited a uniform nanofibrous architecture, supported high cell viability, and demonstrated effective secretome loading and release, detected following release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A over 24 h. Overall, our findings highlight the potential of WPU nanofibrous scaffolds as sustainable and functional platforms for the delivery of MSC-derived bioactive factors in biomedical applications. Full article
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