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Bioactive Materials: State-of-the-Art Research and Development Prospects

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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: 30 October 2025 | Viewed by 2957

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Dr. Alina Maria Holban

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1. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 060101 Bucharest, Romania
2. The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, ICUB, 060023 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: microbiology; immunology; new antimicrobial agents; host-pathogen signaling; infection control; antimicrobial nanomaterials; bacterial pathogenesis; virulence factors; quorum sensing; biofilms; antibacterial activity; antibiotic resistance; Staphylococcus aureus; Escherichia coli; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; microbial molecular biology; bioactive materials; nanotechnology; nanoengineering
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Dear Colleagues,

Annually, millions of people suffer from severe and debilitating diseases caused by various traumas, infections, cancers, and chronic illnesses. As the biomedical applications of bioactive materials have increased in recent years, studies show that they could offer optimal support in the design of the therapy, diagnosis, and management of such diseases. Starting with polymeric bioactive materials for tissue engineering, dressings, and hard tissue implants and ending with bio-responsible particles and sensors, such materials have provided unlimited options for biomedical research. Despite huge progress being made in the development of bioactive materials for various applications, their interactions with living cells and organisms are far from understood. The aim of this Special Issue is to bring together the most recent and innovative studies aiming to decipher the interactions between bioactive materials, cells, tissues, and organisms, empathizing their relations at the molecular level.

Topics of interest for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

Biological activities of bioactive materials at the molecular level;
Cellular processes which could be influenced by bioactive materials;
Bioactive materials utilized for the design of sensors and detection kits;
Bioactive materials in cell/tissue imaging;
Bioactive materials in the design of smart dressings;
Bioactive materials in tissue engineering;
Bioactive materials as coatings for improved implants;
Bioactive materials in cancer therapy;
Bioactive materials in infection control;
Bioactive materials in the design of targeted delivery and controlled release agents.

Dr. Alina Maria Holban
Guest Editor

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Keywords

nanobiomaterials
antibacterial materials
anticancer nanomaterials
wound dressings
coatings for bioactive implants
molecular imaging
nanosensors

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 811 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Silver Nanoparticles Functionalized with Polymeric Substances to Reduce the Growth of Planktonic and Biofilm Opportunistic Pathogens

by Mădălina Solomon, Alina Maria Holban, Beatrice Bălăceanu-Gurău, Lia Mara Dițu, Adina Alberts, Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu, Loredana Sabina Cornelia Manolescu and Mara Mădălina Mihai

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(9), 3930; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26093930 - 22 Apr 2025

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Abstract

The global rise in antimicrobial resistance, particularly among ESKAPE pathogens, has intensified the demand for alternative therapeutic strategies. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and represent a promising approach to combat multidrug-resistant infections. This study aimed to synthesize and functionalize AgNPs using various polymeric agents—ethylene glycol (EG), polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and their combinations—and to evaluate their antimicrobial and antibiofilm efficacy against clinically relevant bacterial strains. AgNPs were synthesized via chemical reduction and functionalized as Ag@EG, Ag@PEG, Ag@EG/PVP, and Ag@PEG/PVP. A total of 68 clinical isolates—including Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus lugdunensis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa—were tested. Antimicrobial susceptibility was assessed using disc diffusion and broth microdilution assays, while antibiofilm activity was evaluated via the crystal violet method. Among all tested formulations, Ag@EG/PVP exhibited the highest antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity, with notably low minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC₅₀) and minimum biofilm eradication concentrations (MBEC₅₀) for Ps. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae. In contrast, AgNPs functionalized with PEG or EG alone showed limited efficacy. Biofilm-forming isolates, particularly Staphylococcus spp., required higher concentrations for inhibition. These results highlight the critical role of functionalization in modulating the antimicrobial properties of AgNPs, with Ag@EG/PVP demonstrating potent activity against both planktonic and biofilm-associated multidrug-resistant bacteria. Overall, this study supports further developing AgNPs-based formulations as adjuncts or alternatives to conventional antibiotics, particularly for managing biofilm-related infections. Future research should focus on formulation optimization, safety assessment, and translational potential. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Materials: State-of-the-Art Research and Development Prospects)

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15 pages, 1978 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Use of a Novel Container for Secured Transport and Storage of Biological Material for Quantitative Human RNA Analysis

by Dorota Kostrzewa-Nowak, Alicja Trzeciak-Ryczek, Klaudyna Lewandowska, Thierry van de Wetering, Andrzej Ciechanowicz and Robert Nowak

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(1), 228; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26010228 - 30 Dec 2024

Viewed by 750

Abstract

The transport of biological materials must protect samples from degradation and ensure courier safety. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a new type of container designed for the secured transport of biological material for storing samples for quantitative RNA analyses. This was achieved by analyzing changes in the expression of selected human leucocyte housekeeping genes (ACTB, GAPDH, and Rack1) using reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and digital PCR (RT-dPCR) techniques. Digital PCR analysis evidenced that the novel type of container retains a higher count of analyzed gene copies per µL of samples during 5 h of incubation time. The container ensures a low maintenance temperature for several hours, making it useful for sustaining the conditions for transporting biological samples. This novel container can be used to store and transport biological material to be analyzed by molecular techniques and can retain the stability of total RNA over several hours. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Materials: State-of-the-Art Research and Development Prospects)

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16 pages, 4053 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Polyethylene Glycol/Pullulan-Based Carrier for Silymarin Delivery and Its Potential in Biomedical Applications

by Julia Iwaniec, Karina Niziołek, Patryk Polanowski, Dagmara Słota, Edyta Kosińska, Julia Sadlik, Krzysztof Miernik, Josef Jampilek and Agnieszka Sobczak-Kupiec

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(18), 9972; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25189972 - 16 Sep 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1384

Abstract

Restoring the structures and functions of tissues along with organs in human bodies is a topic gathering attention nowadays. These issues are widely discussed in the context of regenerative medicine. Excipients/delivery systems play a key role in this topic, guaranteeing a positive impact on the effectiveness of the drugs or therapeutic substances supplied. Advances in materials engineering, particularly in the development of hydrogel biomaterials, have influenced the idea of creating an innovative material that could serve as a carrier for active substances while ensuring biocompatibility and meeting all the stringent requirements imposed on medical materials. This work presents the preparation of a natural polymeric material based on pullulan modified with silymarin, which belongs to the group of flavonoids and derives from a plant called Silybum marianum. Under UV light, matrices with a previously prepared composition were crosslinked. Before proceeding to the next stage of the research, the purity of the composition of the matrices was checked using Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Incubation tests lasting 19 days were carried out using incubation fluids such as simulated body fluid (SBF), Ringer’s solution, and artificial saliva. Changes in pH, electrolytic conductivity, and weight were observed and then used to determine the sorption capacity. During incubation, SBF proved to be the most stable fluid, with a pH level of 7.6–7.8. Sorption tests showed a high sorption capacity of samples incubated in both Ringer’s solution and artificial saliva (approximately 350%) and SBF (approximately 300%). After incubation, the surface morphology was analyzed using an optical microscope for samples demonstrating the greatest changes over time. The active substance, silymarin, was released using a water bath, and then the antioxidant capacity was determined using the Folin–Ciocâlteu test. The tests carried out proved that the material produced is active and harmless, which was shown by the incubation analysis. The continuous release of the active ingredient increases the biological value of the biomaterial. The material requires further research, including a more detailed assessment of its balance; however, it demonstrates promising potential for further experiments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Materials: State-of-the-Art Research and Development Prospects)

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Bioactive Materials: State-of-the-Art Research and Development Prospects

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