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Feature Papers in Biomaterials for Healthcare Applications
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Feature Papers in Biomaterials for Healthcare Applications

A topical collection in Journal of Functional Biomaterials (ISSN 2079-4983). This collection belongs to the section "Biomaterials and Devices for Healthcare Applications".

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Editor

Prof. Dr. Dimitrios Karamichos

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
North Texas Eye Research Institute (NTERI), University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
Interests: corneal wound healing; cornea trauma; keratoconus; bioengineering; bioprinting; diabetic keratopathy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Topical Collection Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Topical Collection, “Feature Papers in Biomaterials for Healthcare Applications”, will comprise important contributions by scholars in the field of biomaterials and the Editorial Board members of the Journal of Functional Biomaterials. Their broad expertise will result in a comprehensive array of the latest findings in this field, and thus we encourage submissions of high-quality research papers or review articles.

This Topical Collection focuses on biomaterials, which are the result of collaborations between materials science, medicine, pharmacology, engineering, and biology. Suitable topics include biomaterials applied in dental, bone, ophthalmology, otorhinolaryngology, cardiovascular, tissue regeneration, cancer, and drug delivery, as well as emerging trends for human healthcare. Each paper represents a significant advancement or a new perspective that promises to impact the future of healthcare by improving treatment outcomes, patient comfort, and overall quality of life. To accelerate the translation of innovative biomaterials from bench to bedside, ultimately improving patient outcomes and advancing the frontier of healthcare. We look forward to receiving your submissions.

Prof. Dr. Dimitrios Karamichos
Collection Editor

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 collection 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. Journal of Functional Biomaterials 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 2700 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.

Keywords

  • biomaterials
  • biopolymers
  • healthcare
  • disease
  • biomedicine
  • tissue engineering

Published Papers (6 papers)

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2025

Jump to: 2024

16 pages, 748 KiB  
Article
Fabrication of a 3D Corneal Model Using Collagen Bioink and Human Corneal Stromal Cells
by Alexander J. Choi, Brenna S. Hefley, Hannah A. Strobel, Sarah M. Moss, James B. Hoying, Sarah E. Nicholas, Shadi Moshayedi, Jayoung Kim and Dimitrios Karamichos
J. Funct. Biomater. 2025, 16(4), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb16040118 - 28 Mar 2025
Viewed by 441
Abstract
Corneal transplantation remains a critical treatment option for individuals with corneal disorders, but it faces challenges such as rejection, high associated medical costs, and donor scarcity. A promising alternative for corneal replacement involves fabricating artificial cornea from a patient’s own cells. Our study [...] Read more.
Corneal transplantation remains a critical treatment option for individuals with corneal disorders, but it faces challenges such as rejection, high associated medical costs, and donor scarcity. A promising alternative for corneal replacement involves fabricating artificial cornea from a patient’s own cells. Our study aimed to leverage bioprinting to develop a corneal model using human corneal stromal cells embedded in a collagen-based bioink. We generated both cellular and acellular collagen I (COL I) constructs. Cellular constructs were cultured for up to 4 weeks, and gene expression analysis was performed to assess extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and fibrotic markers. Our results demonstrated a significant decrease in the expression of COL I, collagen III (COL III), vimentin (VIM), and vinculin (VCL), indicating a dynamic remodeling process towards a more physiologically relevant corneal ECM. Overall, our study provides a foundational framework for developing customizable, corneal replacements using bioprinting technology. Further research is necessary to optimize the bioink composition and evaluate the functional and biomechanical properties of these bioengineered corneas. Full article
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23 pages, 5431 KiB  
Article
Emulsion-Based Encapsulation of Fibrinogen with Calcium Carbonate for Hemorrhage Control
by Henry T. Peng, Tristan Bonnici, Yanyu Chen, Christian Kastrup and Andrew Beckett
J. Funct. Biomater. 2025, 16(3), 86; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb16030086 - 3 Mar 2025
Viewed by 612
Abstract
Hemorrhage, particularly non-compressible torso bleeding, remains the leading cause of preventable death in trauma. Self-propelling hemostats composed of thrombin-calcium carbonate (CaCO3) particles and protonated tranexamic acid (TXA+) have been shown to reduce blood loss and mortality in severe bleeding [...] Read more.
Hemorrhage, particularly non-compressible torso bleeding, remains the leading cause of preventable death in trauma. Self-propelling hemostats composed of thrombin-calcium carbonate (CaCO3) particles and protonated tranexamic acid (TXA+) have been shown to reduce blood loss and mortality in severe bleeding animal models. To further enhance both hemostatic and self-propelling properties, this study was to investigate fibrinogen-CaCO3 particles prepared via a water-oil-water (W/O/W) emulsion method. The particles were characterized using light and fluorescence microscopy, gel electrophoresis, rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM), and video motion tracking. The method produced spherical micrometer-sized particles with various yields and fibrinogen content, depending on the preparation conditions. The highest yield was achieved with sodium carbonate (SC), followed by ammonium carbonate (AC) and sodium bicarbonate (SBC). AC and paraffin generated smaller particles compared to SC and heptane, which were used as the carbonate source and oil phase, respectively. Fibrinogen incorporation led to an increase in particle size, indicating a correlation between fibrinogen content and particle size. Fluorescence microscopy confirmed successful fibrinogen encapsulation, with various amounts and hemostatic effects as assessed by gel electrophoresis and ROTEM. Combining fibrinogen-CaCO3 particles with TXA+ and thrombin-CaCO3 particles showed synergistic hemostatic effects. All fibrinogen-encapsulated particles exhibited self-propulsion when mixed with TXA+ and exposed to water, regardless of fibrinogen content. This study advances current hemostatic particle technology by demonstrating enhanced self-propulsion and fibrinogen incorporation via the W/O/W emulsion method. Further optimization of the encapsulation method could enhance the effectiveness of fibrinogen-CaCO3 particles for hemorrhage control. Full article
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2024

Jump to: 2025

10 pages, 2228 KiB  
Article
Machine Learning and Metabolomics Predict Mesenchymal Stem Cell Osteogenic Differentiation in 2D and 3D Cultures
by Michail E. Klontzas, Spyros I. Vernardis, Aristea Batsali, Fotios Papadogiannis, Nicki Panoskaltsis and Athanasios Mantalaris
J. Funct. Biomater. 2024, 15(12), 367; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb15120367 - 5 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1319
Abstract
Stem cells have been widely used to produce artificial bone grafts. Nonetheless, the variability in the degree of stem cell differentiation is an inherent drawback of artificial graft development and requires robust evaluation tools that can certify the quality of stem cell-based products [...] Read more.
Stem cells have been widely used to produce artificial bone grafts. Nonetheless, the variability in the degree of stem cell differentiation is an inherent drawback of artificial graft development and requires robust evaluation tools that can certify the quality of stem cell-based products and avoid source-tissue-related and patient-specific variability in outcomes. Omics analyses have been utilised for the evaluation of stem cell attributes in all stages of stem cell biomanufacturing. Herein, metabolomics in combination with machine learning was utilised for the benchmarking of osteogenic differentiation quality in 2D and 3D cultures. Metabolomics analysis was performed with the use of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A set of 11 metabolites was used to train an XGboost model which achieved excellent performance in distinguishing between differentiated and undifferentiated umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells (UCB MSCs). The model was benchmarked against samples not present in the training set, being able to efficiently capture osteogenesis in 3D UCB MSC cultures with an area under the curve (AUC) of 82.6%. On the contrary, the model did not capture any differentiation in Wharton’s Jelly MSC samples, which are well-known underperformers in osteogenic differentiation (AUC of 56.2%). Mineralisation was significantly correlated with the levels of fumarate, glycerol, and myo-inositol, the four metabolites found most important for model performance (R2 = 0.89, R2 = 0.94, and R2 = 0.96, and p = 0.016, p = 0.0059, and p = 0.0022, respectively). In conclusion, our results indicate that metabolomics in combination with machine learning can be used for the development of reliable potency assays for the evaluation of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products. Full article
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21 pages, 7976 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Helium and Nitrogen Plasmas on Electrospun Gelatin Nanofiber Scaffolds for Skin Tissue Engineering Applications
by Abolfazl Mozaffari, Mazeyar Parvinzadeh Gashti, Farbod Alimohammadi and Mohammad Pousti
J. Funct. Biomater. 2024, 15(11), 326; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb15110326 - 1 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1441
Abstract
This study explores the fabrication of tannic acid-crosslinked gelatin nanofibers via electrospinning, followed by helium and nitrogen plasma treatment to enhance their biofunctionality, which was assessed using fibroblast cells. The nanofibers were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, attenuated total reflection [...] Read more.
This study explores the fabrication of tannic acid-crosslinked gelatin nanofibers via electrospinning, followed by helium and nitrogen plasma treatment to enhance their biofunctionality, which was assessed using fibroblast cells. The nanofibers were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and water contact angle measurements before and after treatment. Helium and nitrogen gas plasma were employed to modify the nanofiber surfaces. Results indicated that helium and nitrogen plasma treatment significantly increased the hydrophilicity and biofunctionality of the nanofibers by 5.1° ± 0.6 and 15.6° ± 2.2, respectively, making them more suitable for human skin fibroblast applications. To investigate the impact of plasma treatment on gelatin, we employed a computational model using density functional theory with the B3LYP/6-31+G(d) method. This model represented gelatin as an amino acid chain composed of glycine, hydroxyproline, and proline, interacting with plasma particles. Vibrational analysis of these systems was used to interpret the vibrational spectra of untreated and plasma-treated gelatin. To further correlate with experimental findings, molecular dynamics simulations were performed on a system of three interacting gelatin chains. These simulations explored changes in amino acid bonding. The computational results align with experimental observations. Comprehensive analyses confirmed that these treatments improved hydrophilicity and biofunctionality, supporting the use of plasma-treated gelatin nanofibers in skin tissue engineering applications. Gelatin’s natural biopolymer properties and the versatility of plasma surface modification techniques underscore its potential in regenerating cartilage, skin, circulatory tissues, and hamstrings. Full article
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18 pages, 4750 KiB  
Article
Role of Niobium on the Passivation Mechanisms of TiHfZrNb High-Entropy Alloys in Hanks’ Simulated Body Fluid
by Ayoub Tanji, Xuesong Fan, Ridwan Sakidja, Peter K. Liaw and Hendra Hermawan
J. Funct. Biomater. 2024, 15(10), 305; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb15100305 - 14 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1181
Abstract
A family of TiHfZrNb high-entropy alloys has been considered novel biomaterials for high-performance, small-sized implants. The present work evaluates the role of niobium on passivation kinetics and electrochemical characteristics of passive film on TiHfZrNb alloys formed in Hanks’ simulated body fluid by analyzing [...] Read more.
A family of TiHfZrNb high-entropy alloys has been considered novel biomaterials for high-performance, small-sized implants. The present work evaluates the role of niobium on passivation kinetics and electrochemical characteristics of passive film on TiHfZrNb alloys formed in Hanks’ simulated body fluid by analyzing electrochemical data with three analytical models. Results confirm that higher niobium content in the alloys reinforces the compactness of the passive film by favoring the dominance of film formation and thickening mechanism over the dissolution mechanism. Higher niobium content enhances the passivation kinetics to rapidly form the first layer, and total surface coverage reinforces the capacitive-resistant behavior of the film by enrichment with niobium oxides and reduces the point defect density and their mobility across the film, lowering pitting initiation susceptibility. With the high resistance to dissolution and rapid repassivation ability in the aggressive Hanks’ simulated body fluid, the TiHfZrNb alloys confirm their great potential as new materials for biomedical implants and warrant further biocompatibility testing. Full article
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15 pages, 891 KiB  
Perspective
Theoretical Model for In Vivo Induction of Chemotherapy Sensitization Using miRNA Packaged in Distinct Layered Liposomes
by Ruxandra-Ioana Cipu, Mihai-Laurențiu Stănişteanu, Mihaela-Aurelia Andrei, Daniel Dumitru Banciu and Adela Banciu
J. Funct. Biomater. 2024, 15(10), 298; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb15100298 - 5 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1920
Abstract
Resistance to chemotherapy is a problem of major social and economic importance, when looking at factors like the decrease in life expectancy, the associated therapeutic costs, and a significant number of cancers that resist current chemotherapy. The development of chemotherapeutics for all theoretically [...] Read more.
Resistance to chemotherapy is a problem of major social and economic importance, when looking at factors like the decrease in life expectancy, the associated therapeutic costs, and a significant number of cancers that resist current chemotherapy. The development of chemotherapeutics for all theoretically possible tumor variants is an approach that requires unreasonable resources. We propose a theoretical model that serves the purpose of overcoming resistance to chemotherapeutic agents used in cancer therapy. The model describes a gene delivery system based on liposomes, which are optically guided to the tumor’s location. The main aim of the gene delivery system is inhibiting the activity of enzymes involved in drug metabolism, hence offering the opportunity to use inexpensive chemotherapeutics that are already on the market. This model will reduce the costs of chemotherapy and will assure a positive outcome for patients. Full article
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