Polymer-Based Materials in Biomedical Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 548

Special Issue Editors

Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-4005, USA
Interests: biomaterials; biofabrication; biomedical devices; biohybrid robotics

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Guest Editor
1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-4005, USA
2. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-4005, USA
Interests: biosensors; microfluidics; organ on a chip; point-of-care testing
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, “Polymer-Based Materials in Biomedical Applications”, aims to explore the latest developments in functional biomaterials and their integration into innovative biomedical technologies. It focuses on bridging fundamental research with translational and clinical applications, advancing both scientific understanding and practical implementation.

The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the design, synthesis, functionalization, characterization, and application of polymer-based materials such as polymers, composites, hydrogels, biofunctional coatings, and hybrid systems for next-generation biomedical platforms.

We welcome contributions on material development, biofabrication techniques, device integration, and performance evaluation in diagnostics, therapeutics, regenerative medicine, and real-time physiological monitoring. This Special Issue seeks to highlight cross-disciplinary approaches that connect diverse polymer-based materials with various biomedical technologies. By garnering perspectives from materials science, bioengineering, nanotechnology, and clinical translation, it aims to explore emerging trends, address common challenges, and foster collaborations that may accelerate innovation in healthcare solutions.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Chang Liu
Dr. Ran An
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • functional biomaterials
  • polymer-based materials
  • biomedical devices
  • biosensing technologies
  • biofabrication
  • translational medicine

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

15 pages, 2354 KB  
Article
3D-Printed Multifunctional Multicompartment Polymer-Based Capsules for Tunable and Spatially Controlled Drug Release
by Antonio Minopoli, Giordano Perini, Davide Evangelista, Matteo Marras, Alberto Augello, Valentina Palmieri, Marco De Spirito and Massimiliano Papi
J. Funct. Biomater. 2025, 16(12), 456; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb16120456 - 8 Dec 2025
Viewed by 374
Abstract
The development of polymer-based systems is central to the design of next-generation drug delivery carriers, as polymers enable versatile tuning of physicochemical properties and responsiveness. In this work, we introduce a 3D printing-based strategy for the fabrication of multicompartment capsules that integrate multiple [...] Read more.
The development of polymer-based systems is central to the design of next-generation drug delivery carriers, as polymers enable versatile tuning of physicochemical properties and responsiveness. In this work, we introduce a 3D printing-based strategy for the fabrication of multicompartment capsules that integrate multiple polymers within a unique one-step process. This approach allows precise spatial organization and structural complexity, yielding capsules with customizable features such as compartmentalization, polymer-specific responsiveness, and localized release control. In particular, pH-triggered release can be programmed across distinct polymeric regions of the capsules, enabling site-specific delivery along different intestinal segments, including the small intestine and colon. The use of 3D printing thus provides a scalable and adaptable platform to generate multifunctional polymer-based carriers with finely tunable drug release profiles, paving the way for new directions in polymer-enabled controlled delivery technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer-Based Materials in Biomedical Applications)
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