Biofilms and Antimicrobials for Biomedical Applications

A Special Issue of Journal of Functional Biomaterials (ISSN 2079-4983) belonging to the section "Antibacterial Biomaterials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2027 | Viewed by 1278

Editors


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Guest Editor
Biomedical Nanoengineering Laboratory, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
Interests: bacterial drug tolerance; antibiotic resistance; biofilm microbiology; biomaterial surface functionalization; nanomaterials

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
Interests: biomaterial developments and applications; surface functionalization; antibacterial coatings; plasma polymers; nanomaterials fabrication
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biofilms remain notoriously difficult to eradicate due to their complex architectures and protective extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs), which can shield microorganisms from conventional therapeutic approaches. This Special Issue aims to spotlight innovative research across materials science, microbiology, and biomedical applications, with a strong emphasis on novel strategies to overcome the challenges posed by biofilm-associated infections. We encourage submissions that explore how novel compound design, advanced drug delivery methods, nanoscale engineering, and integrated biotechnological approaches can direct microbial behavior, enhance antibiotic efficacy, and disrupt biofilm formation.

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Advanced understandings of interactions at the material–pathogen interface;
  • Antifouling technologies and surface modifications;
  • Contact-killing antimicrobial surfaces;
  • Smart, responsive antimicrobial biomaterials;
  • Biofilm-disruptive methods, including novel nanotechnologies;
  • Strategies to enhance antimicrobial penetration through the EPS matrix;
  • Novel antimicrobials or prophylactic approaches targeting biofilm establishment;
  • Innovative antibiotic delivery systems and formulations;
  • Material-driven or compound-driven modulation of microbial physiology for improved therapeutic outcomes.

By integrating perspectives on nanotechnology, drug discovery, microbiology, and biomedical engineering, this Special Issue seeks to foster a deeper understanding of biofilm biology and catalyze the development of next-generation solutions. Ultimately, the insights gained will guide clinical practice toward more effective biofilm prevention and treatment strategies.

Dr. Andrew Hayles
Prof. Dr. Krasimir Vasilev
Guest Editors

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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-anonymized 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

  • biofilm control
  • antimicrobial surfaces
  • smart biomaterials
  • antibiotic penetration
  • material-pathogen interface
  • antifouling
  • nanotechnology

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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24 pages, 8857 KB  
Article
Mechanochemical Synthesis of a TiO2-Containing Biogenic Hydroxyapatite Ceramic Composite: Balancing Antibiofilm Efficacy and Fibroblast Cytocompatibility
by Dennys Fernández-Conde, Eneftali Flores-García, Tushar Janardan Pawar, Angélica M. Castillo-Paz, José Rafael Alanis-Gómez, Mario E. Rodríguez-García, Enrique Delgado-Alvarado, Fabiola Hernández-Rosas and Rafael Ramírez-Bon
J. Funct. Biomater. 2026, 17(9), 426; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb17090426 - 24 Aug 2026
Viewed by 510
Abstract
Implant-associated infections remain a major challenge in bone-related biomedical applications, where bacterial colonization and biofilm formation can compromise tissue integration and clinical performance. This study reports the mechanochemical synthesis, physicochemical characterization, antimicrobial activity, antibiofilm performance, and short-term fibroblast cytocompatibility of a TiO2 [...] Read more.
Implant-associated infections remain a major challenge in bone-related biomedical applications, where bacterial colonization and biofilm formation can compromise tissue integration and clinical performance. This study reports the mechanochemical synthesis, physicochemical characterization, antimicrobial activity, antibiofilm performance, and short-term fibroblast cytocompatibility of a TiO2-containing bovine-derived biogenic hydroxyapatite ceramic composite (BHAp-TiO2). The composite was prepared by high-energy mechanical milling using 10 wt% TiO2 and characterized by X-ray diffraction, Rietveld refinement, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. XRD/Rietveld analysis identified a multiphase ceramic composite composed of hydroxyapatite, whitlockite, and rutile TiO2, with no evidence of Ti4+ substitution into the hydroxyapatite lattice or detectable anatase within the XRD/Rietveld detection limit. SEM-EDS confirmed the granular agglomerated morphology of the powders and the elemental presence of Ti in BHAp-TiO2. Compared with pristine BHAp, BHAp-TiO2 produced a concentration-dependent reduction in AlamarBlue®-derived bacterial metabolic activity against five clinically relevant planktonic strains. At 200 µg/mL, residual metabolic activity decreased to 10.90–32.90%, depending on the bacterial species, with the strongest response observed for Escherichia coli. In crystal violet assays, BHAp-TiO2 markedly inhibited Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm biomass, reaching 91.9 ± 3.4% inhibition at 200 µg/mL. In NIH/3T3 fibroblasts, BHAp-TiO2 preserved short-term cytocompatibility after 24 h of direct exposure within the 0.1–100 µg/mL range, with MTT- and AlamarBlue®-derived responses remaining close to or above the 80% cytotoxicity limit. Overall, BHAp-TiO2 is best interpreted as a rutile TiO2-containing biogenic calcium phosphate ceramic composite with enhanced antimicrobial and antibiofilm performance while maintaining short-term fibroblast cytocompatibility under the evaluated conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biofilms and Antimicrobials for Biomedical Applications)
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Review

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16 pages, 967 KB  
Review
Ultrasound-Responsive Antibacterial Surfaces on Titanium Alloys: A Narrative Review
by Jiayang Gao, Yang Liu, Chenxin Zhan, Meixi Wu, Xinman Wang, Yongheng Zhu and Yuqin Qiao
J. Funct. Biomater. 2026, 17(9), 450; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb17090450 - 6 Sep 2026
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Abstract
Ultrasound-responsive antibacterial therapies represent a cutting-edge approach to combating implant-associated infections, particularly advantageous because of ultrasound’s non-invasive nature, deep penetration, and ability to target infected areas. However, most previous studies have been devoted to ultrasound-responsive nanomaterials, hydrogels, and polymer systems. Research on ultrasound-responsive [...] Read more.
Ultrasound-responsive antibacterial therapies represent a cutting-edge approach to combating implant-associated infections, particularly advantageous because of ultrasound’s non-invasive nature, deep penetration, and ability to target infected areas. However, most previous studies have been devoted to ultrasound-responsive nanomaterials, hydrogels, and polymer systems. Research on ultrasound-responsive surfaces on titanium remains in its early stages and is extremely limited. This review primarily focuses on the design principles and construction strategies for ultrasound-responsive antibacterial surfaces on titanium-based implants, key factors affecting acoustic energy conversion efficiency, and the approaches to enhance antibacterial efficiencies. Based on acoustic energy conversion mechanisms and the primary factors responsible for bacterial killing, this review classifies antibacterial surfaces into sonothermal surfaces, sonodynamic surfaces, and multimodal combined surfaces. Moreover, this review discusses perspectives and challenges regarding biocompatibility, long-term antibacterial activity after implantation, and future clinical translation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biofilms and Antimicrobials for Biomedical Applications)
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