Polymers Materials Used in Biomedical Engineering

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: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 3966

Special Issue Editors

School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
Interests: intelligent polymeric materials; polymer self-assembly; biomacromolecules
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Food Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
Interests: glycomaterials, glycochemistry and glycobiology; medicinal chemistry; biomacromolecules

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Due to the flexibility in their structures, properties, and functions, polymers with good biocompatibility have been widely used for biomaterial fabrication.  These engineered polymer materials with well-defined inner morphologies and external shapes have become practical platforms for a large range of biomedical applications, such as drug delivery, therapeutic agents, bioimaging, tissue engineering, etc.

This Special Issue, titled “Polymers Materials Used in Biomedical Engineering”, will cover the recent development of engineered polymer-based materials for biomedical applications. In addition, other fundamental topics, such as the theoretical study of the biological interaction of polymers or polymeric materials, can also be covered in this Special Issue. Research articles and reviews in these fields are welcome.

Dr. Xibo Yan
Dr. Shuai Wang
Guest Editors

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 special issue 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
  • nanomedicines
  • bioimaging
  • biosensors and biodetection
  • tissue engineering
  • antibacterial materials
  • antitumor nanoagents
  • hydrogels
  • soft robotics

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

22 pages, 1661 KiB  
Article
Biliary Injuries Repair Using Copolymeric Scaffold: A Systematic Review and In Vivo Experimental Study
by Salvatore Buscemi, Giulia Bonventre, Andrea Gottardo, Mariano Licciardi, Fabio Salvatore Palumbo, Giovanni Cassata, Luca Cicero, Giulia Lo Monte, Roberto Puleio and Attilio Ignazio Lo Monte
J. Funct. Biomater. 2025, 16(8), 297; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb16080297 - 18 Aug 2025
Viewed by 205
Abstract
Background: Common bile duct (CBD) treatments are often associated with complications, limiting long-term efficacy. To overcome these issues, polymeric grafts have been suggested as promising alternatives, since they are highly customizable, biocompatible, and may reduce side effects frequency. Methods: A systematic review was [...] Read more.
Background: Common bile duct (CBD) treatments are often associated with complications, limiting long-term efficacy. To overcome these issues, polymeric grafts have been suggested as promising alternatives, since they are highly customizable, biocompatible, and may reduce side effects frequency. Methods: A systematic review was conducted, interrogating MEDLINE and Cochrane Library. Next, an in vivo study involved 20 pigs, which underwent a former controlled biliary injury. To repair the defect, a α,β-Poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-DL-Aspartamide (PHEA)–Polylactic-acid (PLA)–Polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold was implanted. The animals were sacrificed at one and three months for gross and histological examinations, to assess tissue integration and healing outcomes. Results: The systematic review highlighted that such scaffolds have shown promising results in CBD regeneration, both in single and joined applications. These findings were confirmed by the in vivo study, where the use of such scaffolds—particularly, the planar ones—led to safe and complete bile duct regeneration. Histological analysis revealed lymphomonocytic infiltrates and neovascularization, while microscopic examination showed progressive scaffold degradation accompanied by biliary tissue regeneration. Conclusions: Experimental results are consistent with the literature, confirming the potential of such polymeric scaffolds in aiding complete CBD regeneration and being reabsorbed shortly after. Still, further studies are needed to fully validate their translational application. PROSPERO ID: CRD420251115056. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers Materials Used in Biomedical Engineering)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research

22 pages, 1557 KiB  
Review
Innovative Polymeric Biomaterials for Intraocular Lenses in Cataract Surgery
by Kevin Y. Wu, Rebecca Khammar, Hafsah Sheikh and Michael Marchand
J. Funct. Biomater. 2024, 15(12), 391; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb15120391 - 23 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3327
Abstract
Intraocular lenses (IOLs) play a pivotal role in restoring vision following cataract surgery. The evolution of polymeric biomaterials has been central to addressing challenges such as biocompatibility, optical clarity, mechanical stability, and resistance to opacification. This review explores essential requirements for IOL biomaterials, [...] Read more.
Intraocular lenses (IOLs) play a pivotal role in restoring vision following cataract surgery. The evolution of polymeric biomaterials has been central to addressing challenges such as biocompatibility, optical clarity, mechanical stability, and resistance to opacification. This review explores essential requirements for IOL biomaterials, emphasizing their ability to mitigate complications like posterior capsule opacification (PCO) and dysphotopsias while maintaining long-term durability and visual quality. Traditional polymeric materials, including polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), silicone, and acrylic polymers, are critically analyzed alongside cutting-edge innovations such as hydrogels, shape memory polymers, and light-adjustable lenses (LALs). Advances in polymer engineering have enabled these materials to achieve enhanced flexibility, transparency, and biocompatibility, driving their adoption in modern IOL design. Functionalization strategies, including surface modifications and drug-eluting designs, highlight advancements in preventing inflammation, infection, and other complications. The incorporation of UV-blocking and blue-light-filtering agents is also examined for their potential in reducing retinal damage. Furthermore, emerging technologies like nanotechnology and smart polymer-based biomaterials offer promising avenues for personalized, biocompatible IOLs with enhanced performance. Clinical outcomes, including visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and patient satisfaction, are evaluated to provide an understanding of the current advancements and limitations in IOL development. We also discuss the current challenges and future directions, underscoring the need for cost-effective, innovative polymer-based solutions to optimize surgical outcomes and improve patients’ quality of life. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers Materials Used in Biomedical Engineering)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop