Translational Biomedical Devices and Biomaterials: Bridging Biology, Engineering and Medicine

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 May 2026 | Viewed by 857

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, “G. D’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Interests: regenerative medicine; dental implants; biomaterials; bone regeneration; dental biology; medical device; biomechanical analysis; stem cells and tissue regeneration; collagen type I

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to showcase innovative advances in the design, modeling, validation, and clinical translation of biomedical materials and devices through multiscale and interdisciplinary approaches. We welcome contributions that integrate experimental, computational, and clinical methods to deepen understanding of material–biological interactions, improve device performance, and accelerate translation into clinical practice.

Submissions addressing biomaterial design principles, biocompatibility, and performance assessment across in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models are highly encouraged. Studies built on collaborative frameworks that bring together biology, engineering, materials science, and medicine to address complex healthcare challenges are particularly welcome. Manuscripts may include experimental research, modeling, and clinical validation reports that support reproducibility, scalability, and real-world application of biomedical innovations.

Within the expanding literature on translational biomaterials and biomedical engineering, this Special Issue seeks to connect basic science and applied research. By emphasizing interdisciplinary progress, it aims to promote knowledge sharing across fields, support transparency in methods, and guide the development of next-generation biomaterials and devices to achieve better diagnostic, therapeutic, and regenerative outcomes.

Dr. Tea Romasco
Dr. Carlos Fernando Mourão
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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-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
  • biomedical devices
  • tissue regeneration
  • regenerative medicine
  • tissue engineering
  • biocompatibility
  • clinical translation
  • interdisciplinary research
  • validation and performance evaluation

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

24 pages, 4530 KB  
Article
Granulate-to-Filament: An Extrusion-Mixed PLA–Human Bone Material System for 3D-Printed Bone Scaffolds
by Jonas Neijhoft, Hela Weslati, Volker Eras, Jan Brune, Maximilian Leiblein, Santiago Bianconi, Nicolas Söhling, Lewin Busse, René Verboket, Johannes Frank, Ingo Marzi and Dirk Henrich
J. Funct. Biomater. 2026, 17(4), 187; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb17040187 - 11 Apr 2026
Viewed by 414
Abstract
Fused filament fabrication (FFF) enables patient-specific scaffolds for critical-size bone defects, but most filaments are bioinert and difficult to functionalize at high particulate loadings due to segregation, agglomeration, clogging, and diameter instability. We developed a mechanism-guided extrusion toolkit to stabilize polylactic acid (PLA) [...] Read more.
Fused filament fabrication (FFF) enables patient-specific scaffolds for critical-size bone defects, but most filaments are bioinert and difficult to functionalize at high particulate loadings due to segregation, agglomeration, clogging, and diameter instability. We developed a mechanism-guided extrusion toolkit to stabilize polylactic acid (PLA) filaments containing human demineralized bone matrix (DBM) or cortical granulate (CG) up to 70 wt%. PLA was ground, dried, silicone pre-coated, and compounded with DBM or CG (25/40/70 wt%) using starve-fed extrusion, sequential extrusion, and post-die mixing to maintain stable diameters. FFF produced disks and tubes. MSC adhesion was assessed by SEM. qPCR (control vs. osteogenic medium) quantified RUNX2, ALP, BGLAP, COL1A, VEGF, IL-6, MAPK8. Tubes underwent three-point bending. The toolkit yielded printable, dimensionally stable filaments at 25–70 wt% with uniform dispersion and surface-exposed filler. Both composites increased early mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) adhesion versus PLA. RUNX2 was increased on DBM40 versus PLA. VEGF was elevated on CG25 (DBM40 trend). Under osteogenic medium, IL-6 and MAPK8 were generally reduced. Mechanics were loading-dependent: CG25 exceeded CG70 and DBM25, while DBM40/70 recovered stiffness versus DBM25. A mechanism-guided extrusion toolkit enables high-loading PLA–DBM/CG filaments with excellent printability and material-specific biological and mechanical advantages over PLA. Full article
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