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15th Anniversary of JFB—Advanced Biomaterials for Drug Delivery
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15th Anniversary of JFB—Advanced Biomaterials for Drug Delivery

A special issue of Journal of Functional Biomaterials (ISSN 2079-4983). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomaterials for Drug Delivery".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2026) | Viewed by 12960

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Lianyan Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering (State Key Laboratory for Preparation and Delivery of Bio-Drugs), Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Interests: nanoparticles; delivery; vaccine adjuvants; target; formulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Qi Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, China
Interests: nanotherapeutics; nano–bio interaction; vaccines; biomaterials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The year 2025 marks the 15th anniversary of the Journal of Functional Biomaterials, a peer-reviewed, open access journal containing research relevant to the field of materials for biomedical use. So far, JFB has published more than 1700 papers from more than 9000 authors. We appreciate each author, reviewer, and academic editor whose support has brought us to where we are today.

To celebrate this significant milestone, we are publishing a Special Issue entitled “15th Anniversary of JFB—Advanced Biomaterials for Drug Delivery”. Advanced biomaterials have a wide range of applications in the field of biomedicine, such as delivery carriers, implant materials, diagnostic reagents, etc. In the field of drug delivery, advanced materials can not only load and protect drugs through encapsulating, but can also deliver drugs to specific sites through modification, which further greatly improves the accumulation of drugs at focal sites in the body and achieves efficient therapeutic functions. Therefore, the aim of this Special Issue is to present the various delivery systems, such as microspheres, microcapsules, nanoparticles, hydrogels and so on, loaded with different types of drugs for improving target delivery, bioavailability and drug efficacy. Both research and review articles focusing on drug delivery systems are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Lianyan Wang
Dr. Qi Liu
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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
  • delivery systems
  • target delivery
  • drug efficacy improvement
  • bioavailability

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 1137 KB  
Article
Development of Freeze-Dried Hyaluronic Acid Sheets for Healing Oral Mucositis: Influence of Hyaluronic Acid Molecular Weight and Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Loading on Healing Efficacy
by Akiko Tanaka, Takanobu Takata, Hidemasa Katsumi, Yasuhisa Sawai, Hiroyuki Nakano, Chika Yoneto, Kunio Yoneto, Tomoyuki Furubayashi and Toshiyasu Sakane
J. Funct. Biomater. 2026, 17(3), 137; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb17030137 - 10 Mar 2026
Viewed by 779
Abstract
Oral mucositis frequently develops during radiotherapy or chemotherapy for head and neck cancer and is characterized by severe pain and impaired eating and speech. It was previously demonstrated that freeze-dried hyaluronic acid (HA) sheets effectively promote the healing of oral mucosal ulcers. This [...] Read more.
Oral mucositis frequently develops during radiotherapy or chemotherapy for head and neck cancer and is characterized by severe pain and impaired eating and speech. It was previously demonstrated that freeze-dried hyaluronic acid (HA) sheets effectively promote the healing of oral mucosal ulcers. This study aimed to optimize the HA sheet formulation by evaluating the effects of HA molecular weight and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) loading on therapeutic efficacy. HA sheets were prepared using HA with four different molecular weights (50, 350, 800, and 2000 kDa), and their therapeutic effects were evaluated in an animal oral ulcer model using 6-week-old male Syrian hamsters. Among the formulations tested, the 800 kDa HA sheet exhibited the greatest healing efficacy, and it showed an excellent balance between buccal retention and the sustained release of NMN for the treatment of oral mucositis. In vitro cytotoxicity assays confirmed that HA, with or without NMN, was non-toxic and suitable for local applications. These findings indicate that HA sheets, particularly those composed of 800 kDa HA, may represent a promising and biocompatible mucoadhesive material for the delivery of NMN and the local treatment of oral mucositis associated with head and neck cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 15th Anniversary of JFB—Advanced Biomaterials for Drug Delivery)
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Review

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19 pages, 877 KB  
Review
Therapeutic Biomaterials for Chronic Osteomyelitis: Time–Space–Control Strategies for Infection Control and Bone Repair—A Narrative Review
by Jinqiu Tian, Qi Meng and Peixun Zhang
J. Funct. Biomater. 2026, 17(3), 142; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb17030142 - 12 Mar 2026
Viewed by 786
Abstract
Chronic osteomyelitis and infected bone defects are driven by recurrent infection, biofilm persistence, and dysregulated inflammation, but conventional “eradicate bacteria and fill the defect” approaches often fail to restore a regenerative microenvironment. Herein, we review biofilm-associated immune dysfunction in impaired angiogenesis/osteogenesis and summarize [...] Read more.
Chronic osteomyelitis and infected bone defects are driven by recurrent infection, biofilm persistence, and dysregulated inflammation, but conventional “eradicate bacteria and fill the defect” approaches often fail to restore a regenerative microenvironment. Herein, we review biofilm-associated immune dysfunction in impaired angiogenesis/osteogenesis and summarize biomaterials that couple infection control with tissue regeneration. We integrate representative platforms into a “Time–Space–Control” framework: (i) time-programmed systems that sequence early antibiofilm/antibacterial actions with later pro-angiogenic and osteogenic cues; (ii) space-focused designs that enhance defect localization, penetration, and coverage of infected niches; and (iii) controllable strategies that enable pathology-responsive and/or externally triggered, on-demand modulation. Based on this synthesis, we propose a practical 4P principle to guide programmable therapeutic biomaterials. Overall, explicitly managing timing, localization, and controllability may improve the alignment of antimicrobial therapy, immune reprogramming, and regenerative support for chronic infected bone repair. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 15th Anniversary of JFB—Advanced Biomaterials for Drug Delivery)
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29 pages, 5971 KB  
Review
The Ballet of Natural-Product: Carrier-Free “Triadic” Drug Delivery Platforms for Enhanced Tumor Treatment
by Liyan Yang and Zhonglei Wang
J. Funct. Biomater. 2025, 16(12), 433; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb16120433 - 25 Nov 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1639
Abstract
Cancer poses a considerable challenge to global public health and stands as the second leading cause of mortality worldwide. Chemotherapy provides limited benefits for advanced-stage cancer, mainly due to high systemic toxicity and drug resistance. Optimal cancer treatment requires a sophisticated, multidisciplinary collaboration [...] Read more.
Cancer poses a considerable challenge to global public health and stands as the second leading cause of mortality worldwide. Chemotherapy provides limited benefits for advanced-stage cancer, mainly due to high systemic toxicity and drug resistance. Optimal cancer treatment requires a sophisticated, multidisciplinary collaboration aimed at extending survival, enhancing quality of life, and reducing toxicity. Natural products present advantages, including a wide array of structural diversity, reduced toxicity, improved immune modulation, and the ability to act on multiple targets. Nanomedicine design shows promise in tumor treatment and diagnosis by improving efficacy and minimizing side effects. Due to the heterogeneity of tumors in genetics, metabolism, and microenvironment, natural product-based carrier-free drug delivery platforms have been actively investigated and demonstrated considerable potential for enhanced tumor treatment. “Triadic” strategies can simultaneously perform various functions on a carrier-free intelligent nanoplatform. These include combinational chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT) with bioimaging and chemotherapy, PDT combined with photothermal therapy (PTT) and chemotherapy, chemo-radio-theranostics, as well as gene therapy (GT) in conjunction with PTT and chemotherapy. This multifaceted approach enhances therapeutic efficacy, reduces multidrug resistance, and minimizes systemic toxicity. This review encompasses recent advancements in cancer therapy using carrier-free “triadic” nanomedicines based on natural products (between 2024 and 2025) and evaluates this evolving field, emphasizing the pivotal role of natural products—berberine, camptothecin, hypericin, erianin, curcumin, lactose, paclitaxel, gambogic acid, and glycyrrhizic acid—in drug delivery platforms. Furthermore, it addresses the challenges and bottlenecks encountered by carrier-free drug delivery platforms, offering valuable insights into their development trajectories. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 15th Anniversary of JFB—Advanced Biomaterials for Drug Delivery)
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25 pages, 1292 KB  
Review
Nano/Micro-Enabled Modification and Innovation of Conventional Adjuvants for Next-Generation Vaccines
by Xingchi Liu, Xu Yang, Lu Tao, Xuanchen Li, Guoqiang Chen and Qi Liu
J. Funct. Biomater. 2025, 16(5), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb16050185 - 19 May 2025
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4003
Abstract
The global spread of infectious diseases has raised public awareness of vaccines, highlighting their essential role in protecting public health. Among the components of modern vaccines, adjuvants have received increasing attention for boosting immune responses and enhancing efficacy. Recent advancements in adjuvant research, [...] Read more.
The global spread of infectious diseases has raised public awareness of vaccines, highlighting their essential role in protecting public health. Among the components of modern vaccines, adjuvants have received increasing attention for boosting immune responses and enhancing efficacy. Recent advancements in adjuvant research, particularly nanodelivery systems, have paved the way for developing more effective and safer adjuvants. This review outlines the properties, progress, and mechanisms of FDA-approved conventional adjuvants, focusing on their contributions to and challenges in vaccine success. Despite these advancements, conventional adjuvants still face suboptimal immunomodulatory effects, potential side effects, and limitations in targeting specific immune pathways. Nanodelivery systems have emerged as a transformative approach in adjuvant design, offering unique advantages such as enhancing vaccine stability, enabling controlled antigen release, and inducing specific immune responses. By addressing these limitations, nanocarriers improve the safety and efficacy of conventional adjuvants and drive the development of next-generation adjuvants for complex diseases. This review also explores strategies for incorporating nanodelivery systems into adjuvant development, emphasizing its role in optimizing vaccine formulations. By summarizing current challenges and recent advances, this review aims to provide valuable insights guiding future efforts in designing innovative adjuvants that meet the evolving needs of global immunization programs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 15th Anniversary of JFB—Advanced Biomaterials for Drug Delivery)
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43 pages, 5724 KB  
Review
Sorafenib—Drug Delivery Strategies in Primary Liver Cancer
by Piotr Szyk, Beata Czarczynska-Goslinska, Marta Ziegler-Borowska, Igor Larrosa and Tomasz Goslinski
J. Funct. Biomater. 2025, 16(4), 148; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb16040148 - 21 Apr 2025
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4852
Abstract
Current primary liver cancer therapies, including sorafenib and transarterial chemoembolization, face significant limitations due to chemoresistance caused by impaired drug uptake, altered metabolism, and other genetic modulations. These challenges contribute to relapse rates of 50–80% within five years. The need for improved treatment [...] Read more.
Current primary liver cancer therapies, including sorafenib and transarterial chemoembolization, face significant limitations due to chemoresistance caused by impaired drug uptake, altered metabolism, and other genetic modulations. These challenges contribute to relapse rates of 50–80% within five years. The need for improved treatment strategies (adjuvant therapy, unsatisfactory enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect) has driven research into advanced drug delivery systems, including targeted nanoparticles, biomaterials, and combinatory approaches. Therefore, this review evaluates recent advancements in primary liver cancer pharmacotherapy, focusing on the potential of drug delivery systems for sorafenib and its derivatives. Approaches such as leveraging Kupffer cells for tumor migration or utilizing smaller NPs for inter-/intracellular delivery, address EPR limitations. Biomaterials and targeted therapies focusing on targeting have demonstrated effectiveness in increasing tumor-specific delivery, but clinical evidence remains limited. Combination therapies have emerged as an interesting solution to overcoming chemoresistance or to broadening therapeutic functionality. Biomimetic delivery systems, employing blood cells or exosomes, provide methods for targeting tumors, preventing metastasis, and strengthening immune responses. However, significant differences between preclinical models and human physiology remain a barrier to translating these findings into clinical success. Future research must focus on the development of adjuvant therapy and refining drug delivery systems to overcome the limitations of tumor heterogeneity and low drug accumulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 15th Anniversary of JFB—Advanced Biomaterials for Drug Delivery)
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