Natural Products and Bioactive Compounds in Functional Biomaterials

Dear Colleagues,

Natural products and bioactive compounds have emerged as valuable resources for the development of advanced functional biomaterials with enhanced biological performance and sustainability. In recent years, significant progress has been achieved in integrating naturally derived compounds, including plant extracts, essential oils, microbial metabolites, pigments, biopolymers, and bioactive nanoparticles, into a wide variety of materials intended for biomedical, pharmaceutical, dental, and environmental applications. Such compounds may impart antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, regenerative, or bioactive properties while simultaneously improving the overall functionality and biocompatibility of the resulting materials. Recent advances in materials science, biotechnology, nanotechnology, and bioengineering have further expanded the possibilities for designing innovative materials capable of addressing current challenges related to healthcare, tissue regeneration, infection control, and sustainable development. The growing interest in naturally derived functional materials reflects the increasing demand for safer, environmentally friendly, and high-performance alternatives to conventional synthetic systems.

This Special Issue, entitled ‘Natural Products and Bioactive Compounds in Functional Biomaterials’, aims to provide a multidisciplinary platform for researchers working at the interface of materials science, biotechnology, chemistry, medicine, and engineering. The Special Issue welcomes original research articles, communications, and review papers focusing on the design, synthesis, characterization, processing, and application of functional biomaterials incorporating natural products or biologically active compounds. Attention will be given to studies exploring structure–property relationships, biological performance, mechanisms of action, and innovative strategies for improving material functionality. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, biomaterials containing plant-derived compounds, essential oils, microbial metabolites, carotenoids and natural pigments, bioactive peptides, natural polymers, green-synthesized nanoparticles, antimicrobial materials, antioxidant materials, collagen-based systems, drug delivery platforms, tissue engineering scaffolds, regenerative medicine applications, dental and orthopedic biomaterials, and sustainable bioinspired materials. Contributions addressing advanced characterization methods, biological evaluation, and translational aspects of functional biomaterials are also encouraged. Through this Special Issue, we aim to highlight recent developments and future perspectives in the rapidly evolving field of bioactive and naturally derived functional materials.

The growing demand for advanced biomaterials with improved biological performance, sustainability, and safety has stimulated extensive research into the incorporation of natural products and bioactive compounds into functional material systems. Natural compounds derived from plants, microorganisms, marine organisms, and other biological sources have attracted considerable attention due to their antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, regenerative, and therapeutic properties. Their integration into biomaterials offers promising opportunities for developing innovative solutions for healthcare, pharmaceutical, dental, and biomedical applications.

Recent advances in materials science, biotechnology, nanotechnology, and bioengineering have significantly expanded the range of natural bioactive compounds that can be incorporated into functional materials. In parallel, increasing concerns regarding antimicrobial resistance, chronic diseases, tissue regeneration, and environmental sustainability have accelerated the search for novel materials capable of providing multifunctional performance while maintaining biocompatibility and reducing environmental impact. Consequently, naturally derived biomaterials and bioactive material systems have become an important research direction, attracting growing interest from both academic researchers and industrial stakeholders.

This Special Issue aims to present and disseminate the most recent advances related to the development, characterization, and application of functional biomaterials incorporating natural products and bioactive compounds. We consider contributions addressing the extraction, synthesis, modification, characterization, biological evaluation, and practical implementation of bioactive materials intended for biomedical, pharmaceutical, dental, environmental, and regenerative medicine applications.

Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Biomaterials incorporating natural extracts and plant-derived compounds;
• Essential oils in functional biomaterials and biomedical applications;
• Microbial metabolites and fermentation-derived bioactive compounds;
• Natural pigments and carotenoids for advanced material applications;
• Green synthesis of nanoparticles and nanostructured biomaterials;
• Antimicrobial and antibiofilm biomaterials;
• Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functional materials;
• Collagen-based, protein-based, and polysaccharide-based biomaterials;
• Drug delivery systems containing natural bioactive compounds;
• Biomaterials for dental, orthopedic, and implant applications;
• Tissue engineering scaffolds and regenerative medicine;
• Bioinspired and sustainable materials;
• Biocompatibility and biological performance of functional biomaterials;
• Advanced characterization techniques for bioactive materials;
• Translational and clinical aspects of bioactive biomaterials.

We look forward to receiving your contributions and to showcasing the latest developments in this rapidly evolving and multidisciplinary field.

Dr. Camelia Ungureanu
Prof. Dr. Daniela Simina Stefan
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• functional biomaterials
• natural products
• bioactive compounds
• microbial metabolites
• natural pigments
• antimicrobial biomaterials
• biocompatibility
• tissue engineering
• green synthesis
• regenerative medicine