Preparation, Modification and Characterization of Polymeric Biomaterials

Dear Colleagues,

Polymeric biomaterials play an increasingly important role in addressing contemporary healthcare challenges associated with aging populations, chronic diseases, tissue degeneration, and the growing demand for personalized medicine. Recent advances in polymer science, biomaterials engineering, and biotechnology have enabled the development of sophisticated materials with tailored physicochemical, mechanical, and biological properties. Particular attention has been devoted to polymer-based composites and hybrid materials, which combine the advantages of different material classes and enable the development of biomaterials with enhanced mechanical performance, bioactivity, durability, and multifunctionality. These materials are widely investigated for applications in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, drug delivery, wound healing, implantable medical devices, and biosensing technologies. As the demand for innovative and sustainable biomedical solutions continues to grow, polymeric biomaterials have emerged as a key research area at the interface of materials science, chemistry, biology, and medicine.

At the same time, significant challenges remain regarding the design, processing, functionalization, and long-term performance of polymer-based biomaterials. The development of materials with enhanced biocompatibility, controlled biodegradation, bioactivity, and multifunctionality requires continuous innovation in synthesis methods, surface modification strategies, and characterization techniques. Advances in nanotechnology, additive manufacturing, biofabrication, and smart materials further create new opportunities for the development of next-generation polymeric biomaterials capable of responding to complex biological environments. Furthermore, the incorporation of bioactive fillers, nanoparticles, ceramics, and natural components into polymer matrices has led to the emergence of advanced composite biomaterials with improved structural and functional properties for a wide range of biomedical applications. Consequently, this research field remains highly dynamic, scientifically significant, and directly relevant to both academic research and practical biomedical applications.

This Special Issue aims to present and disseminate the most recent advances related to the preparation, modification, and characterization of polymeric biomaterials and polymer-based composite materials. We consider contributions addressing the design, synthesis, processing, functionalization, and evaluation of polymeric and hybrid biomaterials for biomedical applications, as well as studies investigating their structure–property–function relationships and interactions with biological systems.

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

• Synthesis and fabrication of polymeric biomaterials;
• Natural, synthetic, and hybrid polymer systems;
• Polymer composites and composite biomaterials;
• Nanocomposites and multifunctional composite materials;
• Surface modification and functionalization of biomaterials;
• Biodegradable and bioresorbable polymers;
• Hydrogels and stimuli-responsive biomaterials;
• Tissue engineering scaffolds and regenerative medicine applications;
• Drug, protein, and gene delivery systems;
• Biofabrication and additive manufacturing of biomaterials;
• Biomaterial–cell and biomaterial–tissue interactions;
• Advanced physicochemical, mechanical, thermal, and biological characterization methods;
• Smart and multifunctional biomaterials;
• Antimicrobial and bioactive polymeric materials;
• Biomedical implants and medical device applications;
• In vitro and in vivo evaluation of biomaterials.

Dr. Anna Morawska-Chochol
Prof. Dr. Rachel Passos De Oliveira Santos
Guest Editors

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