Polymers and Polymeric Networks for Biomedical Applications
A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymeric Materials".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2026
Special Issue Editor
Interests: antibiotics; antimicrobial properties; antibiotic resistance to antibiotics; adverse effects of antibiotics; biomaterials; nanotechnology; biomedical applications; drug delivery systems; biocompatible polymers; wound healing; cancer therapy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
I am pleased to invite you to contribute to a forthcoming Special Issue entitled "Polymers and Polymeric Networks for Biomedical Applications" in Materials. This Special Issue aims to showcase recent advancements in polymer science and engineering, with a particular focus on the design, characterization, and biomedical applications of polymeric materials.
In recent years, various innovative strategies have been employed to develop high-efficiency synthetic and semi-synthetic biomaterials. The growing interest in nanotechnology and biopharmaceutical delivery has driven the design and processing of novel polymeric materials with enhanced biological and physicochemical properties. Due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and tunable functionality, polymers play a crucial role in biomedical applications, particularly in the formulation of nanoparticles and microparticles for controlled drug release.
Polymeric materials can be physically blended, complexed, or chemically conjugated with bioactive molecules, leading to the development of bio-hybrid and multi-responsive polymer systems. These systems can react to biological, physical, and chemical stimuli, enabling targeted and personalized therapies. However, challenges remain in optimizing polymer-based formulations, particularly in understanding the complex relationships between processing techniques, morphology, and functional properties.
This Special Issue will focus on polymeric bio-systems, their development, characterization, challenges, and applications. We welcome original research articles, reviews, and short communications that explore topics including, but not limited to the following:
- Polymeric drug delivery systems (nanoparticles, micelles, hydrogels, liposomes, etc.);
- Stimuli-responsive and "smart" polymeric materials;
- Biodegradable and biocompatible polymers for biomedical applications;
- Polymeric scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine;
- Hydrogels and polymeric networks for drug release and wound healing;
- Polymers in biosensors and diagnostic systems;
- Hybrid polymer systems for biofunctionalization and targeted therapies;
- Advances in polymer characterization and structure-property relationships.
Prof. Dr. Liliana Mititelu Tartau
Guest Editor
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. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2600 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
- Polymeric drug delivery systems
- Biodegradable polymers
- Biocompatible polymers
- Biomedical applications
- Polymeric scaffolds
- Hydrogels
- Polymeric networks
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