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Synthesis and Characterization of Hybrid Biomaterials for Life Sciences

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 813

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Engineering, University of Campania ‘Luigi Vanvitelli’, 81031 Aversa, Italy
Interests: geopolymers; alkali-activated materials; sol–gel chemistry; hybrid materials; composites; antimicrobial assessment; FT-IR spectroscopy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor Assistant
Department of Engineering, University of Campania ‘Luigi Vanvitelli’, 81031 Aversa, Italy
Interests: sol–gel chemistry; FT-IR spectroscopy; hybrid materials; UV–visible spectroscopy; selective extraction; medicinal plants; drug delivery

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to highlight recent advances in the design, synthesis, and characterization of hybrid biomaterials, composed of organic polymers (e.g., chitosan, alginate, polyethylene glycol) and inorganic components (e.g., silica, hydroxyapatite, bioactive glass), with potential applications in diverse areas of the life sciences, including biomedical engineering, natural and active packaging, drug delivery, biosensing, and tissue engineering. Hybrid materials are developed using methods such as sol–gel synthesis, surface functionalization, self-assembly, in situ deposition, physical blending, and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), to achieve tailored structures and bioactive properties for life science applications. We particularly welcome contributions focused on hybrid materials, including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Advanced synthesis approaches (e.g., sol–gel, self-assembly, in situ methods);
  • Structural, thermal, spectroscopic, and morphological characterization;
  • Evaluation of bioactivity, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties;
  • Design of controlled-release systems for therapeutic agents;
  • Development of functional packaging with natural active compounds;
  • Assessment of stability and performance in biological environments;
  • Applications in tissue engineering, drug delivery, biosensing, and related life science fields.

Through this Special Issue, we aim to foster a multidisciplinary dialogue between chemists, materials scientists, engineers, and biotechnologists to advance the field of hybrid biomaterials for life sciences.

Prof. Dr. Michelina Catauro
Dr. Antonio D’Angelo
Guest Editors

Dr. Marika Fiorentino
Guest Editor Assistant

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. Molecules 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 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

  • hybrid material
  • biomaterials
  • drug release
  • antimicrobial test
  • chemical characterization
  • natural polymers
  • bioactivity assessment
  • bioactivity

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 6705 KB  
Article
Network Silsesquioxane-Based Organogel/Silicone Composites for the Long-Lasting Delivery of Nitric Oxide
by Kyle D. Hallowell, Fatima Naser Aldine, Hope N. Vonder Brink, Ashley K. Mockensturm, Hitesh Handa, Elizabeth J. Brisbois, Alexis D. Ostrowski and Joseph C. Furgal
Molecules 2026, 31(8), 1343; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31081343 - 19 Apr 2026
Viewed by 74
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous biocompatible radical molecule with demonstrated biomedical and antimicrobial benefits. Developing adaptable, long-lasting delivery systems for NO has become an essential goal for both combating resistant bacterial growth and providing sustained medical benefits. Silsesquioxane (SQ)-based organogels were chosen [...] Read more.
Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous biocompatible radical molecule with demonstrated biomedical and antimicrobial benefits. Developing adaptable, long-lasting delivery systems for NO has become an essential goal for both combating resistant bacterial growth and providing sustained medical benefits. Silsesquioxane (SQ)-based organogels were chosen and synthesized as robust, tunable NO-release platforms. These highly stable SQ gel frameworks, composed of silicon–oxygen backbones with variable R groups, exhibited high porosity and surface area and offered chemical versatility, enabling control over NO loading and release. 3-Mercaptopropyl groups were utilized as sulfur-based NO-releasing substituents (-RSNOs), with additional R groups capable of altering accessibility to RSNO sites through hydrophobicity and steric hindrance. The NO release profile, rate, and duration of the functionalized gels were also tailored by adjusting the number of RSNO sites in the elastomeric system, thereby enabling a customizable release profile. This combination of NO-releasing silsesquioxanes with silicone elastomers yields composite materials that are integratable into biomedical applications, offering NO release up to 40 days within modeled physiological conditions in PBS buffer. Full article
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15 pages, 2999 KB  
Article
Influence of Phospholipid Composition on Protein Adsorption to Lipid-Coated Silica Microparticles
by Mireia Vilar-Hernández, Dorothee Wasserberg, Jasper van Weerd and Pascal Jonkheijm
Molecules 2026, 31(6), 966; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31060966 - 13 Mar 2026
Viewed by 395
Abstract
Silica particles are promising multifunctional drug delivery platforms; however, when in contact with blood or other biological fluids, proteins rapidly adsorb to their surface, forming the protein corona that modulates their biological interactions. In this study, silica microparticles were coated with lipid bilayers [...] Read more.
Silica particles are promising multifunctional drug delivery platforms; however, when in contact with blood or other biological fluids, proteins rapidly adsorb to their surface, forming the protein corona that modulates their biological interactions. In this study, silica microparticles were coated with lipid bilayers using two approaches: the lipid film hydration method and the on-particle solvent-assisted lipid coating (OPSALC) technique. We investigated how phospholipids with varying charges (zwitterionic, anionic, and cationic) and membrane phase influence coating formation and protein corona adsorption. The coating coverage and aggregation were characterized by fluorescence microscopy. The lipid film hydration method enabled coating with a broad range of lipids, but was highly dependent on the membrane phase and electrostatic interactions between lipid head group and particle surface. Pure anionic coatings were not achievable with this method; however, when combining the OPSALC method with a pre-silanization step, fully anionic coatings of silica microparticles were successfully obtained. Assessment by SDS-PAGE revealed differences in protein corona profiles modulated by the lipid compositions on the particles’ coatings. Overall, this study highlights the dependence of coating formation and protein corona composition on the phospholipid coatings’ properties. Full article
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