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Functional Polymer-Modified Nanocomposites for Tissue Engineering and Biomedical Applications

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Dear Colleagues,

Tissue engineering has emerged as a transformative field in regenerative medicine, offering solutions for repairing and regenerating damaged tissues and organs. Advanced polymer composites play a crucial role in this domain by providing biocompatible, biodegradable, and mechanically robust scaffolds that mimic the native extracellular matrix. The integration of synthetic and natural polymers with bioactive components has led to the development of innovative materials that enhance cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation, ultimately promoting tissue regeneration.

This Special Issue aims to bring together recent advancements in polymer composite technology for tissue engineering applications. It will cover interdisciplinary research that combines materials science, biomedical engineering, and clinical perspectives to develop next-generation tissue scaffolds, hydrogels, nanocomposites, and injectable biomaterials. By showcasing state-of-the-art fabrication techniques, surface modification strategies, and in vivo applications, this Special Issue will provide a platform for researchers to share novel insights and breakthroughs in the field. The authors are invited to contribute original research articles, review papers, and short communications on topics including, but not limited to, the following:

Design and fabrication of polymer composites for tissue engineering;
Biodegradable and bioactive polymer-based scaffolds;
Nanocomposites and hybrid biomaterials for regenerative medicine;
Injectable hydrogels and bioinks for 3D bioprinting;
Smart and stimuli-responsive polymer systems for drug delivery;
Surface modification and biofunctionalization of polymeric materials;
Polymer composite scaffolds for wound healing;
Polymer composites as antimicrobial agents.

Dr. Moorthy Madhappan Santha
Guest Editor

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Review

31 pages, 7408 KiB

Open AccessReview

Poly(propylene fumarate) Composite Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering: Innovation in Fabrication Techniques and Artificial Intelligence Integration

by Madalina I. Necolau, Mariana Ionita and Andreea M. Pandele

Polymers 2025, 17(9), 1212; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17091212 - 28 Apr 2025

Abstract

Over the past three decades, the biodegradable polymer known as poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) has been the subject of numerous research due to its unique properties. Its biocompatibility and controllable mechanical properties have encouraged numerous scientists to manufacture and produce a wide range of PPF-based materials for biomedical purposes. Additionally, the ability to tailor the degradation rate of the scaffold material to match the rate of new bone tissue formation is particularly relevant in bone tissue engineering, where synchronized degradation and tissue regeneration are critical for effective healing. This review thoroughly summarizes the advancements in different approaches for PPF and PPF-based composite scaffold preparation for bone tissue engineering. Additionally, the challenges faced by each approach, such as biocompatibility, degradation, mechanical features, and crosslinking, were emphasized, and the noteworthy benefits of the most pertinent synthesis strategies were highlighted. Furthermore, the synergistic outcome between tissue engineering and artificial intelligence (AI) was addressed, along with the advantages brought by the implication of machine learning (ML) as well as the revolutionary impact on regenerative medicines. Future advances in bone tissue engineering could be facilitated by the enormous potential for individualized and successful regenerative treatments that arise from the combination of tissue engineering and artificial intelligence. By assessing a patient’s reaction to a certain drug and choosing the best course of action depending on the patient’s genetic and clinical characteristics, AI can also assist in the treatment of illnesses. AI is also used in drug research and discovery, target identification, clinical trial design, and predicting the safety and effectiveness of novel medications. Still, there are ethical issues including data protection and the requirement for reliable data management systems. AI adoption in the healthcare sector is expensive, involving staff and facility investments as well as training healthcare professionals on its application. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Polymer-Modified Nanocomposites for Tissue Engineering and Biomedical Applications)

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