Multifunctional Natural-Based Polymers for Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine

Dear Colleagues,

Biomaterial has been established as one major component of regenerative medicine for various biomedical applications and clinical settings. It has emerged as an acellular or cell-based treatment via single or multifunctionalised approaches integrated with biomaterials, either natural or hybrid polymers. The potential applications include tissue engineering, biomolecules/drug delivery, cell delivery, biosensors, and 3D in vitro model development for drugs/natural herbs, etc., as well as toxicity testing. The successful development of a biomaterial will consider the initial 3D design and a selection of suitable formulation and fabrication techniques, followed by physicochemical and mechanical properties to offer an initial perspective for an ideal bioscaffold. Biological interaction using the closest cell type provides information regarding the functionality of fabricated biomaterials for future applications and related immune cells presenting host responses. The abovementioned accurate characterisation parameters allow precise and extensive prediction of selected biomaterials prior to in vivo efficiency testing. Additionally, the biological/molecular pathway determination could present early functionalisation towards the host microenvironment. In vivo safety and efficacy using small or larger animal models can provide beneficial information and big data for specific designed biomaterials of particular applications considering future personalised/precision medicine strategies. 

This Special Issue welcomes any related original research and reviews primarily focusing on natural-based or hybrid polymer biomaterials scrutinising multifunctional-based approaches including three-dimensional design modification, surface morphology, biomaterial compositions, accentuating acellular or cell-based delivery systems, and tissue repair technologies. The aim is to escalate current research on 3D design biscaffolds, fabrication technologies, toxicity, in vitro evaluation on the cell–biomaterials interaction of multifunctionalised polymers and efficiency studies via preclinical models or any related host microenvironments, ensuring their capability to support tissue regeneration. 

Prof. Dr. Mh Busra Fauzi
Prof. Dr. Yasuhiko Tabata
Dr. Ebrahim Mahmoudi
Guest Editors

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