Bioactive Polymer Scaffolds and Thin Films for Biomedical Applications: State-of-the-Art and Challenges

Dear Colleagues,

Polymer materials in the form of scaffolds, films, and different hybrids to be used in the field of regenerative medicine have been extensively studied to cover the increasing demand of clinical doctors. Different materials have been developed using various approaches, such as electrospinning (including needless, melt, etc.), solution casting, freeze-drying, etc. Particular attention in literature has been given to the fabrication of composite scaffolds and thin films, which allow stimulating regeneration processes of a new particular tissue or serving as a delivery tool for different bioactive drugs, biomolecules, which in turn allow accelerating tissue healing processes. Nevertheless, increasing population and number of traumas or diseases requires speeding up processes of novel materials development and shorten the way from fabrication to clinical application. Thus, novel approaches and materials should be elaborated in the coming years to meet this increasing demand of new materials with tailored properties. Additionally, it should be mentioned that the medicine of the future is personalized, i.e., custom-made implants should be made on demand using additive manufacturing technologies.

The main topics of the current Special Issue are as follows:

1. Electrospun polymer scaffolds, including hybrid ones for biomedical applications;
2. Treatment or modifications of scaffolds and thin films to improve their functionalities;
3. In vitro, in vivo, and clinical trials of the developed polymer materials;
4. Additive manufacturing of different biomedical implants made of polymers and hybrids;
5. Piezoelectric composite scaffolds and thin films for biomedical applications;
6. Topical reviews on the subject of the state-of-the-art and challenges in the field of polymer composites and thin films.

 

Assoc. Prof. Roman A. Surmenev
Dr. Maria Surmeneva
Guest Editors

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