Today’s advances in Materials Science, Chemistry and Life Sciences resulted in emerging research interests that combine information and expertise stemming from the traditional body of knowledge of each of these fields and bring them together to understand how inorganic materials, polymers, and biological materials interact and can further combine to result into Biomaterials that have technological and human health relevant applications. Despite recent advances in this emerging field, there are still many challenges that persist and that are related to the need for a comprehensive understanding of the myriad of chemical, physical and biological interactions that come into play in such complex systems. New technologies are needed to design biomedical devices that have the required chemical, mechanical and biological properties that are required for implantation or biological sensing. Starting from well-known biological structures, such as complex structures with high toughness (biominerals like diatom and sponge silica, seashells and bone) and structures with hierarchical organization and high mechanical strength (e.g. organic fibers like spider silk), principles for design of novel biomaterials with superior properties, using interdisciplinary technologies are currently developed.
This special issue is aimed at providing an avenue for the recent advances at the frontiers of research in Biomaterials for the twenty-first century. The issue invites papers that will cover original research and comprehensive review articles on bioinspired and biointegrated materials with novel properties and will expand into the design and development of functional devices that are assembled based on the interconnections of traditional Materials Science, Chemistry and Biology. The articles will include topics ranging from biochemistry, bioengineering, nanoscience and interfaces to biomaterials applications for functional devices. A specific focus will be given to biomedical applications of biointerfaces in cell and tissue engineering, sensing, and diagnosis. The issue will bring together knowledge from different fields (chemistry, biochemistry, analytical science, materials science, and physics) to discuss the latest developments, challenges and opportunities in this exciting area of research. Topics of particular interest include, but are not limited to:
Synthetic routes, including precursor development and functionalization
Interface structures in biomaterials
Structure-property relationships in biomaterials: electrical, optical, mechanical, chemical, electrochemical, photochemical
Absorption, adhesion, and adhesion promoters for biomolecules on inorganic surfaces
Smart biomaterials and drug-delivery devices
Functional biopolymers/inorganic materials
Devices for bio imaging, nanostructured or nanocomposite materials for (bio)sensors and detectors, devices with integrated biological functionality
Modeling and simulation of properties and behavior of multiple scales in hybrid biomaterials