Surface Functionalization Modification of Biomedical Materials

Dear Colleagues,

Biomedical materials are materials that are used in the medical and healthcare fields, mainly for tissue repair, reconstruction and local drug delivery. Depending on the implantation site, biomedical materials are designed with different sizes, hardness, and shapes. Depending on their function and biological environment, good biocompatibility and low toxicity are necessary for biomedical materials to be implanted in the body. Sometimes, degradability is also a desirable property, but there are times when abrasion and corrosion generated by metal-based implants lead to micron and nanoscale fragments and metal ions from accidental degradation that may act locally to induce local inflammation, tissue damage, etc., which may have harmful effects on human health and even lead to implant failure. Therefore, the modification of the surface of biomedical materials is of great importance for the local microenvironment of tissues and the performance of their specific biological functions.

The interface between biomedical materials and the physiological environment plays a crucial role in the performance of biomaterials. It is well known that the interaction of cells with the extracellular matrix plays a crucial role in many normal and pathological biological processes. In this regard, the physical and chemical properties of materials can modulate biological responses. The surfaces of biomedical materials can become more resistant to corrosion or abrasion, and by altering their composition and microstructure, the materials can be made more biocompatible. Many types of biomaterials have excellent mechanical properties but may be incompatible with biological tissues and fluids in vivo. With surface modification, properties such as cytocompatibility, osteoinductivity and bacterial resistance can be selectively and controllably obtained, while favorable properties of the material such as strength and robustness can be retained. With conventional nanocarriers, they may be prone to premature leakage and uncontrolled release. Surface modifications can improve the stability of biomaterials while conferring specific functions, including specific tissue/cell-type targeting, stimulus-responsive release, in vivo imaging for diagnostics, drug delivery monitoring, and photothermal therapy. In conclusion, surface modification is applicable to biomaterials at both macro and nano scales.

Overall, surface modification is an important way to improve the properties of biomedical materials and an essential step in the development and preparation of new biomedical materials.

In particular, the topics of interest of this Special Issue include but are not limited to the following:

• Surface functionalization modification of tissue engineering materials;
• Composite biomedical materials;
• Surface biological functionalization of inorganic materials;
• Functionalization of biomaterials;
• Surface modification of metallic biomaterials;
• Surface modification of polymeric biomaterials;
• Surface modification techniques;
• Bioactive coatings.

Dr. Xindie Zhou
Dr. Yong Huang
Guest Editors

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• Surface functionalization modification of tissue engineering materials;
• Composite biomedical materials;
• Surface biological functionalization of inorganic materials;
• Functionalization of biomaterials;
• Surface modification of metallic biomaterials;
• Surface modification of polymeric biomaterials;
• Surface modification techniques;
• Bioactive coatings.