Special Issue "Stimuli Responsive Polymeric-Based Electroactive Biomaterials"

Dear Colleagues,

Polymer science has expanded its interest toward the development of smart materials capable of stimuli responsive behaviour. Electroactive polymers have the ability to transfer electrons/ions under a specific electrical field, acting as excellent stimuli responsive material in several fields of engineering. Beyond straight forward applications such as electronics and sensors of such polymers, scientits have been exploring electroactive polymers to directly deliver electrostimulation to target cells/tissues, to modulate the cell/tissue response by stimulating their environment and control drug delivery. Intrinsically electroactive polymers used in biomaterials include poly[3,4-(ethylenedioxy)thiophene] (PEDOT), polypyrrole (PPy), and polyaniline (PANi). However, their applicability in bioscience is limited due to their poor processability, mechanical properties and biocompatibility requirements. A possible solution to overcome these limitations is to blend the intrisic electroactive polymer with another polymer with favorable biocompatibility and design flexibility. There is a wide range of biocompatible polymers available, including natural- sourced cellulose, silk, fibroin, collagen, keratin, starch, chitin, self-assembled amino acids, as well as bio-synthetic organic piezoelectrics, such as poly-l-lactide (PLLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). Another solution is to modify these polymers with piezoelectric materials and conductive nanomaterials to create electrically responsive biomaterials.  

This Special Issue titled "Stimuli Responsive Polymeric-Based Electroactive Biomaterials" will focus on the synthesis, characterization, applications and processing of these biomaterials. We also have a special interest concerning the safety use of electroactive biomaterials. 

Scientists are kindly invited to contribute original research articles, review articles and communications. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Synthesis and characterization of polymeric-based electroactive biomaterials;
• Piezoelectic scaffolds for tissue engineering ;
• Polymeric-based electroactive biomaterials for drug delivery;
• Modified polymeric biomaterials with electrically responsive nanomaterials;
• Polymeric-based electroactive biomaterials for wound healing;
• Polymeric-based electroactive biomaterials behaviour under electrostimulation.

Dr. Marija Vukomanović
Prof. Dr. Gabriela Simone Lorite
Prof. Dr. Simonida Tomic
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• stimuli responsive polymers
• drug delivery
• tissue engineering
• wound healing
• electrostimulation
• piezostimulation
• piezoelectric polymers
• electrically stimuli-responsive nanomaterials