Nanomaterials in Biomedicine: From Drug Delivery to Tissue Engineering

Dear Colleagues,

In the last decade, advances in nanotechnologies have contributed greatly to biomedical fields, including drug delivery, imaging, biophysical cell stimulation, tissue regeneration and engineering. Being optimally sized to interact with cells or subcellular structures and to finely control cell behavior, nanomaterials provide exciting key-enabling technologies for cell conditioning in biomedical applications covering 3D cell culture models and tissue engineering. Moreover, they can be directly applied to in vivo scenarios for imaging and drug delivery, as their size renders them suitable for systemic circulation and topical administration. Various classes of nanomaterials support and enhance tissue regeneration, including polymers and inorganic materials, such as metallic, ceramic, and carbon allotrope particles. Nanosystems enrich scaffolds and mediate topographical, chemical, or electrical cues that affect cell response. Responding to internal or external triggers (such as enzymes, redox, pH, temperature, light, magnetism, or ultrasound), “intelligent” nanomaterials can release bioactive molecules on demand to support the biological functions of regenerative cells (e.g., differentiation, proliferation, and paracrine activity). Moreover, they can display antibacterial activity, shape memory abilities, and improve the capability to regulate cell growth pathways, which greatly enhance scaffold functionality. Thus far, nanotechnologies have improved stem cell engraftment, drug delivery, scaffold stability, the osteogenic commitment of cells for bone tissue repair, electrical conductivity in nerve and cardiac regeneration, the fabrication of vascular substitutes, adhesion strength in tissue approximation, and bactericide barriers in wound dressings.

This Special Issue seeks to showcase research papers, short communications, and review articles that report on the exceptional abilities of nanoscale materials to promote the generation and repair of biological tissues, build up cell culture models, and control the delivery of biofactors, drugs, and imaging agents.

Dr. Miriam Filippi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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• tissue engineering
• nanomaterials
• nanoparticle
• scaffold
• composite
• stem cells
• tissue repair
• drug delivery