Submit to IJMS Review for IJMS Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Bioinspired Functional Materials for Biomedical Applications

Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2022) | Viewed by 38091

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Caterina Cinti

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Institute of Organic Synthesis and Photoreactivity (ISOF), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Rome, Italy
Interests: epigenetics; cellular and molecular biology; cancer; cardiovascular diseases; drug delivery systems; biodrugs; theranostics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Elisa Martella

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

1. ISOF, CNR Area della Ricerca di Bologna, Via P. Gobetti 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy
2. Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, Italy
Interests: osteosarcoma; mesenchymal stem cells; cancer therapy; nanomedicine

Dr. Ambra Giannetti

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Institute of Applied Physics “Nello Carrara”, CNR-IFAC, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
Interests: biosensors; biophotonics; fluorescence; label-free
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Sara Tombelli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Institue of Applied Physics (IFAC), National Research Council (CNR), 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
Interests: DNA; proteins; nanomaterials; nanobiotechnology; surface functionalization; biomaterials; functionalization; nanostructured materials; nanoparticles; fluorescence
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biomaterials are rapidly becoming one of the most influential and innovative hot topics of research in the 21st century. The biomaterial age ushers a completely new technological paradigm favoring the development of sustainable materials—a bioinspired perspective based on the control and reproduction of the principles of biological materials using their own components. The intrinsic design intelligence in biomaterials is today a recurrent source of inspiration in material sciences. Materials reproducing those designs with the native components are configured in the same way they are organized in nature; the result is a material of outstanding mechanical and functional properties way beyond those of its constituents.

The design and development of multifunctional smart biomaterials compatible to human physiology is crucial to achieve the required biological function with a reduced negative biological response. Several biosensors, biomimetic drug delivery systems and medical bioimplants have been tested to boost life expectancy and better-quality life.

While significant progress has been made on technology and methods for synthesis and self-assembly of bioinspired functional materials, their use for biomedical applications is still at its infancy with potential enormous future impact.

In this special issue, it will be overview the major challenges and fundamental discoveries on bioinspired functional matherials, whose structure, properties or function mimic those of natural materials or living matter. Particular attention will be devoted to the efforts under way to exploit the functional properties of new bioderived, biomimetic, biodegradable and biocompatible materials.

Original research and reviews with a strong focus on newer and challenging products are welcome, with particular emphasis on – but not limited to - functionalized bioderived sensors for theranostics applications, biomimetic drug delivery systems for next-generation target therapy, biocompatible materials for biomechatronic artificial organs and prosthetics, bioscaffold and tissue-like materials for regenerative medicine applications.

Prof. Dr. Caterina Cinti
Dr. Elisa Martella
Dr. Ambra Giannetti
Dr. Sara Tombelli
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

biomaterials for biomedical applications
bioinspired materials
bioderived biosensors
biomimetic drug delivery systems
biomechanotronics
artificial organs
prosthetics
tissue-like materials
bioscaffolds

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (11 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

19 pages, 3755 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Erythro–Magneto–HA–Virosome: A Bio-Inspired Drug Delivery System for Active Targeting of Drugs in the Lungs

by Alessio Vizzoca, Gioia Lucarini, Elisabetta Tognoni, Selene Tognarelli, Leonardo Ricotti, Lisa Gherardini, Gualtiero Pelosi, Mario Pellegrino, Arianna Menciassi, Settimio Grimaldi and Caterina Cinti

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(17), 9893; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23179893 - 31 Aug 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2122

Abstract

Over the past few decades, finding more efficient and selective administration routes has gained significant attention due to its crucial role in the bioavailability, absorption rate and pharmacokinetics of therapeutic substances. The pulmonary delivery of drugs has become an attractive target of scientific and biomedical interest in the health care research area, as the lung, thanks to its high permeability and large absorptive surface area and good blood supply, is capable of absorbing pharmaceuticals either for local deposition or for systemic delivery. Nevertheless, the pulmonary drug delivery is relatively complex, and strategies to mitigate the effects of mechanical, chemical and immunological barriers are required. Herein, engineered erythrocytes, the Erythro–Magneto–Hemagglutinin (HA)–virosomes (EMHVs), are used as a novel strategy for efficiently delivering drugs to the lungs. EMHV bio-based carriers exploit the physical properties of magnetic nanoparticles to achieve effective targeting after their intravenous injection thanks to an external magnetic field. In addition, the presence of hemagglutinin fusion proteins on EMHVs’ membrane allows the DDS to anchor and fuse with the target tissue and locally release the therapeutic compound. Our results on the biomechanical and biophysical properties of EMHVs, such as the membrane robustness and deformability and the high magnetic susceptibility, as well as their in vivo biodistribution, highlight that this bio-inspired DDS is a promising platform for the controlled and lung-targeting delivery of drugs, and represents a valuable alternative to inhalation therapy to fulfill unmet clinical needs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinspired Functional Materials for Biomedical Applications)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 3616 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modeling Self-Rollable Elastomeric Films for Building Bioinspired Hierarchical 3D Structures

by Lorenzo Vannozzi, Alessandro Lucantonio, Arturo Castillo, Antonio De Simone and Leonardo Ricotti

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(15), 8467; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23158467 - 30 Jul 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1815

Abstract

In this work, an innovative model is proposed as a design tool to predict both the inner and outer radii in rolled structures based on polydimethylsiloxane bilayers. The model represents an improvement of Timoshenko’s formula taking into account the friction arising from contacts between layers arising from rolling by more than one turn, hence broadening its application field towards materials based on elastomeric bilayers capable of large deformations. The fabricated structures were also provided with surface topographical features that would make them potentially usable in different application scenarios, including cell/tissue engineering ones. The bilayer design parameters were varied, such as the initial strain (from 20 to 60%) and the bilayer thickness (from 373 to 93 µm). The model matched experimental data on the inner and outer radii nicely, especially when a high friction condition was implemented in the model, particularly reducing the error below 2% for the outer diameter while varying the strain. The model outperformed the current literature, where self-penetration is not excluded, and a single value of the radius of spontaneous rolling is used to describe multiple rolls. A complex 3D bioinspired hierarchical elastomeric microstructure made of seven spirals arranged like a hexagon inscribed in a circumference, similar to typical biological architectures (e.g., myofibrils within a sarcolemma), was also developed. In this case also, the model effectively predicted the spirals’ features (error smaller than 18%), opening interesting application scenarios in the modeling and fabrication of bioinspired materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinspired Functional Materials for Biomedical Applications)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

17 pages, 2591 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Eco-Sustainable Silk Fibroin/Pomegranate Peel Extract Film as an Innovative Green Material for Skin Repair

by Marianna Barbalinardo, Marta Giannelli, Ludovica Forcini, Barbara Luppi, Anna Donnadio, Maria Luisa Navacchia, Giampiero Ruani, Giovanna Sotgiu, Annalisa Aluigi, Roberto Zamboni and Tamara Posati

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(12), 6805; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23126805 - 18 Jun 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2301

Abstract

Skin disorders are widespread around the world, affecting people of all ages, and oxidative stress represents one of the main causes of alteration in the normal physiological parameters of skin cells. In this work, we combined a natural protein, fibroin, with antioxidant compounds extracted in water from pomegranate waste. We demonstrate the effective and facile fabrication of bioactive and eco-sustainable films of potential interest for skin repair. The blended films are visually transparent (around 90%); flexible; stable in physiological conditions and in the presence of trypsin for 12 days; able to release the bioactive compounds in a controlled manner; based on Fickian diffusion; and biocompatible towards the main skin cells, keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Furthermore, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production tests demonstrated the high capacity of our films to reduce the oxidative stress induced in cells, which is responsible for various skin diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinspired Functional Materials for Biomedical Applications)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 2718 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Multivalent Vaccine Based on Ferritin Nanocage Elicits Potent Protective Immune Responses against SARS-CoV-2 Mutations

by Seong A. Kim, Seohyun Kim, Gi Beom Kim, Jiyoung Goo, Nayeon Kim, Yeram Lee, Gi-Hoon Nam, Seungho Lim, Taeerk Kim, Ki Hwan Chang, Tae Gyu Lee, In-San Kim and Eun Jung Lee

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(11), 6123; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23116123 - 30 May 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3424

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has created a global public crisis and heavily affected personal lives, healthcare systems, and global economies. Virus variants are continuously emerging, and, thus, the pandemic has been ongoing for over two years. Vaccines were rapidly developed based on the original SARS-CoV-2 (Wuhan-Hu-1) to build immunity against the coronavirus disease. However, they had a very low effect on the virus’ variants due to their low cross-reactivity. In this study, a multivalent SARS-CoV-2 vaccine was developed using ferritin nanocages, which display the spike protein from the Wuhan-Hu-1, B.1.351, or B.1.429 SARS-CoV-2 on their surfaces. We show that the mixture of three SARS-CoV-2 spike-protein-displaying nanocages elicits CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells and B-cell immunity successfully in vivo. Furthermore, they generate a more consistent antibody response against the B.1.351 and B.1.429 variants than a monovalent vaccine. This leads us to believe that the proposed ferritin-nanocage-based multivalent vaccine platform will provide strong protection against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinspired Functional Materials for Biomedical Applications)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 10429 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chitosan-Enriched Solution Blow Spun Poly(Ethylene Oxide) Nanofibers with Poly(Dimethylsiloxane) Hydrophobic Outer Layer for Skin Healing and Regeneration

by Emilia Szymańska, Michał Wojasiński, Robert Czarnomysy, Renata Dębowska, Iwona Łopianiak, Kamil Adasiewicz, Tomasz Ciach and Katarzyna Winnicka

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(9), 5135; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23095135 - 5 May 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2915

Abstract

Chitosan (CS)/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based nanofiber mats have attracted particular attention as advanced materials for medical and pharmaceutical applications. In the scope of present studies, solution blow spinning was applied to produce nanofibers from PEO and CS and physicochemical and biopharmaceutical studies were carried out to investigate their potential as wound nanomaterial for skin healing and regeneration. Additional coating with hydrophobic poly(dimethylsiloxane) was applied to favor removal of nanofibers from the wound surface. Unmodified nanofibers displayed highly porous structure with the presence of uniform, randomly aligned nanofibers, in contrast to coated materials in which almost all the free spaces were filled in with poly(dimethylsiloxane). Infrared spectroscopy indicated that solution blow technique did not influence the molecular nature of native polymers. Obtained nanofibers exhibited sufficient wound exudate absorbency, which appears beneficial to moisturize the wound bed during the healing process. Formulations displayed greater tensile strength as compared to commercial hydrofiber-like dressing materials comprised of carboxymethylcellulose sodium or calcium alginate, which points toward their protective function against mechanical stress. Coating with hydrophobic poly(dimethylsiloxane) (applied to favor nanofiber removal from the wound surface) impacted porosity and decreased both mechanical properties and adherence to excised human skin, though the obtained values were comparable to those attained for commercial hydrofiber-like materials. In vitro cytotoxicity and irritancy studies showed biocompatibility and no skin irritant response of nanofibers in contact with a reconstituted three-dimensional human skin model, while scratch assay using human fibroblast cell line HDFa revealed the valuable potential of CS/PEO nanofibers to promote cell migration at an early stage of injury. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinspired Functional Materials for Biomedical Applications)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

15 pages, 4539 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Co₃O₄ Nanoparticles Uniformly Dispersed in Rational Porous Carbon Nano-Boxes for Significantly Enhanced Electrocatalytic Detection of H₂O₂ Released from Living Cells

by Lulu Xiong, Yuanyuan Zhang, Shiming Wu, Feng Chen, Lingli Lei, Ling Yu and Changming Li

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(7), 3799; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23073799 - 30 Mar 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2357

Abstract

A facile and ingenious method to chemical etching-coordinating a metal-organic framework (MOF) followed by an annealing treatment was proposed to prepare Co₃O₄ nanoparticles uniformly dispersed in rational porous carbon nano-boxes (Co₃O₄@CNBs), which was further used to detect H₂O₂ released from living cells. The Co₃O₄@CNBs H₂O₂ sensor delivers much higher sensitivity than non-etching/coordinating Co₃O₄, offering a limit of detection of 2.32 nM. The wide working range covers 10 nM-359

μ

M H₂O₂, while possessing good selectivity and excellent reproducibility. Moreover, this biosensor was used to successfully real-time detect H₂O₂ released from living cells, including both healthy and tumor cells. The excellent performance holds great promise for Co₃O₄@CNBs’s applications in electrochemical biomimetic sensing, particularly real-time monitor H₂O₂ released from living cells. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinspired Functional Materials for Biomedical Applications)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 2485 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thermally Stable and Reusable Ceramic Encapsulated and Cross-Linked CalB Enzyme Particles for Rapid Hydrolysis and Esterification

by Min Song and Jeong-Ho Chang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(5), 2459; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23052459 - 23 Feb 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2263

Abstract

Candida antarctica lipase B (CalB) enzyme was encapsulated and cross-linked by silica matrix to enhance its thermal stability and reusability, and demonstrated an enzymatic ability for rapid hydrolysis and esterification. Silica encapsulated CalB particles (Si-E-CPs) and silica cross-linked CalB particles (Si-CL-CPs) were prepared as a function of TEOS concentration. The particle size analysis, thermal stability, catalytic activity in different pHs, and reusability of Si-E-CPs and Si-CL-CPs were demonstrated. Furthermore, the determination of the CalB enzyme in Si-E-CPs and Si-CL-CPs was achieved by Bradford assay and TGA analysis. Enzymatic hydrolysis was performed against the p-nitrophenyl butyrate and the catalytic parameters (K_m, V_max, and K_cat) were calculated by the Michaelis–Menten equation and a Lineweaver–Burk plot. Moreover, enzymatic synthesis for benzyl benzoate was demonstrated by esterification with an acyl donor of benzoic acid and two acyl donors of benzoic anhydride. Although the conversion efficiency of Si-CL-CPs was not much higher than that of native CalB, it has an efficiency of 91% compared to native CalB and is expected to be very useful because it has high thermal and pH stability and excellent reusability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinspired Functional Materials for Biomedical Applications)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

30 pages, 1034 KiB

Open AccessReview

Enhancing Targeted Therapy in Breast Cancer by Ultrasound-Responsive Nanocarriers

by Isaiah A. Edwards, Flavia De Carlo, Juliana Sitta, William Varner, Candace M. Howard and Pier Paolo Claudio

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(6), 5474; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24065474 - 13 Mar 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3195

Abstract

Currently, the response to cancer treatments is highly variable, and severe side effects and toxicity are experienced by patients receiving high doses of chemotherapy, such as those diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. The main goal of researchers and clinicians is to develop new effective treatments that will be able to specifically target and kill tumor cells by employing the minimum doses of drugs exerting a therapeutic effect. Despite the development of new formulations that overall can increase the drugs’ pharmacokinetics, and that are specifically designed to bind overexpressed molecules on cancer cells and achieve active targeting of the tumor, the desired clinical outcome has not been reached yet. In this review, we will discuss the current classification and standard of care for breast cancer, the application of nanomedicine, and ultrasound-responsive biocompatible carriers (micro/nanobubbles, liposomes, micelles, polymeric nanoparticles, and nanodroplets/nanoemulsions) employed in preclinical studies to target and enhance the delivery of drugs and genes to breast cancer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinspired Functional Materials for Biomedical Applications)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

28 pages, 1313 KiB

Open AccessReview

Biocompatible Conductive Hydrogels: Applications in the Field of Biomedicine

by Yang Hong, Zening Lin, Yun Yang, Tao Jiang, Jianzhong Shang and Zirong Luo

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(9), 4578; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23094578 - 21 Apr 2022

Cited by 43 | Viewed by 5083

Abstract

The impact of COVID-19 has rendered medical technology an important factor to maintain social stability and economic increase, where biomedicine has experienced rapid development and played a crucial part in fighting off the pandemic. Conductive hydrogels (CHs) are three-dimensional (3D) structured gels with excellent electrical conductivity and biocompatibility, which are very suitable for biomedical applications. CHs can mimic innate tissue’s physical, chemical, and biological properties, which allows them to provide environmental conditions and structural stability for cell growth and serve as efficient delivery substrates for bioactive molecules. The customizability of CHs also allows additional functionality to be designed for different requirements in biomedical applications. This review introduces the basic functional characteristics and materials for preparing CHs and elaborates on their synthetic techniques. The development and applications of CHs in the field of biomedicine are highlighted, including regenerative medicine, artificial organs, biosensors, drug delivery systems, and some other application scenarios. Finally, this review discusses the future applications of CHs in the field of biomedicine. In summary, the current design and development of CHs extend their prospects for functioning as an intelligent and complex system in diverse biomedical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinspired Functional Materials for Biomedical Applications)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 845 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Therapeutic Potential of Exosomes in Soft Tissue Repair and Regeneration

by Rou Wan, Arif Hussain, Atta Behfar, Steven L. Moran and Chunfeng Zhao

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(7), 3869; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23073869 - 31 Mar 2022

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 5545

Abstract

Soft tissue defects are common following trauma and tumor extirpation. These injuries can result in poor functional recovery and lead to a diminished quality of life. The healing of skin and muscle is a complex process that, at present, leads to incomplete recovery and scarring. Regenerative medicine may offer the opportunity to improve the healing process and functional outcomes. Barriers to regenerative strategies have included cost, regulatory hurdles, and the need for cell-based therapies. In recent years, exosomes, or extracellular vesicles, have gained tremendous attention in the field of soft tissue repair and regeneration. These nanosized extracellular particles (30–140 nm) can break the cellular boundaries, as well as facilitate intracellular signal delivery in various regenerative physiologic and pathologic processes. Existing studies have established the potential of exosomes in regenerating tendons, skeletal muscles, and peripheral nerves through different mechanisms, including promoting myogenesis, increasing tenocyte differentiation and enhancing neurite outgrowth, and the proliferation of Schwann cells. These exosomes can be stored for immediate use in the operating room, and can be produced cost efficiently. In this article, we critically review the current advances of exosomes in soft tissue (tendons, skeletal muscles, and peripheral nerves) healing. Additionally, new directions for clinical applications in the future will be discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinspired Functional Materials for Biomedical Applications)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 7051 KiB

Open AccessReview

Cell Membrane-Cloaked Nanotherapeutics for Targeted Drug Delivery

by Na-Hyun Lee, Sumin You, Ali Taghizadeh, Mohsen Taghizadeh and Hye Sung Kim

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(4), 2223; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23042223 - 17 Feb 2022

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 5066

Abstract

Cell membrane cloaking technique is bioinspired nanotechnology that takes advantage of naturally derived design cues for surface modification of nanoparticles. Unlike modification with synthetic materials, cell membranes can replicate complex physicochemical properties and biomimetic functions of the parent cell source. This technique indeed has the potential to greatly augment existing nanotherapeutic platforms. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of engineered cell membrane-based nanotherapeutics for targeted drug delivery and biomedical applications and discuss the challenges and opportunities of cell membrane cloaking techniques for clinical translation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinspired Functional Materials for Biomedical Applications)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Bioinspired Functional Materials for Biomedical Applications

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (11 papers)

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI