Regenerative medicine and tissue engineering strategies typically focus on regenerating, healing, or replacing injured or damaged tissues and organs through support materials that can provide the necessary agents to facilitate regeneration. Synthetic materials commonly used to fabricate scaffolds, implants, and other structures include metals, ceramics, polymers, and their combinations. Natural and biologically derived materials such as biopolymers, biofilters and biomolecules are also used for these applications, often in combination with synthetic materials. Among these materials, (bio)polymers offer the advantages of mechanically mimicking the soft tissues, ease of processing, high degree of tuning and, if needed, biodegradability. Polymer-based biomaterials are used throughout the human body as bone scaffolds, cartilage repair materials, vascular repair devices, nerve conduits, stents and wound dressings. To successfully use these materials in the clinic, their fabrication method and final mechanical and biological performance must be carefully and iteratively considered. Various synthetic and processing techniques can be used to generate polymer-based biomaterials. Based on the strategy used, the final structure and performance of the biomaterial will vary greatly, which is also one of the advantages of using (bio)polymeric materials for this purpose.

This research topic aims to explore recent advances in polymer-based biomaterials research, with an emphasis on the mechanical performance of the final structures and their biological behavior. The mechanical behavior of biomaterials is crucial for their successful translation, as the properties of the materials must match those of the tissues of interest, and these materials must provide stabilization or even load-bearing capacity where needed. Performance-altering techniques such as the synthesis of specialized systems, reinforcement strategies, processing methods and their parameters, including additive manufacturing, as well as various post-processing treatments, the behavior of the biomaterial at the cellular level and implantation in animal models with associated biomechanical studies – will all encompass the breadth of state-of-the-art research in the field.

To gain further insights into the fabrication, mechanical performance and biological behavior of polymeric biomaterials, we welcome papers addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

– Polymer-based biomaterials for various biomedical applications, including tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, wound healing, orthopedic and dental applications, angiogenesis and others

– Stimuli-sensitive polymers for shape memory or shape-changing scaffolds and implants

– Biodegradable polymer-based biomaterials

– Mechanical behavior and fatigue of polymer-based medical devices and scaffolds

– Additive manufacturing, including bioprinting, of polymer-based biomaterials

– Polymer-based biocomposites and nanocomposites for biomedical applications

– Polysaccharide-based and other types of hydrogels for chronic wound healing

– Pro-angiogenic materials for vascular tissue engineering

– Multifunctional and multistructured biomaterials with improved mechanical properties to regulate cell behavior

Types of Manuscripts Accepted: Original Research, Review, Systematic Review, Mini-Review, Hypothesis and Theory, Perspectives, Opinions and Perspectives

Keyword: polymers, biomaterials, scaffolds, implants, soft materials, biocomposites

Important note: All contributions to this research topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their terms of reference. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more appropriate section or journal at any stage of peer review.

Regenerative medicine and tissue engineering strategies typically focus on regenerating, healing, or replacing injured or damaged tissues and organs through support materials that can provide the necessary agents to facilitate regeneration. Synthetic materials commonly used to fabricate scaffolds, implants, and other structures include metals, ceramics, polymers, and their combinations. Natural and biologically derived materials such as biopolymers, biofilters and biomolecules are also used for these applications, often in combination with synthetic materials. Among these materials, (bio)polymers offer the advantages of mechanically mimicking the soft tissues, easy processing, high degree of tuning and, if needed, biodegradability. Polymer-based biomaterials are used throughout the human body as bone scaffolds, cartilage repair materials, vascular repair devices, nerve conduits, stents and wound dressings. To successfully use these materials in the clinic, their fabrication method and final mechanical and biological performance must be carefully and iteratively considered. Various synthetic and processing techniques can be used to generate polymer-based biomaterials. Based on the strategy used, the final structure and performance of the biomaterial will vary greatly, which is also one of the advantages of using (bio)polymeric materials for this purpose.

This research topic aims to explore recent advances in polymer-based biomaterials research, with an emphasis on the mechanical performance of the final structures and their biological behavior. The mechanical behavior of biomaterials is crucial for their successful translation, as the properties of the materials must match those of the tissues of interest, and these materials must provide stabilization or even load-bearing capacity where needed. Performance-altering techniques such as the synthesis of specialized systems, reinforcement strategies, processing methods and their parameters, including additive manufacturing, as well as various post-processing treatments, the behavior of the biomaterial at the cellular level and implantation in animal models with associated biomechanical studies – will all encompass the breadth of state-of-the-art research in the field.

To gain further insights into the fabrication, mechanical performance and biological behavior of polymeric biomaterials, we welcome papers addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

– Polymer-based biomaterials for various biomedical applications, including tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, wound healing, orthopedic and dental applications, angiogenesis and others

– Stimuli-sensitive polymers for shape memory or shape-changing scaffolds and implants

– Biodegradable polymer-based biomaterials

– Mechanical behavior and fatigue of polymer-based medical devices and scaffolds

– Additive manufacturing, including bioprinting, of polymer-based biomaterials

– Polymer-based biocomposites and nanocomposites for biomedical applications

– Polysaccharide-based and other types of hydrogels for chronic wound healing

– Pro-angiogenic materials for vascular tissue engineering

– Multifunctional and multistructured biomaterials with improved mechanical properties to regulate cell behavior

Types of Manuscripts Accepted: Original Research, Review, Systematic Review, Mini-Review, Hypothesis and Theory, Perspectives, Opinions and Perspectives

Keyword: polymers, biomaterials, scaffolds, implants, soft materials, biocomposites

Important note: All contributions to this research topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their terms of reference. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more appropriate section or journal at any stage of peer review.