Polymeric Innovations in Bone Regeneration

Dear Colleagues,

Despite great advances in the field of bone regeneration in recent decades, a challenge still remains: the use of bone tissue engineering to satisfy clinical needs for ideal functional and structural bone implants. Bone regeneration is a promising field for polymeric innovations. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(glycolic acid), (PGA) and their copolymer poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) are the most widely used polymers for bone tissue engineering. Also, commonly applied synthetic polymers include polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), polyetheretherketone, polycaprolactone (PCL), polyurethane, polyethylene (PE), polysulfone, polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), and various other copolymers. Recently developed novel biomaterials, such as polymeric composite scaffolds with osteogenic cells, growth factors, or bone morphogenetic proteins, either alone or in combination, will undoubtedly become ideal bone substitutes in this field. 3D-printed polymer-based scaffolds are the most promising for clinical applications because those modeled from a CT image of actual bone defects can perfectly fit the defect. Polymeric composite scaffolds with piezoelectric properties can positively influence the proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells to regenerate bone tissue. In addition, smart polymeric biomaterials show promise in controlled bioactive agent release, stimulating osteocyte differentiation and bone regeneration.

The aim of this Special Issue is to highlight the progress on polymeric innovations in bone regeneration, including the 3D printing of polymer scaffolds, natural polymeric scaffolds, synthetic polymers, hydrogels, polymer composites, injectable and self-curing polymers, polymeric nanofibers and nanocomposites, immunomodulatory polymeric biomaterials, smart polymeric biomaterials (light-responsive, thermo-responsive, pH-responsive) for bone regeneration.

Prof. Dr. Peizhi Zhu
Guest Editor

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• hyaluronic acid
• bone repair
• bone regeneration
• bone tumor
• bone drug
• cancer drug
• bone structure
• bone diseases
• biomaterials