Innovations in Hybrid Biomaterials and Coatings

Dear Colleagues,

Hybrid materials and nanocomposites represent one of the most promising classes of new materials, being at the cutting edge of technological innovations. These unique material properties are obtaining a synergetic-like combination between organic and inorganic components on the molecular scale. One of the most important advantages of inorganic-organic hybrid materials is their simple processing technology, which allows for a tailored design for various applications. Their processing and composition allows them to be used for the production of transparent films, ideal for use as coatings.

These types of materials offer many significant and exciting possibilities of being used as biomaterials in the field of biomedical research; for example, for hard tissue regeneration. In the field of regenerative medicine, biomaterials play a crucial role, since they may serve as a support (scaffold) to promote cell growth and differentiation, in order to promote the healing of tissue lesion.

This Special Issue has two aims. The first is to obtain hybrid biomaterials and coatings, at the nanoscale level, with superior properties. Secondly, the Issue seeks to characterize these new materials in order to make them suitable for tissue engineering or implants, use them as better and innovative materials for scaffold production, or for other biomedical applications. For this purpose, we will analyze the main materials and their characteristics, such as biocompatibility, bioactivity or biodegradation. The way in which these materials’ chemical-physical properties (structural properties, surface morphology, porosity, stiffness, and mechanical strength) could affect the interaction with cells and living systems will be discussed. Many different formulations, in terms of material constituents, fabrication technologies, structural and bioactive properties, as well as both in vitro and in vivo characteristics, will be proposed.

In particular, the topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Hybrid organic-ionorganic materials for medical application;
• Hybrid polymer biomaterials for bone tissue regeneration;
• Composite and nanocomposite biomaterials;
• Biomimetic and bioactive coatings and scaffolds;
• Surface modification of biomaterials;
• Surface, interface thin films;
• Corrosion and degradation of biomaterials;
• Antimicrobial biomaterials and in vivtro/in vivo evaluation.

Prof. Dr. Daniela Ionita
Guest Editor

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. Coatings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). 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.

• hybrid biomaterials
• coating
• surface engineering
• antimicrobial
• ion/drug release