Biofunctional Materials

ISSN: 2959-0574 (Print)

ISSN: 2959-0582 (Online)

CODEN: BMIAE5

CiteScore 2025: 0.7

About This Journal
Special Issues
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Biofunctional Materials for Tissue Regeneration
Special Issue Editor:   Viola B. Morris, Chandra P. Sharma
Submission Deadline:  31 October 2026
Biofunctional Materials for Clinical Diagnostics and Therapy
Special Issue Editor:   Ming-Wei Chang, Zeeshan Ahmad
Submission Deadline:  31 October 2026
Biofunctional Gels
Special Issue Editor:   Bo Liu, Ronak Afshari
Submission Deadline:  31 October 2026
Biomaterials and Bioprinting
Special Issue Editor:   Wanjun Liu
Submission Deadline:  30 September 2026
Latest Articles
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Immunomodulatory effect of OCP doped with strontium, magnesium, and barium cations in vitro
Vladislav V. Minaichev,Anastasia Yu. Teterina ,Margarita I. Kobyakova ,Roman S. Fadeev,Igor V. Smirnov ,Polina V. Mikheeva ,Mikhail A. Shlykov ,Kirill A. Agibalov ,Irina S. Fadeeva ,Vladimir S. Komlev
Article09 Sep 2026OPEN ACCESS

The development of modern osteoplastic materials with controlled immunomodulatory properties represents a critical objective in bone tissue engineering. Octacalcium phosphate (OCP) serves as a promising precursor to bone apatite; however, its clinical application is limited by inconsistent biological response for recipients with similar nosology. Ionic doping presents a prospective approach for enhancing the functional characteristics of calcium phosphates. This study is dedicated to the synthesis and in vitro investigation of the immunomodulatory effects of low-temperature OCP co-doped with Sr²⁺/Mg²⁺ and Sr²⁺/Ba²⁺. The developed materials were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The incorporation of strontium during OCP synthesis was shown to destabilize the crystal lattice and reduce crystallite size. In vitro studies utilizing monocyte-like (THP-1 ATRA) and macrophage-like (THP-1 PMA) cell models demonstrated that the doped OCP materials did not induce cytotoxic effects and effectively modulated the functional activity of immune cells. Specifically, in monocyte-like cells, both OCP materials enhanced phagocytic activity and significantly increased the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6). In macrophage-like cells, the materials reduced phagocytic activity and exerted dual ion-dependent effects on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Furthermore, they stimulated cytokine secretion predominantly under non-inflammatory conditions. Notably, OCP_Sr20_Mg1 induced a comparatively milder proinflammatory response compared to OCP_Sr20_Ba1, specifically reducing ROS formation and cytokine secretion by monocyte-like and macrophage-like cells under standard conditions. These results suggest that Sr/Mg co-doping may provide a more balanced immunomodulatory profile favorable for osteoplastic applications. The findings indicate that the immunomodulatory effect is likely mediated through direct particle-cell interactions influencing intracellular processes such as phagocytosis and lysosomal activity, rather than being solely attributable to soluble ion release.

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Recent advances in organic photosensitizers for tumor photodynamic therapy
Qiancheng Jin,Yuzi Huang,Wei Wang,Haichuang Lan,Shuzhang Xiao,Wen Zhang,Peng Geng
Review17 Jul 2026OPEN ACCESS

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has shown significant advantages in tumor treatment due to its minimally invasive nature, low toxicity, and high selectivity. This article systematically reviews the research progress of organic photosensitizers (PSs) used in tumor PDT in recent years, and classifies them into six major categories based on chemical structure: porphyrins, chlorins, phthalocyanines, fused quinones, phenothiazines, and BODIPYs. It focuses on the innovative applications of various PSs in molecular design optimization, regulation of photophysical properties, nanonization strategies, and multimodal synergistic therapy. Strategies such as targeted delivery, microenvironment modulation (e.g., hypoxia alleviation, GSH depletion, pH responsiveness), and Type I photodynamic mechanisms have significantly enhanced PDT efficacy. Combined with two-photon excitation, NIR-II window absorption, and imaging guidance, the tissue penetration and treatment precision of PSs have been improved, providing a systematic reference for the development of efficient and low-toxicity tumor PDT strategies.

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Mechanobiological insights into ocular nanomaterials: bridging structural design and therapeutic function
Jie Zhang,Min Li,Yanming Zhu,Wenyang Xu,Yanyu Shangguan,Ruoning Luo ,Yanlong Bi,Guofeng Liu,Bing Li
Review27 May 2026OPEN ACCESS

Ocular nanomedicines for precise targeted delivery and controlled release in clinical application have expanded. However, developing materials that harmonize with biomechanical properties of various anatomical regions in the eye remains neglected. For instance, biomaterials engineered to mimic the cornea’s biomechanical and optical properties can achieve superior integration with ocular surface structures, thereby reducing corneal trauma and extending nanomaterial persistence. Beyond the corneal surface, biomechanically optimized strategies that consider the viscoelasticity and structural integrity of the retina and choroid can significantly improve intraocular drug delivery. Nanomaterials with dynamic biomechanical responsiveness, such as intraocular pressure (IOP)-sensitive behavior, enable controlled drug release and enhance therapeutic efficacy in glaucoma management. Notably, nanomaterials with mechanical stiffness compatible with ocular biomechanics can preserve tissue integrity, stabilize the globe structure, and mitigate trauma-related complications. This review synthesizes current understanding of the biomechanical properties of ocular tissues and provides structural perspectives to inform the development of next-generation nanomaterials for ophthalmic use. We envision that these insights will foster translational innovation and advance biomechanically informed strategies in ocular nanomedicine.

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Biofunctional materials: fundamentals and classification
Mohammad Reza Saeb
Editorial18 Mar 2026OPEN ACCESS

The term biomaterial is widely used to describe materials associated with biological systems, but often fails to distinguish whether a material merely exists within a biological environment or actively participates in regulating biological processes. This ambiguity has created a subtle conceptual gap, making it difficult to distinguish passive materials from those deliberately engineered to trigger biological responses. This Editorial addresses this gap by introducing a foundational framework for defining and classifying biofunctional materials. Accordingly, biofunctional materials are defined as deliberately engineered material systems designed to engage biological environments and produce measurable and reproducible biological outcomes. To conceptualize this concept, biofunctionality is defined and described as a multidimensional continuum governed by four foundational pillars including structural, physicochemical, biological signaling, and adaptive functionality. Together, these pillars form a conceptual biofunctionality landscape, enabling materials to be interpreted according to the maturity of their functional mechanisms and the degree of integration across domains. By clarifying the distinction between passive biomaterials and actively biofunctional systems, this framework aims to provide a milestone, thereby to support clearer terminology, more rigorous evaluation, and more rational design of materials that decisively interact with living systems.

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Recent trends in natural polymer-based hydrogels for biomedical applications
Nitong Bu,Lin Li,Xuefeng Hu
Review21 Dec 2023OPEN ACCESS
Hydrogels with large specific surface area, high water content, tissue similarity, three-dimensional bionic structure, adjustable conductive path, stimulus responsiveness and many other excellent characteristics have become the most potential candidate for biomedical applications. Among them, hydrogels derived from natural polymers are arousing wide attention due to its excellent biological activity and distinctive physicochemical properties. Hence, this review concentrates on the recent trends in natural polymer-based hydrogels in the field of biomedical applications. First, we give a summary of the common natural materials for hydrogel fabrications, including polysaccharides, proteins, and polyphenols. Next, we discuss the design strategies of natural polymer-based hydrogels based on the physical or chemical cross-linking reactions. Then, we outline the fundamental functions of natural polymer-based hydrogels required for biomedical applications. Further, we summarized the representative biomedical applications of natural polymer-based hydrogels. Finally, we make concluding commentaries on the challenges and prospects about natural polymer-based hydrogels for biomedical applications. We hope this review will provide insightful information for future development of natural polymer-based hydrogels for biomedical applications.
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Chitosan nanoparticles for non-viral gene delivery: efficacy in immune cell transfection and in vivo studies
Mamatha Muraleedharan Pillai,Hemavathi Dhandapani,Manasa Srinivasan,Armaan Siddiqui,Prakriti Tayalia
Article30 Oct 2025OPEN ACCESS
Immunotherapy represents an intervention in managing a wide variety of pathological diseases, including cancer and auto-immune disorders. The newest form of immunotherapy is cell and gene therapy, wherein immune cells are modified to express specific molecules and are genetically altered to generate a tailored immune response for a specific disease. While some of the viral vectors are FDA-approved and used as delivery vehicles, non-viral techniques are widely being explored for a safe and effective way to deliver genetic material to cells for therapeutic effect. Directed towards advancing a non-viral transfection system for immunotherapy, this study focuses on developing chitosan (CS) nanoparticles loaded with plasmid DNA (pDNA) and demonstrating their efficacy through both in vitro and in vivo transfection studies. These chitosan nanoparticles are synthesized via ionotropic gelation. When complexed with plasmid, they were found to be spherical in shape (~150 nm) and positively charged (zeta potential > 20 mV) as analyzed through dynamic light scattering (DLS), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). They exhibit good stability even after ten days of storage at 4 °C. Furthermore, their ability to transfect various immune cells in vitro was assessed using the GFP (green fluorescent protein) encoding plasmid. In addition, these nanoparticles loaded with luciferase (Luc) plasmid were assessed for their biodistribution and in vivo transfection in mice. Our results demonstrate that an optimized concentration of nanoparticles can be used for effective genetic modification of multiple immune cells in vitro as well as in vivo. Overall, these chitosan plasmid polyplexes hold promise as effective carriers of nucleic acid vaccines for immunotherapeutic applications.
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