01/10/2026
Advances in New Functional Biomaterials for
Medical Applications, Second Edition
Rapid advances in the field of functional
biomaterials are opening up new perspectives for
the development of innovative medical solutions
capable of meeting the current demands of
regenerative medicine, diagnostics, and
personalized therapy with increasing efficiency.
This Special Issue, titled “Advances in New
Functional Biomaterials for Medical Applications,
Second Edition,” presents new interdisciplinary
research with innovative potential for the
development of modern medicine.
The history of biomaterials is closely linked to
the evolution of medicine and the ongoing need to
replace, repair, or support the functions of
damaged tissues and organs. From the early use of
natural materials and metals in sutures,
prostheses, or implants, the field has evolved
toward materials specifically designed to
interact with biological systems in a controlled
manner [1,2]. In recent decades, the focus has
shifted from simple biocompatibility to
functional, bioactive, and smart biomaterials
capable of stimulating tissue regeneration,
delivering therapeutic agents in a controlled
way, or responding to specific stimuli within the
biological environment.
In recent decades, this evolution has accelerated
significantly. Contemporary biomaterials are no
longer simple structural substitutes; instead,
they can perform well-defined biological,
mechanical, antimicrobial, diagnostic, or
therapeutic functions. Nanotechnology, surface
functionalization, the development of hybrid
materials, additive manufacturing methods, and
the integration of biomaterials with modern
imaging techniques have significantly expanded
the possibilities for designing materials for
medical applications. In this context, the
concept of the “functional biomaterial” is taking
on an increasingly broad meaning, encompassing
materials capable of responding to the biological
environment, combating microorganisms,
facilitating tissue regeneration, improving
diagnostics, or providing mechanical and
aesthetic performance tailored to specific
clinical applications.
Sustainability and the development of
environmentally friendly synthesis methods also
represent an important direction in current
research. The use of plant-derived compounds to
produce nanomaterials, reduce chemical
consumption, and utilize natural resources aligns
with the broader concept of “green”
nanotechnology. Concurrently, medicine and
dentistry are benefiting from increasingly high-
performance materials; their application requires
not only suitable intrinsic properties but also a
deep understanding of surface behavior, adhesion
processes, aging, and long-term interactions with
the biological environment.
An Overview of Thematic Contributions
The papers collected in the second edition of the
topic “Advances in New Functional Biomaterials
for Medical Applications” illustrate this
diversity in contemporary research and highlight
the field’s deeply interdisciplinary nature.
Ranging from nanomaterials with antimicrobial
properties and systems with diagnostic potential
to advanced dental materials and novel
manufacturing technologies, the studies presented
demonstrate how controlling composition,
structure, and surface characteristics can
determine a biomaterial’s functionality.
The first contribution explores a major avenue of
current research: the development of
antimicrobial nanomaterials using sustainable
synthesis methods. Utilizing mucilage from
*Prosopis laevigata* for the eco-friendly
synthesis of silver nanoparticles combines the
advantages of nanotechnology with the utilization
of plant resources. The antimicrobial and anti-
biofilm activity demonstrated against Gram-
positive and Gram-negative pathogens, alongside
findings regarding biocompatibility, highlights
the potential of these nanoparticles for
developing antimicrobial coatings, topical
treatments, and strategies to control microbial
contamination. The study is also relevant in the
context of growing concerns regarding
antimicrobial resistance, highlighting the need
to identify strategies complementary to
conventional antibiotics.
Another significant group of contributions
focuses on dental biomaterials, a field where
mechanical, biological, and aesthetic
requirements must be met simultaneously. The
study on resin-matrix ceramics underscores the
importance of surface treatment for maintaining
the color stability of restorations. The results
demonstrate that the nature of the material, the
finishing procedure, and exposure to various
beverages can all influence color changes. The
observation that mechanical polishing may be a
favorable option for CAD/CAM restorations
highlights the role of clinical processing steps
in preserving the biomaterial’s aesthetic
properties over the long term.
The issues surrounding the interface between the
material and the adhesive system are examined in
depth in the study on lithium silicate-based
glass–ceramics. In restorative practice, a
material’s performance is determined not only by
its structural characteristics but also by the
ability to achieve and maintain predictable
adhesion. An evaluation of various re-cementation
strategies highlights the importance of
optimizing surface treatment and suggests that
controlled hydrofluoric acid etching can be an
efficient and reproducible approach. At the same
time, results regarding air-particle abrasion
show that an apparently favorable increase in
contact surface area does not automatically
translate into superior adhesion, underscoring
the complex relationship between surface
topography and the mechanical behavior of the
adhesive interface.
A different perspective on functional
biomaterials is offered by the study on magnetite
nanoparticles functionalized with carboxymethyl
cellulose. In this instance, the material’s
functionality extends beyond structural or
therapeutic roles into the realm of diagnostics.
The biocompatibility of the resulting assemblies
and their dielectric properties suggest they
could serve as contrast agents for terahertz
spectroscopy. Identifying a spectral range where
the differentiation between normal and tumor
cells becomes significant highlights the
potential for integrating nanomaterials with
emerging imaging technologies and opens up
exciting prospects for developing complementary
diagnostic methods in oncology.
Finally, the evolution of biomaterials is closely
linked to the revolution in manufacturing
technologies. The study focusing on zirconia
produced via lithography-based ceramic
manufacturing (LCM) analyzes the feasibility of
using additive manufacturing to create dental
restorations subject to mechanical stress.
Flexural strength comparable to that of
conventionally manufactured zirconia demonstrates
the potential of these technologies, while
observed differences in hardness and surface
roughness highlight the need for further
optimization of manufacturing and post-processing
procedures. Thus, additive manufacturing
represents not merely a technological alternative
to subtractive methods, but also a tool for the
future design of customized biomaterials and
structures.
Conclusions and Future Directions
Taken together, these contributions underscore
the ongoing transformation of the biomaterial
concept. Functionality is no longer defined by a
single property, but rather by the material’s
ability to simultaneously meet biological,
mechanical, chemical, antimicrobial, aesthetic,
or diagnostic requirements. Surface and interface
control, nanostructuring, chemical
functionalization, sustainable synthesis, and
digital manufacturing now constitute
complementary elements of the same development
trajectory.
This second edition therefore highlights the
transition from conventional biomaterials to
multifunctional systems designed for increasingly
specific medical applications. The collected
studies demonstrate that progress in this field
stems from the convergence of materials science,
chemistry, nanotechnology, engineering, biology,
and medical practice. It is precisely this
interdisciplinarity that lays the groundwork for
the development of the next generation of
biomaterials, in which material performance will
be increasingly linked to adaptability,
functionality, and the ability to address precise
clinical needs.