About this Research Topic
While mechanical properties of biomaterials are mainly dependent on their bulk properties, biofunctional aspects of therapeutic materials in physiological environment are greatly influenced by their surface properties. Specific and non-specific surface interaction of materials with different components of the physiological fluids directly influence their safety, efficacy, and durability. Surface engineering principles routinely are employed to modulate surface properties of the material such as biocompatibility, self-cleansability, biodegradability, adsorption capacity, and tissue growth or drug release profiles. Surface engineering as an interdisciplinary science deals with the specific intermolecular and surface forces which determine the fate of a surface in contact with a medium.
The application of surface engineering in medicine is not adequately manifested due to its multidisciplinary nature. Relevant disciplines that may contribute to the field include chemistry, surface chemistry, physics, and polymer. A comprehensive understanding of the surface properties requires the collaboration of scientists from the above-mentioned disciplines. Typically, surface characterization results using XRD, Q-CMD, XPS, FTIR, SEM, TEM, EDX, AFM, and SFA are reported in literature while a detailed understanding of the phenomenon on the molecular scale is required. The goal of this research topic is to promote in-depth studies that will create a higher standard of biomaterials research with specific attention on their surface properties.
The aim of the current Research Topic is to cover promising, recent, and novel experimental and/or theoretical research related to the surface engineered biomaterials in physiological environments. Areas to be covered in this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to:
• Development and characterization of biocompatible and self-healing/self-cleansing surfaces
• Surface engineering of biomaterials for specific interactions including:
o Adsorption
o Tissue growth
o Drug release
• Theoretical studies of the intermolecular and surface forces which determine the performance of biomaterials at in vitro and in vivo conditions
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 mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
