Biomaterials for Precision Diagnosis, Delivery and Therapy

The field of biomaterials science is undergoing a revolutionary transformation driven by advances in material design, nanotechnology, and biomedical engineering. Emerging evidence indicates that carefully engineered biomaterials, particularly at the nanoscale, exhibit unique properties enabling them to interact dynamically with biological systems. These interactions endow materials with novel functionalities, such as molecular recognition for early diagnostics, responsive behavior for targeted therapy, and intrinsic bioactivity for tissue regeneration. Despite remarkable technological progress, significant challenges persist: there remain gaps in our understanding of how biomaterials interface with complex biological environments, and questions surround how best to optimize their safety, degradability, and clinical applicability. Debates continue around the most effective strategies for combining diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, particularly in the context of heterogeneous disease microenvironments, immune interactions, and translational barriers.

This Research Topic aims to accelerate innovation in multifunctional biomaterials that synergize precision diagnosis, targeted delivery, and therapeutic interventions. The central objectives are to elucidate the underlying design principles and mechanisms by which materials sense, respond to, and modulate disease processes; to explore novel approaches for overcoming biological barriers and improving selectivity and efficacy; and to foster the translation of these advancements into clinically relevant platforms. Authors are encouraged to address pressing questions regarding responsiveness to disease cues, minimization of systemic toxicity, integration of real-time diagnostic capabilities, and durability of therapeutic outcomes. Particular interest will be placed on theranostic systems that combine immediate readouts with actionable treatment, as well as comprehensive studies exploring manufacturability, safety, and regulatory considerations for clinical deployment.

The scope of this Research Topic encompasses primary research and reviews focusing on the creation, characterization, and application of bioactive and biomimetic materials for precision medicine. Submissions should investigate cutting-edge strategies for integrating diagnostic, delivery, and therapeutic functionalities while highlighting both advances and challenges in material development. Themes of special interest include, but not limited to:

• Biomaterial design: peptide-assembling materials; bioactive inorganic, organic, and composite biomaterials; nanomaterials/nanodevices; inorganic/organic polymers; hydrogels; vesicle-based systems; and cell-mimetic/bioinspired constructs.
• Precision diagnostics and theranostics: biomaterial-enabled biosensors, molecular imaging probes, and wearable/implantable devices that support sensitive detection, disease stratification, and real-time monitoring.
• Targeted delivery platforms and controlled depots: nanoparticles, hydrogels, microneedles, long-acting depots, and membrane/EV-inspired carriers enabling site-specific delivery and pharmacokinetic control.
• Advanced payloads and multi-modal interventions: delivery of small molecules, proteins/antibodies, mRNA/siRNA, gene editors, cells, and combination therapies with coordinated or sequential action.
• Application domains and biological functions: cancer theranostics and immunotherapy; tissue engineering and regenerative biomaterials; and platforms for infection control, inflammation modulation, and immune reprogramming.
• Translation, safety, and manufacturability: biocompatibility, immunogenicity, biodegradation/clearance, toxicology, scale-up, and regulatory/manufacturing considerations.