Modulating Inflammatory Responses: Advanced Biomaterials and Bioengineering Strategies for Integrated Disease Theranostics

Inflammation is a double-edged sword in human health — a vital defense mechanism that, when dysregulated, drives the pathogenesis of cancer, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, and autoimmune conditions. The spatiotemporal complexity and heterogeneity of inflammatory responses place stringent demands on materials that interface with immune tissues: tunable bioactivity, precise delivery of biologics, robust biocompatible interfaces, and reliable in situ sensing. Despite significant therapeutic advances, current strategies often suffer from systemic toxicity and limited efficacy, underscoring an urgent need for more targeted and intelligent approaches.

This Research Topic sits at the intersection of biomaterials science and bioengineering, exploring how rationally designed materials and material-enabled platforms can precisely modulate immune responses and support the integrated diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment — theranostics — of inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases. We aim to elucidate the transformative potential of advanced biomaterials and biomaterial-mediated bioengineering platforms in enabling precise inflammation modulation across major disease contexts. Central emphasis is placed on structure–property–function relationships of biomaterials in biological systems — in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo — on biocompatibility, immunological, and toxicological profiling, and on translating fundamental material discoveries into practical anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory applications. Submissions aligned with SDGs 3, 9, and 12 are highly welcomed.

We invite contributions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
o Stimuli-responsive biomaterials and nano-/micro-particulate systems for controlled delivery of anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory biologics
o Bioactive scaffolds and hydrogels for regulating the local immune microenvironment in tissue engineering and in vivo tissue repair
o Functionalization of biomaterial surfaces and heterogeneous interfaces to direct immune-cell interactions
o Materials and fabrication technologies for microfluidic and organ-on-chip platforms as ex vivo inflammatory models
o Biomaterial-mediated cell and gene therapies for correcting immune dysfunction
o Material-based immunomodulatory vaccine and immunotherapy delivery systems
o Novel materials for sensing and imaging physiologically relevant inflammatory events, and new characterization methods for biomaterials and biointerfaces
o Biocompatibility, immunological, and toxicology studies of new materials and their applications
This collection does not accept bibliometrics articles, clinical studies, drug discovery, or virology-focused submissions. We welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that advance the rational design of biomaterials for inflammation theranostics, with a clear focus on material innovation and mechanistic understanding.