Next-Generation Multifunctional Ceramic-Polymer Composites for Bone Regeneration

Bone tissue engineering is a rapidly advancing field driven by the increasing clinical demand for effective therapies to repair bone defects resulting from trauma, disease, congenital abnormalities, and age-related skeletal disorders. Although numerous biomaterials have been developed to support bone repair, there is an increasing demand for multifunctional systems capable not only of promoting osteogenesis but also of addressing the complex biological environment associated with impaired bone healing. Consequently, next-generation ceramic-polymer composites are being engineered to integrate multiple therapeutic functions within a single biomaterial platform.

Among the most promising candidates, bioactive ceramic-polymer composites have emerged as versatile biomaterials that combine the osteoconductive and ion-releasing properties of bioceramics with the tunable mechanical performance, processability, and biological functionality of natural or synthetic polymers. Recent advances in material design, manufacturing technologies and biofunctionalization have enabled the development of multifunctional composites that extend beyond structural support and osteogenic stimulation. These materials can be engineered to provide antibacterial protection, modulate inflammatory and immune responses, stimulate angiogenesis, deliver therapeutic agents in a controlled manner, and, in selected applications, provide localized anticancer activity following bone tumor resection. Such multifunctionality offers new opportunities to address several clinical challenges simultaneously while reducing the need for multiple therapeutic interventions.

Despite these advances, important challenges remain in balancing mechanical performance, degradation behavior, biological activity, and therapeutic functionality while ensuring reproducibility and clinical applicability. Addressing these challenges requires interdisciplinary collaboration across materials science, chemistry, biology, engineering, and medicine, as well as standardized approaches for the comprehensive evaluation of emerging multifunctional composites.

This Research Topic aims to provide an interdisciplinary forum highlighting recent advances in the design, engineering, characterization, and biological evaluation of next-generation multifunctional ceramic-polymer composites for bone regeneration. We particularly welcome original research and review articles describing innovative multifunctional ceramic-polymer composites that combine osteogenic properties with additional therapeutic functionalities, including antibacterial, angiogenic, immunomodulatory, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, or controlled drug-delivery capabilities.

Themes of interest include, but are not limited to:
o Design and fabrication of advanced ceramic-polymer composites and biomaterials
o Multifunctional composite scaffolds, injectable systems, and self-setting bone cements
o Strategies for enhancing osteogenesis through bioactive ceramics, polymers, and therapeutic ion release
o Biofunctionalization approaches incorporating antibacterial, angiogenic, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer functionalities
o Controlled and localized delivery of therapeutic agents from composite biomaterials
o Advanced manufacturing, additive manufacturing, and biofabrication of multifunctional ceramic-polymer composites
o Physicochemical, mechanical, and biological characterization of multifunctional biocomposites
o Preclinical and translational evaluation, including quantitative in vitro and in vivo validation and benchmarking against established materials