Frontiers | Bioactive and Stimuli-Responsive Biomaterials for Controlled Delivery and Tissue Regeneration

About this Research Topic

Submission deadlines

Manuscript Submission Deadline 31 July 2027
This Research Topic is currently accepting articles
1. Check author guidelines

Background

Bioactive and stimuli-responsive biomaterials are transforming regenerative medicine and therapeutic delivery by enabling dynamic interactions with biological systems. Unlike conventional biomaterials that primarily serve structural roles, these advanced materials can actively regulate cellular behavior, respond to physiological or external stimuli, and provide spatiotemporal control over therapeutic delivery. Such capabilities offer opportunities to enhance tissue regeneration and improve treatment efficacy.

Recent advances in material and biomolecular engineering, biofabrication, and AI-driven design have enabled the development of biomaterials that respond to biochemical, mechanical, electrical, magnetic, optical, or thermal cues while simultaneously promoting tissue repair and functional recovery. These systems are being increasingly explored for applications including tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, controlled drug and biologic delivery, implantable devices, and bioelectronic interfaces. However, significant challenges remain in understanding how material composition, structure, and dynamic responsiveness influence biological interactions and therapeutic outcomes.

This Research Topic aims to bring together researchers developing innovative bioactive and stimuli-responsive biomaterials for controlled delivery and tissue engineering. We particularly welcome studies that establish clear links between material design, biological function, and regenerative performance, while advancing translational applications in healthcare.

Themes of Interest:

• Bioactive and stimuli-responsive biomaterials
• Dynamic, adaptive, and multifunctional biomaterial systems
• Biomaterials for controlled delivery of drugs, proteins, genes, cells, and biologics
• Biomaterials for tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and implantable medical devices
• Biofabrication and translational biomaterial technologies for therapeutic applications
• AI/ML-driven design of materials, scaffolds, and medical implants.
• AI/ML-driven predictive modeling, data-driven design optimization, and digital twins
• Cell-material interactions, immunomodulation, and tissue remodeling
• Structure-property-function relationships governing biological performance and regeneration

To maintain a cohesive scientific focus, submissions should include experimental validation of biological function or therapeutic relevance. Studies focused solely on computational, machine learning, or materials modeling approaches without biological or biomedical validation are outside the scope of this collection.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

Brief Research Report
Case Report
Data Report
Editorial
FAIR² Data
General Commentary
Hypothesis and Theory
Methods
Mini Review

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Keywords: Bioactive biomaterials; Stimuli-responsive biomaterials; Controlled drug delivery; Tissue engineering; Regenerative medicine; Biofabrication; AI-driven biomaterial design

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.