Biomacromolecules Systems Applied to Medical Implants for the Release of Therapeutic Agents

tissues, such as titanium, silicone, bioactive glass, polymers, among others. In addition, the choice of the appropriate biomaterial is guided by the presence of desirable properties according to the claimed application (Ratner & Zhang, 2020). Surgery is the most common way to incorporate medical implants into the body, which involves inherent risks: bacterial infections, local swelling and induration, inadequate healing, triggering immune reactions, and other different possible complications (Major, Wong, Nelson, Longaker, & Gurtner, 2015). The eventuality and intensity of these postoperative risks are higher in cases of immunosuppression caused by certain diseases or conditions, such as AIDS, cancer, diabetes, malnutrition, and certain genetic disorders (Madsen et al., 2021). In that sense, biomacromolecules are versatile to be configurated as release systems of therapeutic agents to health or significantly reduce those postoperative risks. This Research Topic collection covers the use of biomacromolecules systems applied to biomedical implants for the release of therapeutic agents. This collection of papers is formed of seven original research articles and one review article. Layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly is a very versatile and significantly inexpensive approach to forming thin films. In this field, Miranda et al. assembled by LbL an extracellular matrix protein fibronectin, as an anionic polymer, with poly-L-lysine (PLL), as a cationic polymer. The fibronectin component was able to create a biomimetic interface, which enhanced the cell attachment of fibroblasts. In addition, the presence of PLL conferred to the films remarkable antibacterial properties against Gram-positive strains.Cell-based drug delivery has been highlighted as a system to facilitate the transfer of substances to specific organs and tissues with elevated efficiency. In that sense, Litvinova et al. demonstrated that hMSCs can be successfully impregnated with synthetic CaCO3 microcapsules without damaging cell structural integrity and mobility. This study established the possibility of using hMSCs as a carrier for a targeted drug delivery system. Finally, Picker et al. contributed with a review on the use of prokaryotic collagenlike proteins to both study the biology of conventional collagen and develop a new biomaterial platform. Moreover, the authors described the application of Scl2 protein in thromboresistant coating for cardiovascular devices, scaffolds for bone regeneration, chronic wound dressing, and matrices for cartilage regeneration.In conclusion, this Research Topic provides an overview of recent advances in biomacromolecules systems used for the release of different kinds of therapeutic agents.Moreover, the exploration of the use of innovative carriers transfers substances such as cells and proteins.